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A total of 15016 Indians obtained Canadian citizenship during the 10-month period ending in October 2018, according to a report by Times of India, quoting Canadian authorities. It means a 50% rise in the number of Indians obtaining Canadian citizenship compared to the same time period in the previous year when a total of 9992 citizenships were awarded to Indians.
According to the estimates by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC), around 1.53 lakh people would have obtained citizenship by October 2018. The number of individuals who obtained Canadian citizenship during the same time period in 2017 was 1.08 lakh, 40% less compared to this year.
In 2018, Indians submitted the second highest number of applications for Canadian citizenship. First came the Filipinos, with 15642 of them becoming Canadian citizens in 2018.
Changes in Canadian citizenship rules
Compared to permanent residents, Canadian citizens enjoy a number of benefits that include right to vote, eligibility for government jobs and greater mobility. The major reason for more Indians obtaining citizenship in 2018 is the changes in the citizenship rules introduced in October 2017. It includes reducing the time period required for a permanent resident to be physically present in Canada for becoming eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship from four out of six years to three out of five years. After the changes were introduced, IRCC received 2.42 lakh applications for citizenship between October 2017 and June 2018. The number is more than double compared to the previous corresponding period.
India top source country for permanent residents
In the year 2017, a total of 51651 Indians obtained permanent residence in Canada, thus India emerging as the topmost source country for permanent residents. The number is around 18% of the total permanent residence granted. The Filipinos came second with 40857 obtaining PR, followed by Chinese with 30270. Altogether, a total of 2.86 lakh individuals got PR status in 2017, according to 2018 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration.
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Canada plans to gradually increase the number of newcomers admitted to the country in the next three years. If you wish to immigrate to Canada, this is the right time to start the procedure. Contact us for any assistance.
