Oct 1, 2024
How to apply for Canadian Citizenship
To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must
be a permanent resident
have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years
have filed your taxes, if you need to
prove your language skills
pass a citizenship test
take the oath of citizenship
There are certain situations that can prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen.
There are additional or different requirements if you are:
applying for a minor (under age 18)
a Canadian applying for your adopted child born outside Canada
a current or former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member applying under the fast-track process
a past Canadian citizen who want your Canadian citizenship back (including current and former CAF members)
Spouses of Canadian citizens
You don’t automatically become a citizen when you marry a Canadian.
If you’re the spouse of a Canadian citizen, you must meet the same requirements listed above (no exception).
Permanent resident status
Regardless of your age, if you’re applying for citizenship, you must have permanent resident (PR) status in Canada. This means you must not:
be under review for immigration or fraud reasons
be asked by Canadian officials to leave Canada (removal order)
have unfulfilled conditions related to your PR status, for example: medical screening
Before applying for citizenship, you should review the documents you received when you became a permanent resident to make sure you’re eligible.
You don’t need a valid PR card to apply for citizenship. You can apply with an expired PR card.
Time you’ve lived in Canada (physical presence)
You (and some minors, if applicable) must have been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years before the date you sign your application.
We encourage you to apply with more than 1,095 days of living in Canada in case there’s a problem with the calculation.
In your calculation, you may be able to include some of the time you spent
in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person
outside Canada if you were a Crown servant or a family member of a Crown servant.
Children and grandchildren of Canadian citizens
If you have a Canadian parent or grandparent, you may be a Canadian citizen if
To find out for sure, you can apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate.
Would you like to know more about Canadian citizenship requirements and your personal journey towards becoming a citizen? Schedule an Initial Consultation to receive personalized assistance and guidance on your journey towards Canadian citizenship.
DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this article serves as a general overview of the subject matter. While accurate at the time of publication, there may have been subsequent developments. For the most current updates or tailored legal guidance based on your individual situation, please contact us directly.