By Mata Press Service

A recent Statistics Canada report titled "Citizenship Acquisition and Active Presence of Immigrants in Canada" reveals that immigrants who become Canadian citizens are more likely to remain actively engaged in the country over the long term. The study, released on May 16, 2025, examines the relationship between acquiring Canadian citizenship and maintaining an "active presence," defined by the consistent filing of income taxes—a key indicator of economic and social participation.

Analyzing data from the Longitudinal Immigration Database, the study focuses on immigrants admitted between 2003 and 2012, aged 25 to 54 at the time of admission. It finds that 93% of immigrants from the 2008–2012 cohort who became citizens had an active presence in Canada ten years after admission, compared to 67% of those who did not acquire citizenship. This suggests that naturalized citizens are more likely to stay and contribute to Canadian society over time.

While concerns have been raised about immigrants potentially leaving Canada after obtaining citizenship, the study indicates that such occurrences are minimal. Only about 2% of naturalized immigrants ceased their active presence in Canada from one year before to one year after acquiring citizenship, and this figure modestly increased to 5% three years post-naturalization. In contrast, immigrants who did not become citizens experienced an annual decrease in active presence of approximately 3 percentage points.

The study also highlights variations based on country of origin. Immigrants from countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and South Korea exhibited higher rates of inactivity three years after naturalization (ranging from 7% to 10%) compared to those from the Philippines, Pakistan, and Colombia (3% to 4%). This suggests that immigrants from developed countries may be more inclined to leverage Canadian citizenship for increased international mobility.

Overall, the findings indicate that acquiring Canadian citizenship is associated with a strong commitment to remaining in the country, with the vast majority of naturalized immigrants continuing to actively participate in Canadian society.