Future citizens of Canada may soon experience a whole new way of taking the oath. The federal government has proposed a major change to the citizenship ceremony in Canada as we know it today.
The announcement was made in a regulatory impact analysis statement published on February 25th by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration.
Right now, new Canadians are required to take the oath in front of an authorized person, either at an in-person ceremony or virtually.
It’s a longstanding tradition for new citizens to participate in this ceremony to commemorate their full participation and inclusion in Canadian society.
However, this proposed change would give individuals the option to “self-administer” their oath of citizenship.
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New citizens could choose to take the oath “via a secure online solution, without the presence of an authorized person,” the statement says.
A certificate will still be provided upon completion, and this new format would shave off three months of waiting time.
The “ceremonial procedures” that are recited by a citizenship judge during the ceremony will be available as online guidance documents instead.
Essentially, this will allow future citizens to click and scroll their way through the process instead of reciting the oath and attending the ceremony.
The goal is to free up resources for more citizenships to be processed faster to keep up with the rising immigration levels and demand for applications.
This proposal will come into force in June 2023 if it’s approved, and the public is invited to weigh in with their thoughts online.
