Program delivery update: Citizenship – Subsection 5(3) waivers of language, knowledge and oath requirements

September 7 2023

The instructions for waivers on compassionate grounds have been updated.

When a waiver request for language, knowledge or oath can occur

• Subsection 5(3) waiver requests will now be available for clients at the time of application.
• The forms are available on the external website along with the application package.
• Waivers can still be requested throughout the citizenship grant process until a final decision is made.

Waivers and accommodation

• The term compassionate grounds has been defined and is more facilitative for clients, as waivers of the language and knowledge requirements may occur for reasons other than medical.
• Information has been included to differentiate a waiver request from an accommodation request.
• Clients who request a waiver of the knowledge requirement will not be invited to the citizenship test unless their waiver request is denied.

Subsection 5(3) waiver forms

• A Waiver Request form (CIT 0116) has been added for clients to indicate their reason for requiring a waiver of language or knowledge.
• The Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) has been amended to reflect the new process.
  • It will no longer be required for a compassionate waiver and will instead be used when the reason for a waiver is medical in nature, or when a waiver of the oath is requested.

Waiver assessment

• The Case Management Branch (CMB) will be making all knowledge, language and oath waiver determinations.
• A waiver hearing is no longer required for clients, and is instead discretionary for CMB decision makers.
  • A decision can be made based on documentation.
• The Centralized Network (CN) will forward files with waiver requests directly to the CMB instead of the Domestic Network (DN).

Updated instructions

• Citizenship: 5(3) waivers on compassionate grounds

Deleted instructions

• Citizenship waivers: Medical opinions