Statistics Canada’s recent census reveals some key insights into the path to, and trends surrounding obtaining Canadian citizenship for immigrants.

1. Over 90% of Canada’s
population are citizens.
Canada’s population are citizens.

2. Statistics Canada’s
recent census
reveals some key
insights into the
path to, and trends
surrounding
obtaining Canadian
citizenship for
immigrants.

3. Canada at a glance
 The main report on citizenship A portrait of
citizenship in Canada from the 2021 census”—
revealed that out of a population of 33.1 million in
Canada, the majority (91.2%) were citizens, either by
birth or by naturalization. Citizenship by
naturalization (the path for immigrants) occurs
when a former non-Canadian resident of Canada,
eventually becomes eligible and earns the legal status
of a citizen.
 The remaining 8.8% of the population were non-
Canadian (either permanent residents or temporary
residents).

4. Moving from non-Canadian
to Citizen
 In 2021, four out of five (80% of) eligible immigrants
had obtained Canadian citizenship. the
naturalization rate (percentage of eligible
immigrants who have obtained Canadian
citizenship) has dropped from 87.8% in 2011.
 This drop in the naturalization rate is a key concern
for the government and is likely exaggerated by
certain policy changes that Canada has already
moved to correct. For example:

5.  correct. For example:
 Physical presence requirements for naturalization
changed between 2015 and 2017, increasing from three
to four years, and with no ability for applicants to claim
time spent as temporary residents. After changes to
the Citizenship Act in 2017, this requirement returned to
three years, with applicants once more able to claim time
spent in Canada as temporary residents; and
 The fee to apply for a citizenship grant increased in 2015
(currently it is $630 CAD). The Liberal government had
promised in late 2019 that they would waive these fees,
to reduce the financial burden on lower-income
households; while they are yet to follow through on this
promise, it is likely that once fees are waived more lower-
income households will be eligible for naturalization.

6. The natural move to
citizenship
 While the last ten years have seen a decline in the rate of
naturalization, they do similarly show that as time
increased in the country, people were increasingly
likely to pursue citizenship.
 For example, of immigrants admitted to Canada before
2001, 94% had obtained Canadian citizenship by 2021.
Comparatively, of immigrants admitted from 2011-2015,
little more than half had obtained citizenship.
 These findings suggest that there is a natural process by
which more and more people from each immigrant
cohort pursue and/or become eligible for Canadian
citizenship as time passes.

7. The need for non-citizens
 One of the key findings from the study was that while
the median age of Canadian citizens was 41.2 years
of age, the median age of non-Canadian citizens
living in Canada (temporary or permanent residents)
was 33.6 years.
 This is a crucial discovery that is in line with
Canada’s immigration aims, as in the face of an aging
population and low birth rate, Canada will look to
address labour shortages and market needs through
immigration.

8. Where will the Canadians of tomorrow
hail from?
 Among both permanent residents and temporary
residents, the most reported citizenship was Indian,
accounting for more than a quarter of all temporary
residents.
 Roughly one in ten permanent and temporary
residents reported Chinese citizenship; with the
Philippines trailing close behind in terms of
permanent residents.

9.  The third most common nationality among non-
permanent residents was French.
 These findings make it increasingly clear that Asia
will continue to be a key source region of not just
immigrants, but also future Canadian citizens.
 Additionally, the increasing number of non-
permanent residents who were French meets the
policy aims of both the Quebec and federal
governments, who will be looking to
increase Francophone immigration across Canada.

10. Key takeaways
 Immigration remains a key concern for Canada, and the
gradual lowering of the naturalization rate will likely be a
focal point for the federal government and Immigration
Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) moving
forward; especially as the median age of non-Canadians
in Canada is within prime working ages.
 This being said, Canada’s high quality of life continues to
guarantee strong rates of immigration and immigrant
retention, meaning that even if the naturalization rate is
low, Canada is still likely to have high rates of new
immigrants and permanent residents every year (as
evidenced by targets within the new Immigration Levels
Plan.

11. THANK YOU