Canadian Citizenship
Did you know Canada’s passport has been ranked the 8th most powerful passport in the world?
Canadian passport holders can travel visa-free to over 185 countries in the world.
Apart from this, Canada allows dual citizenship meaning that you can become a Canadian citizen while being a citizen and passport holder of another country.
To apply for a Canadian passport, you must first be a Canadian citizen. We will further explore the eligibility requirements and the process of becoming a Canadian citizen on this page.
How to Become a Canadian Citizen?
To become a Canadian citizen, you must meet specific requirements and eligibility criteria such as:
- Being a Permanent Resident of Canada;
- Having lived in Canada for at least three years during the past five years;
- Meeting the English or French proficiency requirements; and
- Having sufficient knowledge about Canada's history, geography, government, and rights and responsibilities of a Canadian citizen.
In addition to the requirements mentioned above, you must have filed your income taxes for each required year, pass the citizenship test and not be prohibited from becoming a Canadian citizen.
** Individuals over the age of 55 and under the age of 18 are exempt from meeting the language proficiency requirements and passing the citizenship test.
Citizenship Prohibitions
To become a Canadian citizen, you must have a clean criminal record. You may not be eligible to become a Canadian citizen if:
- You have committed a crime inside or outside Canada;
- You have served some time serving imprisonment;
- You are or have been on probation or parole;
- You are involved in an immigration investigation; or
- You are facing a removal order from Canada.
** Having a criminal background does not necessary prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen. Depending on your situation and criminal record, you may have different options and we suggest you to seek legal consultation before applying for your Canadian citizenship.
Physical Presence in Canada
One of the main requirements that you need to meet for becoming a Canadian citizen is to have been physically present in Canada for at least three years (1,095 days) during the past five years.
Before applying for your citizenship, we suggest you calculate the days you lived in Canada to ensure you are eligible to apply.
Your time spent in Canada before being a permanent resident may be included in this calculation.
During the past five years, if you lived in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person, those days will be counted as one half day and can be used in your calculation.
Language Test
As part of the requirements to apply for your Canadian citizenship, you must prove that you meet the English or French proficiency requirements which is currently the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4 or higher.
** This requirement only applies to individuals between the age of 18 and 54.
Proof of proficiency in the English or French language, include:
- CELPIP General Test Results
- IELTS General Test Results
- TEF Test Results
- Previously submitted French language test results as part of your Quebec immigration application, such as DALF, DELF, TCF, or TCFQ
- Proof of secondary or post-secondary education in English or French
Canadian Citizenship FAQ
Yes, you can apply for your Canadian citizenship even if your PR card has expired (you must still meet the other eligibility requirements).
You still have your permanent residency status even if your PR card has expired.
No. You cannot acquire Canadian citizenship by marrying a Canadian.
However, if your spouse is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you may be sponsored for becoming permanent resident.
The citizenship application fee for adults is currently $630 and for minors it is $100.
In all immigration and citizenship applications there is always a chance that your application gets refused. There is no guarantee that your application gets approved.
If your citizenship application gets refused, you may submit a new application if you meet the requirements.
How Can We Help
Canadian immigration and citizenship laws can be complex and challenging. At Moshiri Immigration, our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCIC) specialize in Canadian immigration law. We have successfully handled many citizenship applications, and we can help you too!
Our years of experience allow us to provide practical and straightforward advice, ensuring you get the results you want. From the moment you become a client at Moshiri Immigration, we guarantee that your case will be handled with the utmost professionalism and personal attention.
