Appendix D – Right of Citizenship Subordinate Remission Policy
Right of Citizenship Subordinate Remission Policy (PDF, 825 KB)
D1.1 Context
This section articulates remission requirements specific to the Right of Citizenship fee.
D1.2 Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to:
- outline remission rules for the Right of Citizenship fee
- identify situations that will be excluded from the remission eligibility
- outline the remission scale for Right of Citizenship fee
- explain the remission process
This document is to be read in conjunction with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Departmental Remission Policy Pursuant to the Service Fees Act.
D1.3 Policy Effective Date
This policy takes effect April 1, 2021.
D1.4 Affected Fees
This policy applies to the Right of Citizenship fee.
D1.5 Service Standard for the Right of Citizenship Fee
While processing/application fees for citizenship are exempt from the Service Fees Act, the Right of Citizenship Fee (ROC) is subject to it. A service standard for the ROC was established.
D1.6 Remissions Rules
Unless otherwise excluded, a partial refund for the Right of Citizenship fee may be issued in cases where IRCC has exceeded the service standard.
Clients who may be entitled to a refund are not required to apply for the remission of the Right of Citizenship fee as the remission eligibility falls under the Department’s responsibility. These applications will be monitored by the Department and the appropriate portion of the fee will be refunded accordingly.
Applications that are refused, abandoned or withdrawn are not subject to the remission as the ROC is already refunded in full in these cases.
Exclusions from the remission policy are detailed in section D1.9.
D1.6.1 Remission Calculation Methodology for Right of Citizenship Fee
In cases where the service standard is not met, clients will be refunded a portion of the fee paid. This amount is based on the proportion by which the standard has not been met. The refund will be based on the following scale and is based on time elapsed between the date IRCC issues a positive grant decision and the date IRCC first sends the invitation to attend the ceremony and take the Oath of Citizenship:
The impact to the fee payer is determined to be correlated to the amount of time outside a service standard that the service is delivered. Taking into consideration that the service is ultimately received, remissions at IRCC shall not exceed 50%. The proportion of the fee remitted will correspond to the following two tiers:
Remission Tier | Days over service standard |
---|---|
25% of fee paid | 1 day – 4 months |
50% of fee paid | 4 months (+1 day) or more |
Aside from exceptional circumstances (i.e. if citizenship requirements are not maintained), it is important to note that clients who have received a positive grant decision but whose services fall outside of the service standard will ultimately attend a citizenship ceremony, be granted Canadian citizenship and will acquire the many rights and privileges of becoming a Canadian citizen.
D1.7 Remission Process
Remissions will occur quarterly. Remission eligibility calculations will be completed only after the Oath of Citizenship is taken and the application is closed in the Global Case Management System (GCMS). Remissions will be monitored closely to ensure frequency is appropriate. Remissions will be completed on a regular basis throughout the year and clients will be notified when eligible. All remissions will be completed before July 1st of the following fiscal year (April 1st to March 31st).
The fee remission will be issued to the client based on the latest client information available to the Program.
D1.8 Exclusions
The following program specific and IRCC-wide circumstances will be excluded from the delivery of the 4 month service standard for the ROC:
- Applications processed via itinerant services (services to clients in areas where IRCC has no office);
- Applicants approved to take the Oath of citizenship abroad;
- Applicants who receive a waiver from taking the Oath due to a mental disability or who are not required to take the Oath (i.e. adult statelessness and adoption grants);
- Applicants who are suspected of no longer meeting the requirements for citizenship, and may be prohibited, following a positive grant decision;
- Delays caused by processing family member applications concurrently, such as cases where an eligibility assessment of one or more family member may delay the processing of the other family members;
- Delays caused by circumstances under the applicant’s control, such as prolonged unavailability, specific scheduling requests, difficulty contacting clients, etc.;
This remission policy also does not apply for applications processed in unusual or exceptional circumstances that may impact regular operations, result in an unforeseeable and significant influx of applications, or result in loss of staff, loss of facility (partial or full), or loss of communications or network capabilities.
Departmental exclusions can also be found in the Departmental Remission Policy which should be read in conjunction with this document.
D1.9 Enquiries
Enquiries on remission eligibility or in regards to this subordinate remissions policy should be directed to IRCC.CITConsultations-ConsultationsCIT.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
D1.10 References
Legislation
Related policy instruments
Page details
- Date modified: