Who can apply for Canadian Citizenship
To become a Canadian citizen, most applicants must
be a permanent resident
To become a Canadian citizen, you need to have permanent resident (PR) status, regardless of your age. This means you shouldn't be under review for immigration or fraud, have a removal order, or have unfulfilled conditions related to your PR status like medical screening. Your PR card can be expired when applying for citizenship; it doesn't need to be valid because citizenship is based on your PR status, not the PR card's expiration.
have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the last 5 years (1,095 days)
You need to be physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 1,095 days within the five years just before applying for citizenship.
For each day spent in Canada as a permanent resident, it counts as a full day. If you were in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident, each day counts as half, up to a maximum of 365 days. This means in order to get the maximum 365 day credit you need to be physically present in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person for 730 days during your eligibility period. Time spent serving a sentence in Canada does not count toward meeting the physical presence requirement. This means that time spent in imprisonment, probation, and/or on parole cannot be counted as part of the required days for physical presence when applying for citizenship.
Is it possible to include time spent outside of Canada when calculating the physical presence requirement for citizenship?
You can count time spent outside of Canada towards the physical presence requirement for citizenship if you were a permanent resident employed in or with the Canadian Armed Forces, federal public administration, or public service of a province or territory. Additionally, if you lived outside Canada with your Canadian spouse or common-law partner, or permanent resident spouse, common-law partner, or parent who was employed in the mentioned sectors, that time can be considered. However, this does not include employment as a locally engaged person. It's important to note that the physical presence requirement only considers time after becoming a permanent resident or, for calculating residence with a common-law partner, after the common-law relationship began.
have filed their taxes, if they need to.
You must have fulfilled your personal income tax filing obligations for three taxation years, either wholly or partly within the five years leading up to the date of your application.
Prove their language skills in English or French
For individuals aged 18 to 54 when submitting their application, it's necessary to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English or French. This involves the ability to engage in short, everyday conversations, comprehend simple instructions, questions, and directions, utilize basic grammar with simple structures and tenses, and exhibit familiarity with common words and phrases.
These language skills correspond to level 4 (or higher) of the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for French. Evaluation of language skills occurs through the review of language proof provided with the application, assessment during interactions with citizenship officials, and potentially through a citizenship test.
Per IRCC, the following could be examples of proof:
Results from third party language test we approve
Diploma, certificate or final transcript for a secondary or post-secondary school program in English or French
Results from a government-funded language training program with at least a CLB/NCLC level
If you can't meet a requirement, you can request a waiver, which, if approved, means you're exempt from that particular requirement, but it's important to note that you must first be found qualified for it. Waivers can be requested for the citizenship test, proving language skills, and the oath of citizenship. If you need assistance meeting a requirement, you can request an accommodation.
Pass a citizenship test
If you're aged between 18 and 54 when submitting your application, you will be required to take the citizenship test. This test will include questions about the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens, as well as Canada's history, geography, economy, government, laws, and symbols. You will be invited to take the test after submitting your application. If you can't meet a requirement, you can request a waiver, which, if approved, means you're exempt from writing the citizenship test , but it's important to note that you must first be found qualified for it.
take the oath of citizenship
You are required to take the oath of citizenship if you are at least 14 years old when you sign your application, and your application is approved. If you can't meet a requirement, you can request a waiver, which, if approved, means you're exempt from taking the oath of citizenship, but it's important to note that you must first be found qualified for it.
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There are different application packages available based on your situation and specific circumstances:
Adult (age 18 or older)
Parent or guardian applying for a minor (under age 18)
Minor without a Canadian parent applying alone
Adult who served with the Canadian Armed Forces
Adoption by a Canadian citizen
Stateless person born to a Canadian parent