citizenship
Home > citizenship
Canadian Citizenship
Are you ready to become a Canadian citizen?
Our team of experts can help you determine if you are eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship, assist you with your citizenship application, and advise you on the steps to obtain Canadian citizenship.
To become a Canadian citizen, most applicants must:
-be a permanent resident
-have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the 5 years
-have filed their taxes
-pass a citizenship test
-prove their language skills in English or French
If you need help, please book a consultation for advice and assistance with your application.
Changes to the Canadian Citizenship Act
The Canadian Citizenship Act was amended on April 17, 2009 to grant Canadian citizenship to some people who had lost it, as well as others who were recognized as citizens for the first time.
Citizenship was restored to people who became citizens when the first Citizenship Act came into force on January 1, 1947, to people born in Canada or to those who became citizens on or after January 1, 1947 and subsequently lost their citizenship, and to persons born outside Canada on or after January 1, 1947 in the first generation to a Canadian citizen. Under the new law, some people, including those who meet these requirements, may be granted citizenship for the first time.
Children born to first-generation Canadian parents outside of Canada can only be Canadian citizens at birth if one parent was born in Canada or one parent became a citizen by immigration and was later granted citizenship (naturalization).
Canadian citizenship requirements and exemptions
In general, individuals applying for Canadian citizenship must meet the following 3 requirements:
1) Be 18 years old
2) Be a permanent resident of Canada
3) Fulfill your residence requirements (stay in Canada 1095 in the last 1460 days – three years out of four).
However, if the applicant is a child under the age of 18, the following circumstances must be met:
1. The child must be a permanent resident
2. The child does not have to live in Canada for three years
3. Child’s parent, adoptive parent or legal guardian of the child and one of the parents is already a Canadian citizen or is in the process of applying for citizenship. This also applies to adoptive parents.
In addition, the applicant must meet two other requirements: 1) language requirement (be able to understand and speak basic English or French); and 2) knowledge of Canadian requirements (Canadian history, geography, government, and citizenship rights and responsibilities). It is necessary to attach a language test to the application and pass a test to demonstrate knowledge of Canada. Persons over the age of 55 are exempt from these two requirements.
In addition, your permanent resident status in Canada must never be in question, which means you must not participate in an immigration investigation, immigration inquiry or removal order.
Applicants who are permanent residents of Canada can receive half a day of credit, up to a maximum of one year, for each day they stay in Canada.
