Who can apply to become a Canadian Citizen?

You may be eligible for Canadian citizenship if you are a:

• permanent resident of Canada applying for yourself or for a minor (under 18 years old)
• former Canadian Citizen and you want to reclaim your Canadian citizenship

What are the requirements to become a Canadian Citizen?

To be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship, you must meet the following:

• lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years (1,095 days)
• filed your taxes for at least 3 out of the last 5 years
• have minimum language skills in English and French for Speaking and Listening
• pass a citizenship test to show how well you know Canada

What are the language requirements to apply for Canadian citizenship?

If you are between the ages of 18 and 54 on the date you sign your application, you need to prove that you have adequate knowledge of English or French. You can do this by meeting the Canadian Language Benchmarks Level 4 (CLB 4) or higher in both Speaking and Listening.

If you are under 18 years old or older than 54 years old, no proof of language is required.

What documents are acceptable as proof of adequate knowledge of English or French?

One of the following documents is acceptable proof of adequate knowledge of English or French, equivalent to CLB 4:

• the results of an IRCC-approved third-party test (e.g., IELTS, CELPIP)
• proof from certain government-funded language training programs
• proof of completion of secondary or post-secondary education in English or French, in Canada or abroad

Does time spent outside Canada count toward the physical presence requirement for Canadian citizenship?

Time spent outside Canada count toward the physical presence requirement for Canadian citizenship if you:

• were a permanent resident employed with the:
  • Canadian Armed Forces
  • federal public administration
  • public service of a province or territory
• lived outside Canada with your Canadian/permanent resident spouse or common-law partner or parent who was employed with any of the above.

How long is the processing time and what are the processing fees?

Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to process citizenship applications in 5 months, from the day they acknowledge receipt of your application.

The processing fee for Canadian citizenship is C$630 per adult and C$100 per minor (under 18 years old).

What are the key considerations in submitting an application?

The requirements might look simple on paper, but often applications are rejected because the documents submitted were inaccurate, incomplete, or non-compliant. Here are some key considerations when applying for Canadian citizenship:

• What if your permanent resident card (PR card) is expired?
• What if you are currently serving a sentence inside or outside Canada?
• Do you need to take a language test if you have taken one before?
• Can you apply for Canadian citizenship for children born outside Canada?