4/5 immigrants got Canadian citizenship through naturalization process, StatCan Reports

Highlights: Four out of five immigrants  got Canadian citizenship in 2021

• Statistics Canada reported that four out of five immigrants in Canada became citizens in 2021.
• 2 percent of the Canadian population were citizens as per census data from 2021.
• Canadian citizenship can be obtained either through naturalization (for immigrants) or by birth.
• Canada has made necessary changes in the country’s immigration policies to ensure that there are more citizens in Canada in the future.

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Naturalization, path for PRs to become Canadian citizens

Interesting statistical findings have emerged from the census data from 2021 collected by Statistics Canada. As per the information for the 2021 census, 91.2 percent of residents in Canada were citizens. These citizens include immigrants who took up Canadian citizenship through naturalization or those who became citizens by birth. The path of naturalization is followed when a permanent resident in Canada wants to become a Canadian citizen. This is the procedure through which foreign nationals can turn into Canadian citizens and enjoy all legal rights available to a Canadian by birth. Also read: Citizenship certificate the best option to become a Canadian

Facts about Canadian citizenship in 2021

In the year 2021, four out of five immigrants who were eligible for Canadian citizenship converted to citizens. Those in this category formed 80 percent of the immigrants in Canada. Indeed, this was 87.8 percent in 2011, and this dip in naturalization numbers has triggered certain changes in policies. There were a few steps taken to implement those policy changes. The requirement for immigrants to be physically present for naturalization went through a change in the period between 2015 and 2017. There was an increase in the number of years a permanent resident was required to live in Canada to be eligible for citizenship; from three to four years. Applicants also couldn’t claim their time in Canada as temporary residents to be considered for citizenship. Then, the Citizenship Act in 2017 reinstated three years as the PR’s qualifying period of stay in Canada for citizenship. Also, applicants could again claim the period of time spent in Canada with the status of a temporary resident to make them eligible for citizenship. Also read: IRCC aims at Canada citizenship for 300,000 people in FY 2022-23 Also, the citizenship grant application fee was raised in the year 2015. Today, this amount is CAD630. The Canadian government has still to work on its promise to waive the fees so that the financial burden is reduced on lower-income households. Once fees are waived, the number of lower-income households that will become eligible for Canadian naturalization will increase.

Trends in naturalization and Canadian priorities

For reasons that are worth close scrutiny, the naturalization process in Canada has come down, followed by a resurging interest among PRs to become Canadian citizens. What makes Canada desire more citizens through naturalization is clear from a certain observations. As per the findings in 2021, the average age of Canadian citizens is closer to 42 years. At the same time, the average age of foreign nationals who turned Canadian citizens was around 34 years. The prospect of immigrants at their prime working age taking Canada PR is vital to the economic and social health of the country. This has even more significance in the light of increasing job vacancies in Canada these days.

Canada believes...’Immigrants are citizens of tomorrow’

The studies on citizenship, as well as immigration, suggest affirmingly that Asia will go on to be a key provider of immigrants and citizens that will be coming from them. So, if you are a skilled foreign worker ready to embrace the Canadian experience and Canadian citizenship, it will be a wise decision as people like you are in high demand in Canada. If you are willing to migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the leading immigration and career consultant in Australia. If you find this blog engaging, you may also like: New NOC TEER job codes in Canada released for FSTP and FSWP, 2022-23