Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that Bill C-6 received Royal Assent. As a result, several changes are now taking place, amending the Citizenship Act, and improving the process for applicants to become Canadian citizens. Some changes have already gone into effect; others will be going into effect in the near future. For example, applicants who receive citizenship will no longer be required to intend to live in Canada. This is beneficial to those who may have to live outside of Canada for work or other reasons. Additionally, dual citizens will no longer be treated differently. Rather than revoking citizenship for certain crimes, individuals with dual citizenship will be treated just the way any other Canadian citizen would.
Changes that will take effect in the future include the reduction of time that permanent residents must be physically present in Canada. At present, applicants must be in Canada four (4) years out of six (6) in order to apply for citizenship. The new change will reduce this time to three (3) years out of (5) five. In addition to this, the age range for individuals to meet language and knowledge requirements will be reduced from 14-64 years to 18-54 years. Finally, individuals who are in Canada as temporary residents or protected persons will be able to count this time as part of their physical presence requirement in order to attain citizenship.
Our team of immigration consultants can assist you in determining your eligibility to apply for citizenship. Take our free online assessment or contact us today to discuss your immigration options.
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