Canadian Citizenship
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Many Canadian permanent residents who have weathered the immigration process look forward to being granted citizenship and are eager for the day they can be sworn in as official Canadian citizens. Before that day comes, there are a few final steps that need to be addressed before Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) approves their Canadian citizenship application.
There are many benefits to becoming a Canadian citizen including the right to settle permanently in one of the world's most prosperous countries, participate in the country's democracy, and possess one of the world's strongest passports.
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Overview of Canadian Citizenship
- How to get Canadian citizenship
- When to apply for Canadian citizenship
- How to apply for Canadian citizenship
- Canadian citizenship test
- Canadian citizenship ceremony
- Canadian citizenship cost
- Canadian citizenship application processing time
- Language test for Canadian citizenship
- Proving Canadian citizenship
- Canadian citizenship benefits
How to get Canadian citizenship
To become a Canadian citizen by naturalization, one must first immigrate to Canada as a permanent resident. As with all Canadian immigration programs, permanent residents must meet a specific set of requirements to be deemed eligible to apply for citizenship:
1. Residency requirements:
Applicants need to provide proof that they have been living in Canada for three years (1,095 days) out of the five years that precede their signed application with some exceptions.
2. File taxes
Citizenship applicants must have filed their taxes in Canada for at least three years during the five-year period before applying.
3. Pass the citizenship test
Applicants between the ages of 18 and 54 must take a citizenship test to demonstrate their knowledge of their rights and responsibilities as a Canadian
4. Demonstrate language ability
To become a Canadian citizen, applicants must demonstrate a minimum level of French or English.
When to apply for Canadian citizenship
Canadian permanent residents must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) out of the past five years before applying for Canadian citizenship (with some exceptions).
Permanent residents (PR) must also ensure they meet additional minimum requirements before they are eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.
How to apply for Canadian citizenship
The Canadian government is currently testing an online platform for Canadian citizenship applications. Currently, it is only available to certain applicants. Those who are not currently eligible to apply online must apply on paper.
Eligible applicants will be required to pass the Canadian citizenship test, and may be asked to undergo an interview before a citizenship judge, if requested by IRCC. Once approved, applicants will attend a Citizenship Ceremony to take the Oath of Citizenship, where they will officially become a Canadian citizen.
Canadian citizenship test
To become a Canadian citizen, applicants must first pass a test on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The test is broken down into 20 questions on Canadian history geography, economy, government, laws, and symbols.
When can I take the citizenship test?
After IRCC has finished processing a citizenship application, applicants are required to take the citizenship exam. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the citizenship exam is currently offered online only.
To take the citizenship test online, an applicant must first wait to be invited. Once they have finished processing an application, Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will issue an invitation to take the citizenship test. After receiving the invitation, an applicant has 21 days to complete the citizenship test. If a citizenship applicant doesn’t pass their first test, IRCC will invite them to take the test again.
How to study for the Canadian citizenship test
The Canadian government provides a free study guide to help prepare for the citizenship test. Applicants may also call their local school or school board, or a nearby immigration settlement service provider to ask for information on free citizenship classes.
Canadian citizenship test exemptions
Citizenship applicants under the ages of 18, or over the ages of 54 at the time of signing the application are exempt from the citizenship test requirement.
Canadian citizenship ceremony
The final step of becoming a Canadian citizen is the citizenship ceremony. At this ceremony, soon-to-be citizens take the Oath of Citizenship.
The Canadian government will issue a Notice to Appear, which is essentially an invitation to take the oath at a citizenship ceremony. The Oath of Citizenship confirms one’s agreeance to abide by Canadian rights and responsibilities.
Canadian citizenship cost
Canadian citizenship costs for a single applicant are $630 CAD per adult and $100 CAD per child, broken down as follows:
- Processing fees: $530/adult & $100/child
- Right of Citizenship fee: $100/adult
Canadian citizenship application processing time
The processing time for a citizenship application may vary depending on when the application was submitted and the complexity of the application. To check the average processing time of an application, visit IRCC’s dedicated webpage.
Language test for Canadian citizenship
When applying for Canadian citizenship, individuals must provide proof of sufficient proficiency in English or French. Proof of language ability can be demonstrated through the following third-party test results from organizations:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – CELPIP General, CELPIP General-LS
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – General training
- Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) (in French)
- Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEFAQ) (in French)
- TEF pour la naturalisation: a 2 skills (listening and speaking) version
Proof of language proficiency may also be demonstrated by test results previously submitted for Quebec immigration.
Applicants who are younger than 18 or older than 54 are not required to demonstrate language proficiency.
Proving Canadian citizenship
Upon becoming a naturalized Canadian, citizens are granted a Canadian citizenship certificate. This document can be used as proof of citizenship when applying for a Canadian passport.
Canadian citizenship benefits
Permanent residents benefit from many of the same resources as those with citizenship status. They have access to publicly funded schools and healthcare, can live and work anywhere in Canada, and their civil liberties are protected under Canadian law and by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
However, becoming a Canadian citizen has its perks. Here are five things permanent residents can only do once they become citizens:
1. Vote
Canada operates as a parliamentary democracy. At every federal election, every Canadian citizen over the age of 18 can cast a ballot to vote for our Prime Minister. But in addition to federal elections, there are also regular provincial and municipal elections that citizens can vote in.
Voting gives citizens a say in who runs their country, province, territory, and town. This is a major benefit and responsibility of Canadian citizenship.
2. Run for office
Canadian citizens can also run for office. Interested citizens can run in municipal, provincial, or federal elections.
There are several major political parties in Canada. Citizens interested in getting involved in politics, can join a youth wing, or run as an independent candidate.
3. Travel freely
Canadian citizens can apply to get a Canadian passport. Unlike PR cards, passports only need to be renewed every 5-10 years.
The Canadian passport is ranked among the best in the world. With a Canadian passport, citizens can travel to a number of countries around the world without needing a visa. A Canadian passport will also allow citizens to re-enter the country more easily than a permanent resident travel document.
4. Pass on citizenship to kids
The children of first-generation Canadian citizens, whether that child is born in Canada or not, will automatically be Canadian citizens. This means they can benefit from their parent’s status without going through the same process of applying for Canadian citizenship.
The child of permanent residents, on the other hand, will be a Canadian citizen only if that child is born in Canada. If the child of a permanent resident is born abroad, their parents will have to sponsor them.
5. Live anywhere in the world
Canadian citizens are free to live anywhere in the world for as long as they like without losing their citizenship. Unlike permanent residency, there are no residency requirements for Canadian citizens. The only restriction is that Canadians living abroad for a period of more than five years lose the right to vote in federal elections.