Citizenship Act Changes

Citizenship Act Changes

On June 19, 2017, Bill C-6 passed Parliament. Some immediate changes include:

·         Requirement to intend to live in Canada once granted citizenship was repealed

·         Citizenship revocation provisions only applying to dual citizens were repealed

·         Minors can qualify on their own without the need to have a Canadian parent

As of October 11, 2017, new changes include:

·         Required physical presence in Canada reduced to 3 out of 5 years

·         Days spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident, within 5 years of applying for citizenship, count as half days (up to 365 days) towards physical presence requirements

·         Age range for language and knowledge requirements reduced to 18-54 years old

·         Time required for applicants to file income taxes before applying for citizenship is reduced to 3 out of 5 years

More changes to the Citizenship Act to take effect at later dates:

·         A new citizenship revocation process with the Federal Court as the decision-maker on most cases

·         Citizenship officers will be allowed to seize fraudulent or suspected fraudulent documents

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