Canadian Citizenship Amendments Receive Royal Assent

As previously reported, on February 6, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Minister (the "Minister") Chris Alexander unveiled Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, which proposed significant amendments to the Canadian Citizenship Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-29). On June 19, 2014, the Bill C-24 received Royal Assent and became law. 

Bill C-24 updates the eligibility requirements for Canadian citizenship, strengthens security and fraud provisions, and amends provisions governing the processing of applications and the review of decisions. The amendments to the eligibility requirements include:

1. Clarifying the meaning of being resident in Canada (physical presence rather than residence);