On June 19, 2017 Canada’s Parliament passed Bill C-6, which introduced changes to the Canadian Citizenship Act. These changes are slowly being implemented in stages. On October 11, 2017, the next phase of changes was implemented to the Citizenship Act, which streamlines the process for Permanent Residents to become Canadian Citizens.
These changes are as follows:
The length of required physical presence in Canada has been reduced to a minimum of three out of the last five years before becoming eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.
A portion of time spent as temporary foreign worker or student before becoming a Canadian Permanent Resident will now be counted toward residency requirements, which will give credit to temporary workers and students.
The age range for language and knowledge requirements for Citizenship has been reduced to 18-54 years old; and
Filing of income taxes before applying for Citizenship is reduced to three out of five years.
With the above changes, a candidate who has stayed in Canada for a total of 1,095 days within the last three (3) years out of five (5) years will now be eligible to apply for Canadian Citizenship. Previously candidates would have had to wait 1,460 days or four (4) years to be eligible for Canadian citizenship.
This change in the law represents the Government of Canada’s goal for the immigration system to reunify and bring families together.
For more information on the changes to the Citizenship Act, please click here.
