Canadian government eases citizenship process

For international students

  • The Canadian government has introduced legislation to reduce the period of physical residency required to apply for Canadian citizenship
  • The new legislation will also restore a provision that allows international students to count time spent studying or working in Canada against that residency requirement
  • The government has also committed to a review of the Canadian Experience Class programme, a key path to permanent residency for international students in Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has introduced legislation to repeal a number of controversial changes to the Canadian Immigration Act. on 25 February 2016 when Immigration Minister John McCallum formerly introduced his bill (Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act) to, in effect, repeal many of the changes introduced in 2015 under Bill C-24.

The Minister was clear as to the intent of his new legislation and the new government’s position on opening up greater opportunities for international students to pursue Canadian citizenship.

We seek to reduce barriers for those who wish to become Canadian citizens.

We are restoring the 50% credit for time spent in Canada by international students. In addition to including time spent in Canada on a study or work visa towards the physical residency requirement, Bill C-6 will also reduce the period of physical residency required to apply for Canadian citizenship. It reduces the physical residency requirement from four out of the previous six years to three out of the previous five years.

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