Over 15,000 India-born people have pledged their allegiance to Canada by acquiring citizenship during the 10-month period ending October 2018, registering a 50 per cent increase from 2017, reported The Times of India.
Indian migrants now account for the second largest source of citizenship in Canada, second only to Filipinos who topped the list, as per preliminary estimates.
More and more permanent residents living in Canada are applying for citizenship because of increased benefits available to passport holders and also because the process has become much easier and quicker.
Now PR holders require to be physically present in Canada for three out of five years as compared to the previous requirement of four out of six years before applying for citizenship, which prompts prospective immigrants to apply for citizenship.
In addition, citizens have a right to vote, access to restricted government jobs, run for political office and the ability to travel with a Canadian passport. 
The dramatic increase in the number is also being attributed to tightening US Immigration laws.
Canadian flag Source: Unsplash
Immigration Consultant Khushal Khurrana who specialises in Canadian immigration for Indian nationals told SBS Punjabi that many of his clients initially wanted to work in the US but preferred to opt for Canada instead because they were ‘disenchanted’ with America’s Immigration policies.
“The US citizenship is the most uncertain thing in the world," said Mr Khurrana.
“So many young clients are instead choosing Canada because once they get Canadian citizenship, they can easily live and work in the US, so it’s a sort of backdoor entry for them,” he added.
Mr Khurrana claimed the trend of opting for Canadian citizenship is going to increase in the coming years.
2015 was a record year for Indian in Canada when 28,000 India-born migrants received Canadian citizenship.
