Citizenship Refusals

Requirements for citizenship are provided under s. 5(1) of the Citizenship Act and include the following main factors:

  1. The applicant must be over the age of eighteen
  2. The applicant must be a permanent resident, and within the four years immediately preceding the date of his or her application must have resided in Canada for at least three years
  3. The applicant must also have an adequate knowledge of English or French and of the responsibilities and privileges of Canadian citizenship.

These requirements are anticipated to change in 2015, as the Citizenship Act was amended by Parliament in June 2014. For more information on filing a citizenship application and upcoming changes, please click here.

CITIZENSHIP REFUSAL – NEXT STEPS

If your application for Canadian citizenship is refused, this decision may be appealed to the Federal Court of Canada. The first step in the appeal process involves filing a Notice of Application to the Federal Court within 30 days of receipt of the decision from Citizenship. This timeline is very important.

For more information on the Federal Court process, please click here.

Depending upon why your citizenship application was refused, a new application for citizenship may be your best option. This can occur when you were not actually in Canada for three years, depending on the legal test applied by the Citizenship Judge. We can review the decision and advise on the strength of a Federal Court challenge.

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Important Immigration Court Decisions


What Our Clients Are Saying
Carol
1 week ago
I had a truly excellent experience with Bellissimo Immigration Law Group. Keely is knowledgeable, warm, and incredibly detail-oriented, and Mario brings a wealth of experience and insight.

I was helping my son’s nanny navigate a very complex immigration situation. She had been living with us in Canada for three years when we began her permanent residency application. During the process, we discovered an issue with her original work permit application. While it was an honest mistake, we knew it could have serious implications and wanted to handle it carefully.

We consulted several immigration lawyers, and most advised that it would be a difficult case. Many suggested submitting an explanation and hoping for the best. The Bellissimo team also acknowledged the challenges but recommended a different approach — applying on Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds. Mario had experience with this path and believed it would give us a stronger chance of success.

The application process was thorough and required a significant amount of work. Keely guided us every step of the way. In total, we submitted over 80 supporting documents, many beyond the basic requirements, to fully demonstrate our nanny’s life in Canada and her contributions to our family and community. Keely and Mario also prepared a comprehensive submission that tied everything together clearly and persuasively.

Due to COVID backlogs and changes in immigration policies, the process took several years. Throughout that time, the Bellissimo team continued to check in and monitor our file — they truly don’t just submit and walk away, which we really appreciated.

We are so happy to share that our nanny has now received her permanent residency. Looking back, I am convinced that their strategy, attention to detail, and dedication made all the difference.

I would highly recommend Bellissimo Immigration Law Group, especially for anyone dealing with complex or non-straightforward immigration cases.
orlando orlandoo
1 month ago
Besy lowyer in canada and trust
Amanda Suckra
2 months ago
​"When our spousal sponsorship was denied due to a large age gap, we felt judged and defeated. Bellissimo Law Group changed everything. Alexandra Goncharova and her team are absolute experts in these sensitive cases; they didn't just provide legal advice—they gave us our future back.
​Alexandra was meticulous, fearless, and prepared us so thoroughly that our refusal was successfully overturned. If you are facing a complex appeal where the odds seem stacked against you, Bellissimo is the firm you need, Highest recommendation!"
Kenneth Perry
4 months ago
Bellissimo Immigration Law Group made a complex process feel clear and manageable. Their team was professional, attentive, and genuinely committed to helping me succeed. I always felt informed, supported, and in excellent hands. I’m truly grateful for their work and highly recommend them.
Nasir Khan (Nasikan)
4 months ago
I had an excellent experience working with Alexander on my IAD appeal. She guided us through every step with patience, clarity, and professionalism. The way she prepared us for the interview and handled the hearing was truly impressive. Our appeal was approved, and we’re extremely grateful for her hard work and dedication. Highly recommended!
James Christie
5 months ago
Lisa Fletcher
5 months ago
I am thankful that I was able to use the services of Bellissimo Law Group. Hannah, my immigration attorney, walked me through every step and answered every question I had. The process was made so much easier with her help and we achieved success! I am now a Canadian citizen! Thank you, Hannah and the team at Bellissimo.