How to Become a Citizen of Canada

Requirements, eligibility criteria, and application process of becoming a citizen of Canada

If you have been living in Canada for a few years now and would like to know how to get Canadian citizenship, you will have to see whether you are eligible first.

There are a lot of factors that determine whether or not you are eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship. You also have to know how the Canadian citizenship application works, what you will need, and how to apply.

Canadian Citizen vs Permanent Resident

A Canadian permanent resident is an individual who holds a permanent residence permit in Canada and enjoys many benefits like other citizens. The main difference is that permanent residents cannot obtain a Canadian passport, vote, or leave the country for extended periods of time (e.g., for months at a time) without risking their residency status. However, once a permanent resident has fulfilled their living criteria, they can apply for citizenship in Canada and become a full-fledged citizen.

Canadian Citizenship Eligibility Criteria

There are a few requirements and criteria you must fill before you can apply for Canadian citizenship. Those are:

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• Be a permanent resident. In order to be able to apply for Canadian citizenship, the most important condition you have to meet is to have a Canadian Permanent Resident status. This applies no matter what your age is. In addition, you must also have met all the terms and conditions of Canadian permanent residency at the time you applied for one.
• Be present in Canada at least 1095 days (3 years) in the five years immediately before your application. This condition does not apply to minors who are applying along with a parent or who have a Canadian parent. It does apply to minors who neither have a Canadian parent nor are they applying with a parent.
• File tax. If you were required to, you must have filed taxes in Canada for at least three years in the five years immediately before your application.
• Meet the language proficiency criteria. Applicants aged 18-54 have to prove they are proficient in one of Canada’s two official languages: English or French. You need to have at least the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level 4 if you want to become a citizen. This means that you must be able to hold a simple conversation, understand instructions, use basic grammar and be able to express yourself. To prove language proficiency you can provide
• language test scores you provided when you first immigrated (even if they are expired),
• or a certificate from a secondary/post-secondary Canadian educational institution that was in English or French.
• Have an understanding of Canadian culture and history. To prove this knowledge, you may need to enter a Citizenship test, depending on your age.

Documents Required to Apply for Canadian Citizenship

If you meet the requirements for Canadian citizenship, you can begin the application. In order to apply, you will need to provide certain documents and forms as well as pay fees. What documents and forms you need depends on your age and situation. For example, minors applying alone will need a few other documents from an adult and vice versa.

However, some of the documents you may be required to provide include:

• The application form for Canadian citizenship.
• Proof of physical presence. You can use an online calculator.
• Photocopies of the biographical pages of your passport/other travel document.
• Photocopy of your Identification Document.
• Proof of language proficiency.
• Two pictures according to Canada’s citizenship requirement.
• Receipts showing you have paid the fees.
• Residence outside Canada form (IMM 5476).
• Police certificate and clearances. They must be from any country you have lived in for more than 6 months in the past four years.
• Photocopies of documents showing name change. (If applicable).
• Photocopies of documents showing changes to date of birth. (If applicable).
• Form requesting sex designation change. (If applicable).
• Letter from a Canadian audiologist.

How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship?

The Canadian government allows you to download all the forms you need as well as a checklist of the required documents from IRCC’s website (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). You have to fill them in electronically, print them, then submit them.

Along with your application package, you will receive the address/es to which you can send your completed application to. You have to include all the forms and documents inside of an envelope and mail them to that address.

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