Tuesday, April 12, 2005

SPOTLIGHT: ‘I am Canadian’

Becoming Canadian

IMMIGRANTS who arrive in Canada are much more likely to become naturalized citizens than those who go to many other nations, including the United States, according to a new study.

In Canada, about 84% of eligible immigrants in 2001 were Canadian citizens, the study showed.

However, in the United States, the proportion was less than half that level. Only 40% of foreign-born residents were American citizens.

Immigrants are eligible to become a naturalized citizen in Canada if they have lived in the country for at least three years. South of the border, a five-year residency requirement is in effect.

In Australia, where the residency requirement is a minimum of two years, only three-quarters of eligible immigrants are naturalized. In the United Kingdom, 50% of immigrants who have resided there for at least five years are British citizens.

Anxious to naturalize

Immigrants appear anxious to obtain Canadian citizenship almost from the moment they arrive. After just six months of residence, before becoming eligible for citizenship and at a time when many are still adjusting to their new country, the vast majority of immigrants indicate their intention to naturalize once they become eligible.

In Canada, younger immigrants are much more likely to become citizens. These individuals are more likely to be in the labour market and have more to gain from citizenship than older immigrants.

About 85% of those aged less than 20 at the time of their arrival have been naturalized, compared with 72% of those who arrived at the age of 70 or over.

In addition, the longer newcomers stay in Canada, the more likely they are to become citizens. In 2001, 57% of immigrants who had been residents for four to five years had become Canadian citizens.

Among those who had lived in Canada for six to 10 years, 79% were citizens. And among those who had been in the country for 30 years or more, 90% were citizens.

Taking less time

Census data also showed that recent groups of newcomers are taking less time to become citizens than their previous counterparts.

The 1991 Census showed that just over half (51%) of immigrants who had been residents for four to five years had become citizens. The proportion in 1981 was only 42%.

This trend may be a result of the countries of origin. Newcomers entering Canada in the last decade were more likely to have been born in Asian nations such as China, India or the Philippines. Those who came before the 1960s tended to be from European nations such as the United Kingdom and Italy.

Newly eligible immigrants from Africa or Asia are more likely to become Canadian citizens than those from Europe and the United States.

Immigrants born in the United States were the least likely to hold Canadian citizenship. Even among US-born immigrants who had spent more than 30 years in Canada, 32% were not citizens.

You can read the entire article “Becoming Canadian: Intent, process and outcome” free on our website.

For more information, contact Kelly Tran (416-952-1919), Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division.

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© 2004, 2005 Statistics Canada.