News & Updates
Increasing the Value of Canadian Citizenship
March 11, 2014
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has announced that as of February 28, more than 41,000 people have been naturalized as Canadian citizens during 2014.
CIC has taken this opportunity to boast of increased efficiency in processing and a decrease in the backlog of citizenship applications. The majority of those whose citizenship applications were processed in 2013 waited approximately two years for a decision, while those with ‘non-routine’ applications waited an astounding three years.
CIC’s announcement comes as proposed changes to the Canadian Citizenship Act (the “Act”) move closer to becoming a reality under Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act.
Here is a comparison between what the Act looks like today and what it would look like under the proposed changes.
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Current Canadian Citizenship Act |
Amended Canadian Citizenship Act |
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Posted processing times stand at two to three years, and reach four years in extreme cases. |
Processing target is one year in 80% of ‘routine’ cases |
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Processing fee is $100 for adults. |
Total processing fees of $400 for adults. |
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Applicants must be physically present for 1095 days in the four year period preceding their application. |
Applicants must be physically present in Canada for 1460 days during the six year period preceding their application. |
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Applicants are not required to be in Canada for any given number of days during a particular year. |
Applicants must be physically present for 183 days during each of four of the six years preceding their application. |
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Applicants can get a half day’s credit towards the 1095 days for each day they spent in Canada as a temporary resident during the four year period. |
Applicants cannot count time spent in Canada as a temporary resident towards the 1460 days. |
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Applicants between the ages of 18 to 54 must pass a test to demonstrate knowledge of Canadian history, geography, culture, and values. |
Applicants between the ages of 14 to 65 must pass a test to demonstrate knowledge of Canadian history, geography, culture, and values. |
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Applicants may use an interpreter while taking their knowledge test. |
Applicants must take the knowledge test in English or French. The use of interpreters is not permitted. |
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Applicants between the ages of 18 to 54 must demonstrate basic language proficiency in English or French. |
Applicants between the ages of 14 to 65 must demonstrate adequate proficiency in English or French. |
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Applicants are not required to demonstrate that they have paid Canadian income taxes. |
Applicants must prove they have filed Canadian income taxes for four of the six years preceding their application. |
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Applicants do not have to demonstrate where they intend to live after they obtain citizenship. |
Applicants must intend to live in Canada (with a few exceptions) after they obtain citizenship. |
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Citizenship cannot be revoked. |
Citizenship can be revoked from dual nationals who are convicted as terrorists, spies, or for other crimes against Canada. |
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Fines for citizenship fraud are capped at $1,000 and/or one year in prison |
Fine of $100,000 or up to two years in prison for misrepresentation on a citizenship application is introduced. Fine for citizenship fraud raised to $100,000 and/or five years in prison. |
Though it’s still uncertain as to which changes will be enacted to law, it is clear that Canadian citizenship is being promoted by CIC as a coveted status, and will be much more difficult to acquire in the years to come.
Naturalization as a Canadian citizen is a process that starts years in advance, with a decision to move to Canada either as a temporary or permanent resident. The steps taken at the initial stages can have a significant impact on the final ones, and this will only be more true when the new Act comes into force.
Our firm can work with employers and individuals to develop and execute a long-term strategy that will minimize complications and prevent processing delays, bringing individuals from temporary resident to Canadian citizenship as quickly as possible. We also help nationals retain dual citizenship in countries such as Germany.
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