Infographic: Citizenship Act changes 2017 to 2018
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- Requirement to intend to live in Canada once granted citizenship was repealed
- Citizenship revocation provisions only applying to dual citizens were repealed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
For a complete list of changes made to the Citizenship Act and when they take effect, please read the Bill C-6 Backgrounder