To apply for Canadian Citizenship, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Have permanent resident status and have resided in Canada for at least three years (1,095 days) in the past five years before applying
- A maximum of 1 year (365 days) can be counted if the person was in Canada as a temporary resident (TR) or protect person (PP) (2 days as TR/PP counts as the same as 1 day as a PR)
- Must be at least 18 years old. If you are applying for a minor (under age 18), they are not required to meet the residency obligation, but must also have permanent resident status and one parent must be a citizen or applying for citizenship at the same time
- Meet the minimum language requirements in either English or French if you are between the ages of 18 to 54 on the day you sign your application. Proof can be one of the following:
- Achieved at least CLB 4 in certain government language programs (IELTS, CELPIP-G, TEF)
- A diploma/transcript/certificate from a secondary or post-secondary program in English or French
- Completion of CLB 4 language training from a government-funded language training program in Canada
- Must have filed your income taxes in Canada (if required under the Income Tax Act) for at least 3 years in the past 5 years right before your application
- If you are 18 to 54 years of age on the day you sign the application, you will need to pass the citizenship test – answer questions about the rights and responsibilities of Canadians and Canada’s history, geography, economy, laws, symbols, and government
- Cannot have a criminal history that will prohibit the granting of Canadian citizenship
Successful candidates will attend a citizenship ceremony where they must take the Oath of Citizenship, in either English or French, by swearing or solemnly affirming before a citizenship judge, and receive their certificate of Canadian citizenship, officially becomes a Canadian citizen.
Ineligibility:
You may be ineligible if:
- You do not meet the residency requirements
- Cannot speak in English or French
- You do not pass the citizenship test and/or interview
- You are in prison, on parole, or on probation
- You are under a removal order from Canada (ordered to leave Canada)
- You have had your citizenship revoked within the past 5 years
- You have an ongoing criminal investigation in or outside Canada
- You have been convicted of an indictable offence in Canada