Eligibility Criteria
To apply for Canadian citizenship, you must meet specific eligibility requirements:
- Language Proficiency: You need to provide proof of your ability to speak and write in one of Canada’s official languages, either English or French.
- Permanent Resident Status: You must be a Permanent Resident (PR) of Canada.
- Residency Requirement: You must have lived in Canada as a PR for at least 1,095 days out of the 5 years before applying.
- Tax Filing: You need to have filed your taxes for at least 3 of the last 5 years and have paid any income tax owed.
Applications lacking acceptable proof of language proficiency will be returned as incomplete. More details on language requirements are available on the IRCC website.
Members or former members of the Canadian Armed Forces may be eligible for a fast-track application process. The Residence Calculator can help determine if you have met the residency requirement for citizenship.
Special Cases
Minors do not need to meet the residency requirement. If one of your parents was a Canadian citizen when you were born, you might already be a citizen and need to apply for proof of citizenship.
You cannot apply for Canadian citizenship if you have recently been in prison, on parole, or probation, are serving a conditional sentence, have been charged or convicted of an indictable crime, or are under a deportation order.
Application Process
- Download and Complete Forms: Obtain the Canadian Citizen Application Package and fill out the forms for yourself and your children.
- Include Supporting Documents: Attach all required supporting documents.
- Pay the Application Fee: Pay the necessary fee for the application.
- Submit Your Application: Mail your completed application to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
For detailed information about processing times, visit the IRCC website. The Discussion Forum on the site allows you to post questions and read about others’ experiences with the citizenship application process.
Citizenship Test
If your application is accepted, you will need to write a citizenship test. However, children under 18 and individuals 54 and over do not need to take the test. More information on preparing for the citizenship test is available on the IRCC website.
Fingerprint and Court Document Requests
You may be asked to provide fingerprints and/or court documents when applying for citizenship. This is to ensure you are not prohibited from obtaining citizenship under the Citizenship Act.
Summary
- Eligibility: Must meet language proficiency, PR status, residency, and tax filing requirements.
- Special Cases: Minors have different requirements; parent citizenship may affect your status.
- Application Process: Complete forms, include documents, pay fees, and mail to CIO.
- Citizenship Test: Required for most applicants, except minors and those 54+.
- Additional Documentation: Fingerprints and court documents may be requested for verification.
Last modified: September 7, 2024
