Canada: Government Of Canada Implements New Legislative Changes To The Citizenship Act

Previous Citizenship Act

Citizenship Act with Bill C-6 Amendments

Applicants had to be physically present in Canada for four out of six years before applying for citizenship

Applicants must be physically present in Canada for three out of five years before applying for citizenship

Applicants had to file Canadian income taxes, if required to do so under the Income Tax Act, for four out of six years, matching the physical presence requirement

Applicants must file Canadian income taxes, if required to do so under the Income Tax Act, for three out of five years, matching the new physical presence requirement.

Applicants must be physically present in Canada for 183 days in four out of the six years preceding their application

This provision is repealed. Applicants no longer have to meet this requirement.

Time spent in Canada prior to becoming a permanent resident did not count towards the physical presence requirement for citizenship

Applicants may count each day they were physically present in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident as a half-day toward meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days

Applicants between 14 to 64 years had to meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship

Applicants between 18 and 54 years must meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship