Program delivery update: Citizenship – Subsection 5(3) waivers of language, knowledge and oath requirements
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
September 7 2023
The instructions for waivers on compassionate grounds have been updated.
When a waiver request for language, knowledge or oath can occur
- Subsection 5(3) waiver requests will now be available for clients at the time of application.
- The forms are available on the external website along with the application package.
- Waivers can still be requested throughout the citizenship grant process until a final decision is made.
Waivers and accommodation
- The term compassionate grounds has been defined and is more facilitative for clients, as waivers of the language and knowledge requirements may occur for reasons other than medical.
- Information has been included to differentiate a waiver request from an accommodation request.
- Clients who request a waiver of the knowledge requirement will not be invited to the citizenship test unless their waiver request is denied.
Subsection 5(3) waiver forms
- A Waiver Request form (CIT 0116) has been added for clients to indicate their reason for requiring a waiver of language or knowledge.
- The Medical Opinion Form for Citizenship Waivers (CIT 0547) has been amended to reflect the new process.
- It will no longer be required for a compassionate waiver and will instead be used when the reason for a waiver is medical in nature, or when a waiver of the oath is requested.
Waiver assessment
- The Case Management Branch (CMB) will be making all knowledge, language and oath waiver determinations.
- A waiver hearing is no longer required for clients, and is instead discretionary for CMB decision makers.
- A decision can be made based on documentation.
- The Centralized Network (CN) will forward files with waiver requests directly to the CMB instead of the Domestic Network (DN).
Updated instructions
Deleted instructions
- Citizenship waivers: Medical opinions
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