Maple News reports that a new study from Statistics Canada has effectively dispelled the widespread belief that immigrants are leaving Canada en masse after obtaining citizenship. According to the data, an overwhelming 93% of immigrants aged 25 to 54 who became Canadian citizens between 2008 and 2012 remained actively present in the country a decade after their arrival.
Active presence was determined by the filing of income taxes in a given year—a commonly used indicator for economic engagement and residency. In contrast, only 67% of similarly aged immigrants who did not pursue Canadian citizenship showed the same long-term presence, highlighting a notable retention gap between citizens and non-citizens.
The data further reveals that more recent immigrants show stronger levels of retention. For example, 91% of those who immigrated between 2003 and 2007 and became citizens remained active after ten years, compared to just 58% of non-citizens in that same cohort. This points to an improving trend in immigrant retention over time.
Human capital factors—including education, language skills, and age—play a significant role in shaping whether immigrants naturalize and remain in Canada over the long term. The study found that immigrants holding a bachelor’s or graduate degree, younger individuals (particularly those aged 20 to 34 at arrival), and those proficient in either English or French are more likely to acquire citizenship and stay engaged in Canadian life.
Immigrants’ pathways to citizenship also correlated with their likelihood to stay. Refugees had the highest citizenship rates, followed by those admitted under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Quebec selection program. Origin country also influenced outcomes: immigrants from nations like Colombia, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Iran had citizenship rates above 74%, while those from countries such as the U.S., France, the U.K., and South Korea ranged between 35–54% after ten years.
As for whether becoming a Canadian citizen leads to a higher likelihood of leaving, the study shows only a slight dip in active presence following naturalization. A year after obtaining citizenship, the active presence rate dropped from 97% to 95%, and to 92% after three years—an overall drop of 5 percentage points. However, this is still significantly better compared to the consistent 3 percentage point annual decline seen in those who did not acquire citizenship.
Maple News notes that although income tax filing serves as a valuable indicator, it is not a flawless measure of residency. Still, the broader data strongly supports the conclusion that Canadian citizenship is linked to increased long-term engagement and retention.
In conclusion, far from seeking so-called ‘greener pastures,’ most naturalized immigrants make Canada their long-term home, contributing economically and socially to the nation’s future.