Canadian CITIZENSHIP

APPLY FOR CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP

Who can Apply

To become a Canadian citizen, most applicants must:

 

  • Have Canadian Permanent Residence Status
  • Have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the last 5 years (1,095 days) before applying.
    • Children under 18 years of age, must also have permanent resident status, but are not required to satisfy the 3-year requirement
  • Have filed your taxes; you may need to file your taxes in Canada for the last 3 years during the 5 years before applying
  • Must take and pass a citizenship test (applicable to those between 18-54 years old). You’ll need to answer questions about the rights and responsibilities of Canadians and questions about Canada’s history, geography, laws, economy, etc.
  • Must submit proof of your language proficiency in English or French. You will need to meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level 4 or higher
  • Applicants cannot have a criminal history that prohibits them from being granted Canadian Citizenship

Who can Apply

To become a Canadian citizen, most applicants must:
  • Have Canadian Permanent Residence Status
  • Have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the last 5 years (1,095 days) before applying.
    • Children under 18 years of age, must also have permanent resident status, but are not required to satisfy the 3-year requirement
  • Have filed your taxes; you may need to file your taxes in Canada for the last 3 years during the 5 years before applying
  • Must take and pass a citizenship test (applicable to those between 18-54 years old). You’ll need to answer questions about the rights and responsibilities of Canadians and questions about Canada’s history, geography, laws, economy, etc.
  • Must submit proof of your language proficiency in English or French. You will need to meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level 4 or higher
  • Applicants cannot have a criminal history that prohibits them from being granted Canadian Citizenship

At the time of applying for your Canadian citizenship, it is important that you and your minor children (if any), must have permanent resident status in Canada. Spouses don’t automatically become a citizen when you become a citizen. Spouses are required to apply for and meet the requirements for Canadian citizenship in a separate application. Citizenship applicants must be physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for 1,095 days within the five (5) years immediately before applying for citizenship. Only the five years preceding the date of the application are considered.

 

Within that five-year period:

 

  • Every day spent in Canada as a permanent resident count as a full day.
  • Every day spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident as a temporary resident or protected person counts as a half-day towards meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.
  • If the applicant became a permanent resident less than five years ago, the calculation period starts on the date that he or she became a permanent resident.

Circumstances that may prohibit, prevent, or make you ineligible from becoming a Canadian Citizen

Canadian Citizenship will not be granted to applicants who:

  • Are unable to meet the minimum required residency days in Canada
  • Are unable to demonstrate they can meet the minimum language requirements
  • Are unable to pass their citizenship and/or interview
  • Are unable to provide documentation to prove the residency obligations

You cannot become a citizen if you have been prohibited under the Citizenship Act. Below are some of the reasons that may make you not eligible:

  • If you are in Canada and you’re under a removal order
  • If you are in Canada and in prison, on parole, or probation
  • If you are outside Canada and serving a prison term
  • If you have had your citizenship application refused for misrepresentation within the last 5 years
  • If you have had your Canadian citizenship revoked/taken away because of fraud within the past 10 years.
  • If you have been charged with or on trial for an offence under the Citizenship Act, or an indictable offence in Canada, or have committed an offence outside of Canada (that is equivalent to an indictable offence in Canada)
  • If you are being investigated, charged, on trial for, involved in appeal, convicted of a war crime, or a crime against humanity
  • If while you were a permanent resident, you were convicted of terrorism, high treason, treason, or spying offenses

Canadian Citizenship will not be granted to applicants who:

  • Are unable to meet the minimum required residency days in Canada
  • Are unable to demonstrate they can meet the minimum language requirements
  • Are unable to pass their citizenship and/or interview
  • Are unable to provide documentation to prove the residency obligations

You cannot become a citizen if you have been prohibited under the Citizenship Act. Below are some of the reasons that may make you not eligible:

  • If you are in Canada and you’re under a removal order
  • If you are in Canada and in prison, on parole, or probation
  • If you are outside Canada and serving a prison term
  • If you have had your citizenship application refused for misrepresentation within the last 5 years
  • If you have had your Canadian citizenship revoked/taken away because of fraud within the past 10 years.
  • If you have been charged with or on trial for an offence under the Citizenship Act, or an indictable offence in Canada, or have committed an offence outside of Canada (that is equivalent to an indictable offence in Canada)
  • If you are being investigated, charged, on trial for, involved in appeal, convicted of a war crime, or a crime against humanity
  • If while you were a permanent resident, you were convicted of terrorism, high treason, treason, or spying offenses

Who is required to take the citizenship test and go to the interview

Depends on your age and application, you may be required to take the citizenship and may be requested for an interview. See below chart.

***A minor child will only be requested for interview if IRCC has specific questions regarding the application. Both the minor child and the person who submitted the application for the minor child should be present for the interview.

 

The Citizenship Test is offered in English or French. The test is usually a written test; however, a citizenship official may decide to make it an oral test. The citizenship official will make the decision based on your ability to read and write in English. To get a passing mark, you must answer 15 correct answers out of 20.

 

If you are requested for an interview, during the interview, the citizenship official may:

 

  • Give you the results of your test if you had one
  • Check your language skills if you’re between 18 and 54 years of age
  • Verify your application and original documents
  • Ask any questions he or she may have about your application
  • Make sure you meet all the requirements for citizenship

 

If you pass and meet the requirements for citizenship, the next step would be that you would receive an Oath of Citizenship Ceremony. This citizenship ceremony usually takes place approximately 3 months after passing your test.

Rights and Responsibilities of Canadian Citizens

Rights and Responsibilities of Canadian Citizens

 

Once you obtain your Canadian citizenship, you would be entitled to all the same rights and freedoms as a Canadian Citizen.

 

Some of your rights would include:

 

  • The right to equality
  • The right to mobility
  • The right to peaceful assembly
  • The right to vote in Canadian Elections
  • The right to run own political campaign
  • Freedom of thought
  • Freedom of speech
  • Freedom to practice religion
  • Freedom to travel to other countries without a visa

In Canada, rights come with responsibilities. Some responsibilities include:

 

  • Obeying the law — One of Canada’s founding principles is the rule of law. Individuals and governments are regulated by laws and not by arbitrary actions. No person or group is above the law.
  • Taking responsibility for oneself and one’s family — Getting a job, taking care of one’s family and working hard in keeping with one’s abilities are important Canadian values.
  • Serving on a jury — When called to do so, you are legally required to serve. Serving on a jury is a privilege that makes the justice system work as it depends on impartial juries made up of citizens.
  • Voting in elections — The right to vote comes with a responsibility to vote in federal, provincial or territorial and local elections.
  • Protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment — Every citizen has a role to protecting Canada’s natural, cultural and architectural heritage for future generations.

Rights and Responsibilities of Canadian Citizens

Once you obtain your Canadian citizenship, you would be entitled to all the same rights and freedoms as a Canadian Citizen. Some of your rights would include:
  • The right to equality
  • The right to mobility
  • The right to peaceful assembly
  • The right to vote in Canadian Elections
  • The right to run own political campaign
  • Freedom of thought
  • Freedom of speech
  • Freedom to practice religion
  • Freedom to travel to other countries without a visa
In Canada, rights come with responsibilities. Some responsibilities include:
  • Obeying the law — One of Canada’s founding principles is the rule of law. Individuals and governments are regulated by laws and not by arbitrary actions. No person or group is above the law.
  • Taking responsibility for oneself and one’s family — Getting a job, taking care of one’s family and working hard in keeping with one’s abilities are important Canadian values.
  • Serving on a jury — When called to do so, you are legally required to serve. Serving on a jury is a privilege that makes the justice system work as it depends on impartial juries made up of citizens.
  • Voting in elections — The right to vote comes with a responsibility to vote in federal, provincial or territorial and local elections.
  • Protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment — Every citizen has a role to protecting Canada’s natural, cultural and architectural heritage for future generations.

Dual Citizenship

Every country decides whom it considers to be a citizen. If more than one country recognizes you as a citizen, you have dual citizenship. Canada is one of the countries that recognizes dual citizenship, so you are not required to give up on your previous passport or the citizenship of your home country (only if your home country also recognizes dual citizenship).

Children of Canadian Citizen – Applying for a Proof of Canadian Citizenship Certificate

A child is likely a Canadian citizen if at least 1 parent (legal parent at birth or biological parent) was born in Canada or became a naturalized Canadian citizen before the child was born. This means that if a parent who is a Canadian citizen and has any children born abroad, the parent can apply for a Proof of Canadian Citizenship Certificate, so that their child can become a Canadian citizen.

 

If you’re a Canadian parent who adopted a child born outside Canada, your child is not automatically a Canadian citizen.

You’re likely a Canadian citizen if you:

 

  • were born in Canada
  • became a citizen because of changes to the Citizenship Act
  • applied for and received your Canadian citizenship (became a naturalized citizen)
  • received Canadian citizenship as a minor when a parent or legal guardian applied for your citizenship
  • were born outside of Canada and at least 1 of your parents (legal parent at birth or biological parent) either:
    • was born in Canada, or
    • became a naturalized citizen before you were born

 

In order to apply citizenship for your child that was born outside of Canada, you will need to apply for a Proof of Canadian Citizenship Certificate.

A child is likely a Canadian citizen if at least 1 parent (legal parent at birth or biological parent) was born in Canada or became a naturalized Canadian citizen before the child was born. This means that if a parent who is a Canadian citizen and has any children born abroad, the parent can apply for a Proof of Canadian Citizenship Certificate, so that their child can become a Canadian citizen. If you’re a Canadian parent who adopted a child born outside Canada, your child is not automatically a Canadian citizen.

You’re likely a Canadian citizen if you:

 
  • were born in Canada
  • became a citizen because of changes to the Citizenship Act
  • applied for and received your Canadian citizenship (became a naturalized citizen)
  • received Canadian citizenship as a minor when a parent or legal guardian applied for your citizenship
  • were born outside of Canada and at least 1 of your parents (legal parent at birth or biological parent) either:
    • was born in Canada, or
    • became a naturalized citizen before you were born
In order to apply citizenship for your child that was born outside of Canada, you will need to apply for a Proof of Canadian Citizenship Certificate.

For more information about the Canadian Citizenship application process or for assistance in preparing an application, contact our office.

Interested in any of the following?

Applying for Canadian permanent residence
 
Assessing if you are qualified for Canadian permanent residence

 

Applying for Canadian Citizenship