On May 16, 2025, Statistics Canada dropped a bombshell with its latest Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper, Citizenship Acquisition and Active Presence of Immigrants in Canada, authored by Feng Hou and Garnett Picot. The study shatters assumptions about immigrants leveraging Canadian citizenship for global mobility, revealing that those who naturalize are overwhelmingly committed to staying in Canada. Using tax-filing data as a measure of "active presence," the report uncovers surprising trends: while citizenship rates are dipping, immigrants—especially citizens—are more engaged in Canada than ever. From human capital factors to source countries, this comprehensive analysis of 2003–2012 cohorts offers a riveting look at Canada’s evolving immigration landscape. Buckle up for a deep dive into the data, myths debunked, and policy implications that could reshape Canada’s immigration narrative
Key Findings: Citizenship and Commitment
The study introduces "active presence," defined as filing income taxes in Canada, as a proxy for immigrants’ socioeconomic engagement. A whopping 90% of immigrants admitted in 2020 filed taxes in their first full year, and active presence 10 years post-admission rose from 77% (1990–1994 cohort) to 80% (2005–2009 cohort). The core question: does acquiring Canadian citizenship increase international mobility, leading to a drop in active presence? The answer is a resounding no for most.
Among immigrants admitted from 2003 to 2012 (aged 25–54 at admission), naturalized citizens showed far higher active presence than non-citizens. For the 2008–2012 cohort, 93% of citizens were active 10 years post-admission, compared to 67% of non-citizens. Active presence dipped slightly post-naturalization—from 97% one year before to 95% one year after, a 2% drop—far less than the 3% annual decline among non-citizens. This suggests that only a tiny fraction of naturalized immigrants (2%) shift to "inactive" status (not filing taxes or leaving Canada) post-citizenship, debunking fears that citizenship fuels emigration.
Stat Spotlight: After 10 years, 91–93% of naturalized immigrants remained active, compared to 58–67% of non-citizens, signaling a strong correlation between citizenship and long-term commitment.
Declining Citizenship Rates, Rising Engagement
Citizenship rates have been sliding since the mid-1990s, a trend confirmed by the Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB). For the 2003–2007 cohort, 72% of all immigrants were citizens after 15 years, but only 61% of the 2008–2012 cohort hit that mark after 10 years. Among those with active presence, rates were higher (82% vs. 71%), reflecting that active immigrants are more likely to naturalize. The 2008–2012 cohort also delayed citizenship, with a 36% rate five years post-admission (vs. 45% for 2003–2007), though the gap narrowed to 7% after 10 years.
Despite lower citizenship rates, active presence is up across the board. Non-citizens in the 2008–2012 cohort were active at 67% after 10 years, up from 58% in the earlier cohort, while citizens edged up from 91% to 93%. This suggests Canada is retaining immigrants’ engagement, citizen or not, challenging narratives of declining immigrant retention.
Fun Fact: The Canadian passport’s visa-free access to 180+ countries (per the 2024 Henley Passport Index) makes it a global mobility asset, yet most naturalized immigrants stay put, prioritizing Canada’s stability.
Human Capital and Source Country Variations
Human capital—education, language, age, and immigration class—shapes citizenship and active presence. A multinomial logistic regression model controlled for these factors, revealing:
- Education: Immigrants with bachelor’s or graduate degrees had higher citizenship rates (67–69%) than those with secondary education or less (59%). Among citizens, active presence was stable (91–92%) across education levels, but non-citizens with graduate degrees were less active (54%) than those with secondary education (69%), likely due to greater international job mobility.
- Language: English- or French-speaking immigrants had higher citizenship rates (65–73%) than those speaking neither (58%). Non-citizens fluent in official languages were less active (53–61%) than those without (71%), possibly reflecting global opportunities for skilled professionals.
- Age: Younger immigrants (20–34) had higher citizenship rates (67%) than older ones (61–62%). Active presence varied little among citizens (91–94%) but more among non-citizens (61–66%).
- Immigration Class: Refugees led with a 74% citizenship rate, followed by Federal Skilled Workers (68%) and Quebec selections (68%). Refugees and family-class non-citizens were most active (71–74%), while economic immigrants lagged (54–64%).
Source country mattered significantly. Immigrants from developing nations (e.g., Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, Colombia) had high citizenship rates (74–82%) and lower inactivity among citizens (3–11%) after 10 years. Those from developed nations (e.g., U.S., UK, France, South Korea) had lower citizenship rates (35–54%) and higher inactivity (9–13%), likely due to attractive return migration options and “valuable” home-country passports. China (49% citizenship, 10% inactivity) and Iran (11% inactivity) aligned more with developed nations’ patterns.
Does Citizenship Fuel Mobility?
The study directly tackles whether citizenship acquisition triggers a drop in active presence, signaling return or onward migration. For naturalized immigrants, active presence fell from 97% one year before citizenship to 95% one year after and 92% three years after—a modest decline. By contrast, non-citizens saw a steeper 3% annual drop. This 2% post-naturalization dip suggests minimal mobility, with most immigrants staying engaged.
Source country variations were stark. Immigrants from developed nations like the U.S. (10% drop three years post-naturalization), UK (7%), France (9%), and South Korea (7%) showed higher inactivity than those from developing nations like the Philippines, Pakistan, and Colombia (3–4%). China and Iran mirrored developed nations’ trends. This aligns with European studies (e.g., de Hoon et al., 2020) linking naturalization to emigration in developed contexts, driven by economic opportunities or cyclical migration.
Human capital had less impact. Education levels didn’t significantly affect post-naturalization active presence, but bilingual (English/French) immigrants and economic-class immigrants saw slightly larger declines (6% vs. 3–4%). Notably, immigrants who took longer to naturalize (8–10+ years) saw sharper drops (10–15% three years post-citizenship) than those naturalizing within 5 years (4%), possibly reflecting weaker ties to Canada.
Stat: 28% of inactive immigrants after 10 years were citizens, with 49% of inactive refugees and 50% of inactive Iranians holding citizenship, vs. only 14% of inactive U.S. immigrants, highlighting diverse motivations for naturalization.
Implications for Canada’s Immigration Policy
Retention Success
The high active presence (93% for citizens, 67% for non-citizens after 10 years) and minimal post-naturalization drop (2%) signal Canada’s strength in retaining immigrants. Naturalized immigrants’ commitment counters myths of citizenship as a “mobility ticket,” affirming Canada’s appeal as a long-term home.
Citizenship Decline
Falling citizenship rates (61% for 2008–2012 vs. 72% for 2003–2007) and delays in naturalization raise concerns. Barriers like application costs, knowledge tests, or policy changes (e.g., stricter residency rules) may deter eligible immigrants, risking lower civic integration.
Source Country Dynamics
Higher inactivity among citizens from developed nations suggests targeted retention strategies for these groups, such as job market integration or cultural programs. Conversely, developing-nation immigrants’ high citizenship and low inactivity underscore their value to Canada’s social fabric.
Human Capital Leverage
Lower active presence among highly educated, language-proficient non-citizens highlights a brain drain risk. Canada must compete globally for skilled talent, offering incentives like career pathways or tax benefits to keep them engaged.
Recommendation: Simplify citizenship processes (e.g., lower fees, streamline tests) to boost naturalization rates, and launch retention programs for high-skill immigrants from developed nations. Use IMDB data to monitor active presence trends in real-time, guiding policy tweaks.
Challenges and Opportunities
Challenge 1: Declining Citizenship Rates
- Issue: A 7% drop in citizenship rates between cohorts risks reduced civic engagement.
- Solution: Reduce financial and administrative barriers, and promote citizenship’s benefits (e.g., voting, security) via public campaigns.
Challenge 2: Developed-Nation Inactivity
- Issue: 9–13% inactivity among citizens from developed nations signals potential return migration.
- Solution: Offer tailored integration programs, such as mentorship or networking for professionals from the U.S., UK, or France.
Challenge 3: Brain Drain Risk
- Issue: Highly educated non-citizens are less active (54% for graduate-degree holders), risking talent loss.
- Solution: Create fast-track career programs and tax incentives for skilled immigrants to stay engaged.
Opportunity: Data-Driven Policy
The IMDB’s robust data on citizenship and tax-filing behavior empowers policymakers to track retention trends. Tools like Statistics Canada’s Economic and Social Reports and the StatsCAN app can amplify public engagement with these insights.
Canada’s immigrants are defying expectations, with naturalized citizens showing fierce loyalty to their adopted home. The Citizenship Acquisition and Active Presence of Immigrants in Canada study reveals that only 2% of immigrants shift to inactive status post-naturalization, compared to a 3% annual drop among non-citizens. While citizenship rates dip and developed-nation immigrants show higher inactivity, the overall trend is clear: Canada retains its newcomers, with 93% of citizens and 67% of non-citizens actively engaged after a decade. From the Philippines’ steadfast citizens to the U.S.’s mobile professionals, this data paints a vibrant picture of Canada’s immigration success—and its challenges. As policymakers eye citizenship barriers and brain drain risks, the IMDB offers a goldmine for crafting a future where Canada remains a magnet for global talent.
This isn’t just a study—it’s a call to celebrate Canada’s immigrant backbone and double down on policies that keep them here. Dive into the full report on www.statcan.gc.ca or the StatsCAN app, and join the conversation on Canada’s immigration future!
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