Every so often someone discovers that a distant relative has left them an unexpected inheritance. That surprise can change their life overnight. However, sometimes the greatest inheritance a family can leave behind is not money—it is citizenship. In fact, thousands of people, possibly even more, may be entitled to American or Canadian citizenship without realizing it. They simply have never looked closely enough at their own family history. A hidden and life-changing windfall may come from things like a forgotten birthplace, a parent who quietly became a citizen, or a grandparent who emigrated decades ago. Unlike a forgotten bank account, for example, citizenship opens the door to an entire country—its labour market, education system, healthcare (in Canada), business opportunities, the right to live and work, and the ability to pass those rights on to future generations.
The American Surprise
Many people spend years researching immigration law and applying for visas when, in fact, they unknowingly may already possess the right to an American passport. You could be one of them. Let’s take a moment here to explore your possible rights to American citizenship a little further.
For instance, most people assume they can only become U.S. citizens after filing a naturalization application and taking an oath of allegiance. Not always. American citizenship can arise automatically in some cases. Perhaps you were born in the United States and left the country as an infant. Contrary to what you may have thought, living abroad for decades generally does not erase U.S. citizenship.
Take another example. Perhaps your parents became U.S. citizens while you were child under their care and still a lawful permanent resident. Under the right circumstances, you may have automatically become an American too and not realized it.
Or take another possibility. Maybe you were born outside the United States to an American parent and thought your birth abroad disqualified you. Depending on the U.S. law in force at the time of your birth and your parent’s physical presence in the United States before you were born, you may already be a U.S. citizen by operation of law.
The difficulty is that Congress has repeatedly amended these rules over the last century. The law that applies is usually the one that existed on the date of birth or naturalization involved. Determining eligibility often requires careful examination of birth certificates, naturalization records, passports, marriage certificates and immigration files. It is one of those areas where experienced legal advice is often essential and can save enormous time and disappointment.
Canada Has Created Its Own Surprise
Now let’s consider Canadian citizenship for a minute. Recently, Canada has quietly opened another remarkable opportunity.
Following the passage of Bill C-3 in late 2025, Canadian citizenship by descent has expanded dramatically. Today, many people born anywhere in the world may qualify for Canadian citizenship because of a Canadian ancestor.
For some, the connection is obvious—a Canadian parent. For others, it may be a grandparent or even an earlier direct ancestor who became a Canadian citizen after 1947. In some situations, the reforms also address historical injustices that prevented citizenship from passing through earlier generations. The legal rules remain technical and documentation is critical. But the essential question is surprisingly simple:
Was One Of Your Direct Ancestors Canadian?
If so, your family tree may contain something far more valuable than old photographs. It may contain a Canadian passport for you and your children.
Why This Matters
Neither government sells citizenship. If you qualify by birth or descent, you are not buying it. You are simply asking your government to recognize a legal status that already belongs to you. That distinction matters. Citizenship in either country provides enormous long-term advantages.
American citizenship offers unrestricted access to the world’s largest economy, the right to live and work anywhere in the United States, sponsor family members, vote, hold many government positions and travel on one of the world’s strongest passports.
Canadian citizenship provides many of the same advantages, including the unrestricted right to live and work anywhere in Canada, access to publicly funded healthcare once provincial residency requirements are met, domestic university tuition rates, and a passport that is highly regarded and enjoys extensive visa-free travel.
Both Countries Recognize Dual Citizenship.
An American who qualifies for Canadian citizenship generally does not have to surrender a U.S. passport. He or she can have both citizenships. Likewise, Canadians acquiring U.S. citizenship ordinarily can keep their Canadian citizenship as well. This is one of the most important benefits of claiming a lost legal heritage. The most obvious example is the benefit for students who do not have to pay international tuition fees while going to college or university without compromising their current legal status in their home country.
Every Inheritance Has Obligations
Of course, inheritances rarely come without conditions.
Citizenship carries obligations too.
One example has to do with taxation. The United States is unusual in this regard because it taxes its citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live. For instance, that reality surprised former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Born in New York while his father was studying there, Johnson considered himself entirely British. Decades later, after selling his London home while living in England, he received an unexpected U.S. tax bill because the United States still regarded him as one of its citizens. He eventually paid the tax and then renounced his American citizenship to avoid any such further taxation surprises.
Canada generally taxes based on residence rather than citizenship, making the Canadian tax consequences significantly different. Nonetheless, tax planning for those who venture into this second citizenship domain is essential. The lesson is straightforward. Before celebrating a newly discovered citizenship, understand both the rights and the responsibilities that accompany it. Legal and tax advice is critical.
You Can Also Walk Away
Neither country forces a person to remain a citizen forever. Indeed, both the United States and Canada permit voluntary renunciation.
The process is deliberately serious. The decision must be voluntary, informed, and free of coercion. Governments generally wish to avoid leaving someone stateless, meaning without the citizenship of any country. Nor should renunciation be undertaken simply as a device to evade taxes or other legal obligations. Giving up citizenship means surrendering valuable rights that may benefit not only you but also future generations of your family. So it is not a decision to make lightly but one that would benefit from a legal consultation and some guidance.
Look at Your Family Tree
To reiterate, most people think citizenship begins with filing an application. But sometimes it begins with opening an old family photo album. An ancestor’s birthplace may be worth far more than a genealogical curiosity. It may represent the legal right to live, work and build a future in one of North America’s two most prosperous democracies. Like an unexpected inheritance, citizenship by descent is not available to everyone. But for those who qualify, it may prove to be one of the most valuable family legacies they never knew they possessed. For those who think they may have a chance at a second citizenship, a consultation with a qualified legal advisor might be the best next step.