The Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) enforced new Canadian national waivers and housing in September 2023. Again, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada have also included waivers on a non-medical compassionate basis, causing it to be simpler for some to receive Canadian citizenship. Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada will currently be providing an official language and understanding of Canada, which comprises obligations and freedoms of citizenship waivers for national candidates between the ages of 18 and 55 if they dwell under specific classes.
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Citizenship Application Accommodations
Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada provides housing to assist candidates in meeting the qualification provisions for the citizenship application. If a candidate satisfies all the other national requirements, then Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada can offer housing which may comprise of:
- Making sure that any in-person event locations are wheelchair and service animals accessible
- Interpretation benefits are arranged to offer other versions of the study manual, verbal or Braille interpretations of the citizenship knowledge test, or additional periods on exams.
New Canadian Citizenship Waivers
Waivers occur when housing is not able to house a candidate’s request because they do not satisfy certain situations of the Citizenship Act.
There is currently a waiver for the oath of citizenship for candidates aged 14 and above who, because of their cognitive inability to understand the importance of the oath of citizenship.
Therefore, minors below the age of 14 are not required to collect the oath of citizenship, similar to what is obtainable for candidates who are aged 55 and more. Candidates can also seek waivers for language or Canadian knowledge provisions under the compassionate bases mentioned below:
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Canadian Citizenship Waivers on Compassionate Grounds
When candidates between 18 and 54 sign the national application, they must undergo the citizenship exams and prove their language proficiency in French or English. Hence, if you possess a medical or non-medical event, or two, that matches the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada criteria, then you can now apply for a waiver. This can consist of:
- A harsh medical ailment that has remained or continues for at least 12 months, which includes:
- A mental disability
- A physical or developmental impediment
- A severe illness
- Concussion triggered by:
- Residing in a refugee camp
- Agony
- Wartime
- Or other comparable conditions.
- Reduced level of literacy, or education in the first terminology, which is the mother tongue
- Comparable events that may require a waiver.
Unless their waiver application is refused, applicants who demanded a waiver of the understanding provisions will not be invited to the citizenship exams.
Invalid Motives for a Waiver
Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada has also explained that time and expenses are inaccurate motives for a waiver. For instance, candidates seek a release because they do not possess enough time to research for the citizenship exams or because they are not able to make payment for the expense of taking the language exams.
How to Request a Waiver for Canadian Citizenship Application
You can apply for one or all three waivers for your citizenship application by using a Waiver Request Form (CIT 0116) and clarifying why you require a waiver of language or knowledge. Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada has also updated the Medical Opinion Form for citizenship waiver (CIT 0547) to ensure that qualified candidates request waivers on a medical basis.
Requesting for More than One Waiver in Citizenship Application
A candidate may apply for multiple citizenship provision waivers based on their condition. For instance:
- Waivers for exams and oath
- The three waivers include Exams, oaths, and language.
