Why Fewer Immigrants Are Becoming Citizens in Canada: The Real Reasons Behind the Decline
On this page you will find:
- Key findings from the IRCC–StatsCan study
- Simplified tables with the most important figures
- Why naturalisation is falling across major immigrant groups
- How global mobility shapes citizenship choices
- FAQ
Canada’s Citizenship Decline: A Data-Backed Explanation
A major new study from IRCC and Statistics Canada shows that fewer immigrants in Canada are choosing to become citizens. The decline is significant, and it is not driven mainly by Canadian policy. Instead, global conditions have shifted so quickly that immigrants’ motivations have changed with them.
Rising living standards, stronger passports and new mobility options in key source countries now play a decisive role in citizenship decisions.
How the Study Worked
Researchers compared recent immigrants in Canada and Australia between 2011 and 2021, focusing on those who had met the minimum residency requirements for naturalisation.
The study examined 14 major source countries, looking at:
Key source-country characteristics
| Country | GDP per capita change (%) | Passport strength change | Dual citizenship? |
| China | +82 | +39 | No |
| India | +56 | +5 | No |
| Philippines | +39 | +7 | Yes |
| Pakistan | +29 | 0 | No |
| Iran | +1 | +5 | Yes |
| United States | +18 | +16 | Yes |
| United Kingdom | +8 | +14 | Yes |
| South Korea | +25 | +27 | No |
| Colombia | +18 | +75 | Yes |
| Sri Lanka | +35 | +3 | No |
| South Africa | -6 | +11 | No |
| Vietnam | +56 | +11 | Yes |
| Malaysia | +24 | +21 | Yes |
| Iraq | +3 | 0 | Yes |
Citizenship decline in Canada by source country
| Country | Citizenship rate 2011 (%) | Citizenship rate 2021 (%) | Decline (points) |
| China | 67.4 | 31.6 | -35.8 |
| India | 74.2 | 50.7 | -23.5 |
| Philippines | 80.8 | 52.2 | -28.6 |
| Pakistan | 84.7 | 73.5 | -11.2 |
| Iran | 84.6 | 76.7 | -7.9 |
| United States | 50.9 | 37.3 | -13.6 |
| United Kingdom | 55.9 | 39.9 | -16.0 |
| South Korea | 68.5 | 38.3 | -30.2 |
| Colombia | 84.8 | 71.4 | -13.4 |
| Sri Lanka | 74.5 | 49.4 | -25.1 |
| South Africa | 82.6 | 72.7 | -9.9 |
| Vietnam | 80.3 | 58.9 | -21.4 |
| Malaysia | 55.9 | 44.7 | -11.2 |
| Iraq | 85.9 | 69.4 | -16.5 |
| All groups | 76.5 | 56.7 | -19.8 |
What the Data Shows: The Real Drivers Behind the Decline
1. Rising living standards
Countries like China, India, Vietnam and the Philippines saw major economic growth. This reduces the incentive to naturalise abroad.
2. Stronger passports
Increases of 20–75 visa-free destinations changed global mobility for millions.
3. More global options
Immigrants can now work, live and invest across multiple countries without needing a second citizenship.
4. Dual citizenship rules are not driving the decline
Groups with both strict and flexible dual citizenship rules saw similar drops.
5. Permanent residency is becoming “good enough”
PR offers long-term stability. Many immigrants now maintain ties in several countries and don’t see citizenship as necessary.
What This Means for Canada
This study shows that declining citizenship uptake is not a sign of weakened commitment to Canada. It reflects:
- stronger home countries
- more global mobility
- flexible transnational lifestyles
- immigration pathways that increasingly select globally mobile professionals
Canada’s traditional integration model assumed citizenship was the final milestone. Today, the reality is far more complex.
FAQ
Why are naturalisation rates falling in Canada?
Naturalisation rates have dropped because many source countries have stronger economies, better passports and more global mobility options than before. These changes make Canadian citizenship less urgent for many newcomers, even though they remain long-term residents.
Which groups saw the largest declines?
The steepest declines occurred among immigrants from China, the Philippines, South Korea, India and Sri Lanka. These groups also come from countries that grew significantly wealthier or gained better global mobility between 2011 and 2021.
Did Canada’s citizenship policies cause the decline?
Not primarily. The study shows global factors played a much larger role. Canada’s declines were broad across most origin groups, suggesting changes in immigrant motivation rather than a direct policy effect.
Does dual citizenship matter?
Only marginally. Immigrants from countries that allow dual citizenship and those that prohibit it both experienced similar declines. Economic and mobility factors were far more decisive.
Is permanent residency replacing citizenship for some immigrants?
Yes. Many immigrants now treat PR as sufficient for long-term stability while maintaining strong ties to their home countries. As global mobility improves, citizenship becomes more of an optional add-on rather than a necessity.
