Canada is known for welcoming immigrants who seek a better life. But recently, some worry that more immigrants might leave the country after gaining citizenship. Do most new citizens stay in Canada, or do they use citizenship to move elsewhere? A recent federal study sheds light on this question.
What Does “Active Presence” Mean?
The study looked at immigrants who arrived between 2003 and 2012. It used the term “active presence” to show if immigrants stayed in Canada. Active presence means taking part in Canadian life—like working or paying taxes. If someone does these things, it is a good sign they still live in Canada.
By checking who was still active 10 years after arrival, the study gave a clear picture of long-term settlement.
Citizenship and Staying in Canada
The study found that becoming a Canadian citizen strongly links to staying. For immigrants aged 25 to 54 who arrived between 2008 and 2012:
- 93% of those who became citizens were still active after 10 years.
- Only 67% of non-citizens remained active.
Looking at immigrants from 2003 to 2007 showed similar results:
- 91% of citizens stayed.
- Just 58% of non-citizens stayed.
This means getting Canadian citizenship is not usually a quick ticket to leave. Instead, it often shows a deeper connection to the country.
Who Is More Likely to Leave?
While most immigrants stay, some groups leave more often.
Among non-citizens:
- Those with higher education are more likely to leave. People with graduate degrees were 16% less likely to stay than those with only high school education.
- Immigrants who spoke English or French on arrival were 9% to 16% less likely to stay.
- Refugees tend to stay longer than economic immigrants, by up to 19%.
Among citizens:
- Differences by education, language, or immigration type were smaller.
- Immigrants from developed countries were more likely to leave. For example, 87% of U.S. citizens stayed after 10 years, compared to 97% of Filipino citizens.
These findings suggest some non-citizens may treat Canada as a temporary stop. Citizenship seems to help immigrants settle no matter their background.
What Citizenship Numbers Show
Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows steady citizenship grants:
- 375,695 new citizens in 2022
- 379,991 in 2023
- 375,321 in 2024
- 87,765 in the first three months of 2025
This steady flow supports the study’s finding: most new citizens remain active in Canada over time.
The study did note a small drop—about 2%—in activity in the year after citizenship. But this drop is much less than the 3% annual decline seen among non-citizens.
What Does This Mean?
Becoming a Canadian citizen means most immigrants plan to stay long term. They work, pay taxes, and join communities. Citizenship reflects a strong commitment, not a way to quickly leave.
The study suggests policymakers should focus more on why some non-citizens with high education and language skills leave. These immigrants may view Canada as a stepping stone or have other reasons to move on.
Final Words
The idea that many immigrants get citizenship and then leave is not supported by data. Most new Canadian citizens settle well and stay for the long haul. Citizenship is a key sign of their commitment. The challenge is to better understand why some non-citizens choose to move on, especially those with strong skills and language abilities.
Canada’s immigration system continues to welcome people who want to build a future here—and the numbers show most do just that.