Using ChatGPT to Navigate Canadian Citizenship by Descent

I've been using ChatGPT for several parts of my Canadian citizenship research, but two have been especially useful: walking me through the application process and keeping track of the many emails and record requests involved. I'm splitting those into two blog posts. This first one focuses on how I set up ChatGPT to help me understand the forms, requirements, and next steps.

Why Canadian Citizenship?

In December 2025, Canada implemented Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025), expanding citizenship by descent beyond the former first-generation limit in certain circumstances. This has opened up possibilities for people whose Canadian ancestors lived generations ago.

There are now Facebook communities helping people navigate the process. I'm a member of two: Canadian Citizenship by Descent Bill C-3 Support and Community and Genealogy Help for Canadian Citizenship by Descent. Both are useful for discussing eligibility, historical records, and the documentation needed for an application.

Read about the citizenship law changes on the official Canadian government website.

I started using ChatGPT for my daughter's Canadian proof of citizenship application (her dad is Canadian), then helped a friend whose Canadian connection was through her grandmother. Now I'm working on my own, which naturally involves a Canadian 3rd great-grandfather who fathered my 2nd great-grandfather out of wedlock. Because why would genealogy make anything easy?

How to Create a ChatGPT Project

Rather than starting a new chat every time I have a question, I created a dedicated ChatGPT Project called Canadian Citizenship. Projects keep related conversations, uploaded reference files, and instructions together, making it easier to pick up where you left off.

If you haven't used ChatGPT Projects before, here's how to set one up:

1. Create a new Project. In ChatGPT's left sidebar, find Projects and click the + next to it (or select New project).

2. Name your Project. Give it a descriptive name (mine is called Canadian Citizenship). You can also choose an icon and color.

3. Upload your reference documents. Open your new Project and click Sources, located below the New chat area. Select the option to add files. For my Canadian Citizenship Project, I uploaded three official IRCC documents:

   • CIT 0001: Application for a Citizenship Certificate (Proof of Citizenship)

   • CIT 0014: Document Checklist

   • CIT 0001 Instruction Guide: Instructions for completing the application and gathering supporting documents

4. Add custom instructions. Click the three-dot menu (•••) in the upper-right corner of the Project and select Project settings. This is where you tell ChatGPT how you want it to work with your documents.

5. Start your research. Open a new chat within the Project and begin asking questions. ChatGPT can use your uploaded documents and Project instructions to help guide you through the application.

For example, a useful set of Project instructions would be:

"Use the uploaded IRCC documents as your primary references. When answering questions, identify the relevant form or instruction section, distinguish official requirements from suggestions, and tell me when something needs to be verified against the current IRCC website. Help me work through the application one step at a time, and don't assume missing information."

Once everything is set up, you might begin by asking:

"I'm applying for Canadian citizenship by descent. Using the uploaded IRCC documents, walk me through the application process one step at a time. Start by helping me identify which supporting documents I need."

How I'm Using ChatGPT for My Application

My own case involves documenting a family line spanning six generations, including Luther Darius Hobbs, born around 1863 in Michigan, and his biological father, Terry Martin, whose Canadian baptismal record dates to 1836.

Since Michigan wasn't routinely issuing birth certificates in 1863, I need to investigate alternative evidence. ChatGPT has helped me understand which documents IRCC requests, identify potential sources for missing records, and organize the evidence I've collected.

For example, I've asked about citizenship photograph requirements, certified copies of birth certificates, and what documentation might help establish a parent-child relationship when a conventional birth certificate doesn't exist.

I can also upload historical records, compare the information against my existing family tree, and ask ChatGPT to identify gaps in the documentation. As new records arrive, I return to the same Project and continue working through the application.

Some of my typical questions include:

• Which documents do I already have, and which are missing?

• What does the IRCC checklist actually require?

• Where might I find an 1863 birth record or alternative documentation?

• How should I document an unsuccessful records search?

• What should I work on next?

The advantage is that ChatGPT can work with the documents and research context already in the Project instead of requiring me to explain the entire situation every time.

The Important Part: Verification

ChatGPT is not an immigration attorney or an IRCC representative. It can misinterpret instructions, overlook exceptions, or provide outdated information, especially when laws and application requirements change.

I always verify its guidance against the official IRCC documents and website. I also check original genealogical records myself rather than relying solely on AI-generated summaries or interpretations.

But having a dedicated Project with the application, checklist, instructions, and my research organized in one place has made the process much easier to manage. Instead of repeatedly figuring out where to start, I can ask ChatGPT to walk me through the next step.

In my next post, I'll explain how I've connected ChatGPT to Gmail to track the archives, churches, and government offices I've contacted, including their responses and outstanding record requests.