Changes to citizenship requirements 2017 to 2018
On October 11, 2017, some changes to the Citizenship Act as a result of Bill C-6 became law. Here are some of the changes you need to know about:
You must be physically present in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years with no minimum number of days per year, before applying for citizenship.
- Previously: You had to be physically present in Canada for 4 out of 6 years, with a minimum of 183 days in each of the 4 years, before applying for citizenship.
Days spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident (as a temporary resident or protected person) within 5 years of applying for citizenship, count as ½ days, up to a maximum of 1 year (365 days).
- Previously: The time spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident did not count towards the physical presence requirement for citizenship.