Canada facilitates the acquisition of citizenship for permanent residents

The changes provide for a reduction in the length of stay in Canadian territory. Canada plans to facilitate access to Canadian citizenship for permanent residents in the country by amending the Immigration Act. It is due to come into force on October 11, the Canadian government quoted AFP and BGNES as saying. Ю

The changes provide for a reduction in the length of stay in Canadian territory in order for a person to have the right to apply for citizenship, as well as a possibility for temporary residents such as foreign students. In its current form, the law requires permanent residents to live on the territory of the country for four consecutive years of the six, after which they have the right to file citizenship documents. Now, with the changes, this period falls three consecutive years out of five in order to get a Canadian passport. For this period, residents must also have income tax returns. "The aim of these changes is to remove restrictions and obstacles to people with permanent residency status," said Minister of Immigration Affairs Ahmed Hussein. He specified that the government wants all permanent residents in Canada to become Canadian citizens.