The Canadian government has introduced a variety of changes to the way the Citizenship system will work in Canada. Not all the changes are in force yet, and there is no indication when they would be in force. The Table below provides a summary of these changes:
| Category | New Act | Old Act | Changes in Force |
| Residency Requirements for Citizenship | A Permanent Resident needs to reside in Canada for 4 out of 6 years in order to qualify for Citizenship | A Permanent Resident needs to reside in Canada for 3 out of 4 years in order to qualify for Citizenship | Not yet in force |
| Language assessment | The Citizenship applicant need to prove language ability | Language is not a necessary requirement; individual could use an interpreter to prove knowledge of Canada | In force |
| Age to take citizenship test | Individuals between 14 and 64 will need to take the Citizenship Test | Individuals between 18 and 54 need to take the Citizenship test | Not yet in force |
| Revocation of Citizenship | Citizenship can be revoked for:
It can also be revoked for dual citizens for:
|
Citizenship can be revoked for:
|
In force |
| Citizenship is | A Privilege | A Right | In force |
| Residency | No time prior to being a permanent resident counts as for calculating the 4 out of 6 years for citizenship | Fifty percent of time as a student or as a live in caregiver, prior to applying for Permanent Resident status counts in Citizenship application calculations | Not yet in force |
| Tax returns | Need to show that you filed income tax returns for 4 out of 6 years | Do not have to show any proof of filing tax returns | Not yet in force |
| Intention to reside in Canada | Requires promise of intent to reside in Canada once citizenship is obtained | Do not have to prove intent to reside in Canada; cannot lose citizenship for planning to reside somewhere else once you obtain citizenship. | Not yet in force |
| Fast-tracking citizenship | Members of the military can apply for citizenship after having served for 3 years | Everyone could apply for citizenship after living in Canada for 3 out of 4 years | In force |
| Passing on citizenship for children born abroad | Children born to Canadian military members abroad, as well as Canadian diplomats abroad can pass on citizenship to their children born abroad | Only one generation can pass citizenship to its children if born abroad | In force |
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Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.