354000 people acquired Canadian Citizenship in 2023. The latest data by IRCC reveals that more than 300,000 individuals became Canadian citizenship holders in above 3,000 citizenship ceremonies across Canada.
In 2022, 374,413 individuals turned out to be Canadian citizenship holders. In addition, this reflects a striking increase in the Canadian naturalization pattern over the last two years.
Overall, in 2019, 250,513 people gained Canadian citizenship. Further, in 2020, 110,989 people emerged as Canadian citizens, while in 2021, 137,133 people gained Canadian citizenship.
Efforts by IRCC to decrease the citizenship backlog
IRCC continues to work toward its primary objective of processing 80 percent of Canadian citizenship applications within the standard timeframe. In January 2022, the citizenship application backlog was nearly 46 percent. As of November 2023, IRCC took the initiative to reduce the application backlog by 20 percent. This percentage depicts the target of IRCC.
IRCC took the following initiatives to reduce the application backlog:
- Introduced a new platform for applicants to finish the citizenship test digitally.
- Launched ceremonies concerning virtual citizenship.
- Started the online application procedures for a majority of clients seeking citizenship.
- Attain citizenship proof or search citizenship records.
- Digital tracker for citizenship applications to update their client’s application status and any steps needed.
- Increased the number of employees to fasten the processing times across business lines.
354000 People Acquired Canadian Citizenship in 2023 – What is the PR pathway to citizenship?
Individuals seeking Canadian citizenship after arriving in Canada must fulfill specific criteria before applying. Also, to gain eligibility for Canadian citizenship as a permanent resident, one must fulfill the following:
- Hold Canadian permanent residence;
- Tax Filing, if essential;
- Clearing Canadian citizenship if they are in the age group of 18 to 54 years.
- Show language proficiency proof if between 18 and 54 years old.
- Must fulfill the Canadian presence requirements.
Physical Presence Requirement
IRCC enables a PR holder to apply for Canadian citizenship only after acquiring the status of a physical resident in the country for three years. This is equivalent to 1,095 days out of five complete years. This requirement starts immediately prior to applying for Canadian citizenship.
You will need to consider the five years before the application date. Within that period of five years:
- Each day as a permanent resident in Canada will contribute to one full day.
- To meet the physical presence criterion for citizenship, each day spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person counts as half a day towards the maximum credit of 365 days.
If a candidate gained permanent residence below five years ago, the period of calculation will start on the exact date when that person gained PR.
The amount of time one serves as a sentence in Canada will not contribute to the physical presence requirement. In short, time served in a jail or prison, reformatory, penitentiary, parole, or probation will constitute your physical presence in Canada.
The primary advantage of possessing Canadian citizenship is that it does not have any residency regulations to adhere to, as is the case with Canadian permanent residency. Furthermore, Canadian citizenship holders also attain Canadian passports and the right to vote in municipal, federal, and provincial elections.
Canadian citizenship status will not be lost unless gained through material misrepresentation, which is intentionally fabricating misleading statements.
Our immigration representatives at Make Home Canada have immense knowledge related to Canadian immigration. To clarify your doubts or queries, you may write to us at [email protected]
