October 4, 2017- The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced today the effective date of significant changes to the Citizenship Act through the adoption of Bill C-6. The changes will be effective October 11, 2017. Here are the key changes made to the Citizenship Act:
Previous Citizenship Act |
Citizenship Act with Bill C-6 Amendments |
Applicants had to be physically present in Canada for four out of six years before applying for citizenship |
Applicants must be physically present in Canada for three out of five years before applying for citizenship |
Applicants had to file Canadian income taxes, if required to do so under the Income Tax Act, for four out of six years, matching the physical presence requirement |
Applicants must file Canadian income taxes, if required to do so under the Income Tax Act, for three out of five years, matching the new physical presence requirement. |
Applicants must be physically present in Canada for 183 days in four out of the six years preceding their application |
This provision is repealed. Applicants no longer have to meet this requirement. |
Time spent in Canada prior to becoming a permanent resident did not count towards the physical presence requirement for citizenship |
Applicants may count each day they were physically present in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident as a half-day toward meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days |
Applicants between 14 to 64 years had to meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship |
Applicants between 18 and 54 years must meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship |
For more information regarding The Citizenship Act changes, please contact us directly.
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