Permanent residents of Canada can apply for citizenship through naturalization, by residing in Canada for 3 years within 5 years preceding the citizenship application.
Requirements
- Must have Canadian permanent resident status and have lived in Canada for at least three years (1095 days) out of last five years before applying for citizenship.
- Applicants between the age of 18 and 54, must submit proof of language proficiency.
- Must not have a criminal history which prevents IRCC to grant citizenship.
- Must submit a citizenship application to IRCC and pay a government processing fee and a right of citizenship fee.
On approval of the citizenship application, applicants between the age of 18 and 54 are required to take the citizenship test. Successful applicants are then invited to attend a citizenship ceremony where they are given a certificate of Canadian citizenship.
New Changes in the Citizenship Act
- Citizenship could not be revoked of the dual citizens convicted of terror acts. They will face the Canadian justice system, like other Canadian citizens who break the law.
- Applicants are no longer required to intend to continue to live in Canada once citizenship is granted.
- Minors can now apply for citizenship without a Canadian parent.
- Individuals serving a conditional sentence will not be granted citizenship, take the oath of citizenship, or to count this time towards meeting the physical presence requirement in Canada.
Changes that came into effect on October 11, 2017
- Applicants must be physically present in Canada for three out of five years before the date of application.
- Applicants must file Canadian income taxes for three out of five years.
- Applicants are no longer to be physically present in Canada for 183 days in three out of five years before the date of application.
- Applicants can count each day they were physically present in Canada as a temporary resident (Student or worker) or protected person before becoming a permanent resident as a half-day toward meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.
- Applicants between 18 and 54 years of age must meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship.
Language Requirements
All the applicants between the age of 18 and 54 must prove language proficiency in English or French. To prove language proficiency, applicants must submit one of the following document:
- Language test results of IELTS General, CELPIP-G or TEFF (CLB 4)
- Diploma certificate from a secondary or post-secondary education in English or French
