Changes to Citizenship from September 2017 for Canada Permanent Residents

The Bill C-6 receiving the Royal Approval has brought into affect several progressive reforms to the Canadian Citizenship for Canada Permanent Residents. While several new measures have come into immediate effect from June 19, 2017, some of the changes to citizenship in Canada will come in to effect from September 2017. Below is a brief analysis of the changes that will be operational from autumn 2017. The Canada permanent residents applying for the Canadian citizenship will be required to be physically present in Canada for three out of the five years from September 2017. As of now, they must be present for four out of the six years prior to the submission of the application for citizenship. From September 2017 Canada permanent residents applying for the Canadian citizenship will be required to file returns for income taxes in case required as per the provisions of the Canadian Income Tax Act for 3 out of 5 years on par with the requirement for physical residency. Currently, they are required to file the returns for income taxes for 4 out of 6 years, as quoted by the CIC News. Existing citizenship laws in Canada mandate that the Canada permanent residents applying for the citizenship must be residing in the nation for 6 months out of the 6 years prior to the application for citizenship. With autumn 2017 this requirement will be abolished. As of now the time spent by Canada PR holders as immigrants in Canada does not add up for the residency period clause of the citizenship. From September 2017, the time spent by overseas immigrants in Canada as provisional immigrant workers or protected individuals prior to becoming the Canada permanent residents will be counted for the residency clause for citizenship. It will be calculated as half day per every one day up to a maximum of crediting a total of 365 days. From autumn 2017 applicants of Canadian citizenship between the ages 54 to 18 years must satisfy the criterions for knowledge and language. The current age range for satisfying these criterions is between 64 to 14 years. If you are looking to Migrate, Study, Visit, Invest or Work in Canada, contact Y-Axis, the world’s most trusted Immigration & Visa Consultant.