Apply for Canadian Citizenship

Who Can Apply for Canadian Citizenship 

Applying for Canadian Citizenship is a very important step. Due diligence is required while preparing the application and following the correct procedure. 

To become a Canadian citizen, you must meet the following basic eligibility requirements: 

• You must be at least 18 years of age.
• You must be a Permanent Resident of Canada.
• You must have resided in Canada for at least 1,460 days during the six years.
• You must not have any criminal prohibitions.
• You must pass the Citizenship Test and Interview. 

You must also be physically present for at least 183 days during each of four calendar years that are fully or partially within the six years immediately before the date of application. These requirements do not apply to children under 18.

You do not need to have a PR card to apply for citizenship. If you have a PR card, but it is expired, you can still apply for citizenship. 

Criminal Prohibitions 

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

if you:

• are in prison, on parole or on probation in Canada, or are serving a sentence outside Canada,
• have been convicted of an indictable offence in Canada or an offence outside Canada in the four years before applying for citizenship, or
• are charged with, on trial for, or involved in an appeal of an indictable offence in Canada, or an offence outside Canada.

Time in prison or on parole does not count as the time you have lived in Canada. Time on probation also does not count if you were convicted of a crime.

Passing the Canada Citizenship Test and Interview 

If you are 14 to 64 years of age, when you apply for citizenship, you will need to take a citizenship test to show you have adequate knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. It is usually a written test, but it is sometimes taken orally with a citizenship officer. 

All you need to know for the test is in IRCC free study guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. You will be sent a copy of it once your application is filed. The questions in the citizenship test are based on this study guide