Minors now have an incentive to apply for Canadian citizenship: on February 16, 2018 the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced changes to the fee schedule set out in the Citizenship Regulations to lower the processing fees for minors applying under subsection 5(1) of the Citizenship Act from $530 to $100.
This change to the fee schedule ensures that there is no difference in the fee paid by citizenship grant applicants who are minors, regardless of whether they have a Canadian parent, are applying with a permanent resident parent or are applying on their own behalf.
Anyone who has already paid the $530 fee for a minor applying under this subsection on or after June 19, 2017 will be reimbursed the difference of $430. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will contact these applicants directly to outline the process for receiving a refund.
Minors who do not have a Canadian parent or a permanent resident parent applying for citizenship at the same time as them, can now apply for citizenship under subsection 5(1) of the Citizenship Act.
This change in fees will encourage more minors, including immigrant children in the welfare system or in care of the state, to acquire Canadian citizenship.
“We encourage all immigrants, including those under 18 years of age, to take the path to Canadian citizenship and benefit from permanently belonging in Canadian society. We are pleased that these fee changes will further facilitate access to citizenship for minors and reduce the financial burden for potentially vulnerable children.”
– The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
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