Spike in applications for Canadian citizenship observed after the government relaxed the rules around residency requirements and language proficiency this fall.
Figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship provided show there was an average of 3,653 applications a week in the six months before changed were brought in Oct. 11.The number shot up to 17,500 applications the week after the new requirements kicked in. There were 12,530 applications submitted the week after that, but data for subsequent weeks is not yet available.
In recent years, there has been an average of 200,000 citizenship applications submitted each year.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship spokeswoman Nancy Caron said that fluctuations in application rates are expected after rule changes, so the department put resources in place to handle “surge capacity” and keep processing times below the 12-month service standard.
Caron added, “Reducing the physical presence requirement gives more flexibility to applicants to meet the requirements for citizenship and encourages more immigrants to take the path to citizenship.This helps individuals who have already begun building lives in Canada achieve citizenship faster.”
Andrew Griffith, a former senior immigration official, author and fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said it’s too early to tell if the jump in numbers represents a blip or part of a longer-term trend. But he believes an increased rate of citizenship fosters social cohesion and eases community tensions as immigrants have a deeper connection to the country and to Canadian society.
The new rules include:
- The required length of physical presence in Canada is reduced to three out of five years, from four out of six years.
- A portion of time spent in Canada before permanent resident status will count toward residency requirements, which will give credit to temporary workers and students.
- The age range for language and knowledge requirements is reduced to 18 to 54 years old, from the previous requirement of 14 to 64.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, who marked the changes taking effect at an event in October, said they will make the path to join the “Canadian family” easier and more flexible.
