How Can I Apply for Canadian Citizenship?

Suppose you are a Canadian permanent resident over 18 and have lived in Canada for at least three out of the last five years. In that case, you may be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Canadian citizenship offers significant benefits compared to permanent residency. Naturalized citizens can hold dual citizenship, participate in political elections, and apply for a Canadian passport.

Eligibility Overview

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to become a naturalized Canadian citizen, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a permanent resident of Canada.
• Have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the last 5 years (physical presence).
• Have filed income taxes in Canada for at least 3 of the previous 5 years.
• Demonstrate your language proficiency.
• Pass a citizenship test.
• Take the Oath of Citizenship.

Source: IRCC

The Application Process

Most applicants can apply for Canadian citizenship using the online form provided by IRCC. However, you must apply on paper if either of the following applies:

• You are including time spent outside Canada as a crown servant or as a family member of a crown servant (child, spouse, or common-law partner) in your physical presence calculation.
• You want a representative to complete and submit your application on your behalf.

If applying on paper, you can request an application package through the IRCC website.

Fees

Regardless of how you apply, all fees must be paid online. IRCC will inform you of the exact amount based on your specific application. However, as a general guide, they have provided the following estimates for what to expect:

• Adult (18 years and older): CAD 630 (includes processing fee and right of citizenship fee)
• Minor (under 18 years): CAD 100 (processing fee only)

Always check the IRCC website for the most up-to-date information on fees.

According to IRCC, your fees typically include the processing fee and the right of citizenship fee.

IRCC provides the following guidance for fee payment:

• Only pay your fees once you're ready to submit your application.
• Include the payment receipt with your application.
• If submitting multiple applications at the same time, you can either pay all the fees together (using one receipt) or pay separately (with multiple receipts).

Submitting the Application

To apply for Canadian citizenship, you must be eligible at least the day before you sign the application form.

IRCC also advises that you:

• Pay your fees only when you're ready to apply.
• Include the payment receipt with your application.
• If submitting more than one application, you can either pay all the fees together (with one receipt) or separately (with multiple receipts).

Source: IRCC

Keep in mind, that IRCC will return your application if it is received more than 90 days after the date on the form.

For secure delivery, IRCC recommends using a postal or courier service with a tracking number, ensuring you have proof that your application was delivered to the IRCC office.

Proof of Language Skills

Applicants between the ages of 18 and 54 (on the day the application is signed) must demonstrate adequate knowledge of English or French. IRCC defines this as the ability to:

• Participate in short, everyday conversations on common topics.
• Understand simple instructions, questions, and directions.
• Use basic grammar, including simple structures and tenses.
• Show knowledge of common words and phrases to answer questions and express yourself.

Source: IRCC

These speaking and listening skills are equivalent to level 4 of the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for French.

IRCC evaluates language skills by:

• Reviewing the proof of language ability submitted with your application.
• Observe how well you speak when communicating with a citizenship official during the application process.
• Assessing your language level during a citizenship test with an official, if necessary.

Source: IRCC

IRCC accepts various certificates, diplomas, and language test results as proof of language skills.

Processing Your Application

IRCC currently advises that it takes approximately seven months to process a Canadian citizenship application.

However, IRCC may expedite processing in exceptional cases, such as if you need Canadian citizenship to:

• Apply for or retain a job.
• Avoid losing your job.
• Travel due to a death or serious illness in your family and are unable to obtain a passport from your current nationality.
• Act upon a successful Federal Court decision on an appeal from a previous citizenship application.

Source: IRCC

Prohibitions

If you have committed a crime in or outside of Canada, you may not be eligible to become a Canadian citizen for an indefinite period.

IRCC notes that time spent serving a term of imprisonment, parole, or probation does not count towards the required time lived in Canada. Each case will be reviewed individually to determine eligibility.

Source: IRCC

Checking Status

IRCC states that you can check your application status online only after you have received the acknowledgment of receipt letter or email.

You must contact IRCC if you:

• Change your address.
• Plan to leave Canada for more than two weeks in a row.
• Cannot check your application status online and the normal processing time for your application has passed.
• Are charged with a crime.
• Applied as part of a group but now wish to continue the application independently.

Additionally, you should contact IRCC if you need an accommodation or a waiver (exemption) for:

• The citizenship test.
• Proving your English or French language skills.
• The Oath of Citizenship.

Due to privacy laws, IRCC cannot disclose information about your application to anyone unless you provide written consent. If you have difficulty communicating in English or French, you must give consent for a family member to contact IRCC on your behalf regarding your application.

Citizenship Test

IRCC typically sends the invitation to take the citizenship test within a week of receiving your acknowledgment of receipt letter.

The test is designed to assess your knowledge of Canada and its culture. It consists of 20 multiple-choice or true/false questions covering:

• The rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens.
• Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws, and symbols.

The test is administered in either English or French and lasts 45 minutes. To pass, you must answer at least 15 out of 20 questions correctly.

Source: IRCC

You will have 30 days from the date of receiving the invitation to complete the test. Within this period, you are allowed up to three attempts to pass. If you fail three times, IRCC will invite you to a hearing with a citizenship official, who will ask questions similar to those on the test.

If you fail the hearing, IRCC will refuse your application, and you will need to reapply and pay the fees again if you still wish to become a citizen.

Taking the Test

Most applicants will be invited to take the citizenship test online. However, individuals with specific accessibility requirements may be invited to take the test via Microsoft Teams or in person.

To help candidates prepare for the test, IRCC offers a free official study guide titled Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. You can access this guide on the IRCC website in the following formats:

• Read it online in your browser.
• Listen to the MP3 version.
• Download the PDF or eBook.
• Order a paper copy online.

Citizenship Ceremony

The citizenship ceremony is the final step in the process. These ceremonies take place across the country throughout the year. Most applicants will be invited to participate online, but some may be invited to attend in person.

On the day of the ceremony, you will need to bring the following items:

• Your ceremony notice.
• A signed copy of the Permission Release and Consent form (included with the notice).
• Your permanent resident card (even if expired) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688).
• Record of Landing (IMM 1000) if you become a permanent resident before June 28, 2002.
• Two pieces of personal identification (ID): One piece must include your photograph and signature (e.g., driver's license, health card, or permanent resident card). Foreign ID documents must be government-issued, while Canadian IDs do not need to be government-issued. If your ID is not in English or French, you must provide a translation along with an affidavit from the translator. Minors are not required to show identification with a signature.
• All your passports and travel documents, both current and expired, that you listed on your application form.
• Optional: A holy book of your choice if you wish to use one to swear the Oath of Citizenship.

Source: IRCC

Adults and children aged 14 or over must attend the citizenship ceremony and take the Oath of Citizenship.

On the day of the ceremony, you will:

• Take the Oath of Citizenship.
• Receive your citizenship certificate.
• Sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form.
• Sing the national anthem, "O Canada."

Parents will receive certificates of citizenship for their children under the age of 14. While children under 14 are not required to attend, IRCC notes that they are welcome to do so.

Upon completing the ceremony, you will officially become a Canadian citizen.

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