If you are a Canadian permanent resident over the age of 18 who has lived in Canada for more than three of the last five years, you might be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship. 

Canadian citizenship differs greatly from permanent residence. For instance, naturalized citizens can benefit from dual citizenship, take part in political elections, and apply for a Canadian passport. 

Eligibility Overview  

According to IRCC, to become a naturalized Canadian citizen, you must: 

  • Be a permanent resident of Canada
  • Have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the last five years
  • Have filed your income taxes in Canada for a minimum of three of the last five years
  • Prove your language skills
  • Pass a citizenship test
  • Take the oath of citizenship

The Application Process 

How you can apply for Canadian citizenship? Well, let us discuss the application process first.

Most applicants can use the online IRCC application form. However, if the following applies to you, then you must apply for Canadian citizenship on paper. 

  • In your physical presence calculation, you include duration spent outside the nation as a crown servant or a family member of the crown servant 
  • You want your representative to complete and submit your application for you 

If you wish to apply on paper, you can request an application package on the IRCC website. 

Fees 

Irrespective of the application method, you need to pay your fees online. IRCC will tell you how much to pay for your specific application, but they have provided some data to guide you on what to expect. 

Application Fee Price  
Adult (18 and over) $630 
Stateless Adult $100 
Minor (under 18) $100 

According to IRCC, your fees might also include the processing fee as well as the right of citizenship fee. 

IRCC advises the following regarding the payment of fees: 

  • Only pay your fees once you are ready to submit your application 
  • Include the receipt with your application 
  • If you submit more than one application at the same time, you can pay all the fees together or separately 

Submitting The Application 

The second thing to know under ‘how you can apply for Canadian citizenship’ is submitting the application. 

You should be eligible for Canadian citizenship at least the day before you sign the application form. 

IRCC also advises you to ensure the following: 

  • Only pay your fees once you are ready to submit your application 
  • Include the receipt with your application 
  • In case you are submitting more than one application, you can pay all the fees or separately 

IRCC will return your application to you if they receive it more than 90 days after the date on the form. 

In addition, IRCC recommends using a postal/ courier service with a tracking number or ID to ensure you get proof/ evidence that your application was delivered to the IRCC office. 

Proof Of Language Skills 

Applicants between the ages of 18 and 54 must show adequate knowledge of French or English. 

IRCC defines this as being able to: 

  • Take part in short, daily conversations about common topics
  • Understand simple instructions, directions, and questions
  • Use basic grammar, including simple structures, and tenses
  • Show you know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express yourself 

These speaking as well as listening skills are equivalent to level 4 of the CLB, i.e., Canadian Language Benchmark for English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French.

IRCC measures your language skills by: 

  • Reviewing the proof of language ability you send with your application
  • Noting how you speak when talking to a citizenship official anytime during the application process
  • Assessing your language level during a citizenship test with an official, if necessary. 

IRCC states that they will accept various certificates, tests, and diplomas as proof of your language skills. 

Processing Your Applications 

IRCC currently advises that the waiting time is around seven months to process a citizenship application. 

If the following applies to you, IRCC might be able to process your application faster as an exceptional case. For instance, if you need Canadian citizenship to: 

  • Apply for a job
  • Avoid losing your job
  • Need to travel because of death or serious illness in your family and you can’t get a passport in your present nationality
  • Obtain a successful Federal Court decision on an appeal in a previous application for citizenship

Prohibitions

If you committed a crime in/ outside Canada, you might not be eligible to become a Canadian citizen for an undefined period of time. 

IRCC advises that time spent serving a term of imprisonment, parole, or on probation doesn’t count towards time lived in Canada, and that your application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

Checking Status 

How can you apply for Canadian citizenship? Before that, let’s discuss how you can check your status. 

IRCC states you can check application status online only after you have received the acknowledgment of receipt letter or email. 

You should contact IRCC in case you: 

  • Change your address 
  • Plan to leave the nation for more than two weeks in a row 
  • Can’t check your application status online and the normal processing time duration for your application has passed
  • Are prosecuted/ charged with a crime 
  • Applied as part of a group but now wish to continue the application by yourself 

Or if you need an accommodation or a waiver for: 

  • The citizenship test 
  • Proving your English or French language skills 
  • The oath of citizenship 

Due to privacy laws, IRCC cannot disclose information about your application to anyone without your written consent. 

If you have difficulty communicating/ conversing in English or French, you have to provide consent for a family member to contact IRCC about your application. 

Citizenship Test 

IRCC will usually send the invitation within a week of your acknowledgment of the receipt letter. 

The test is specifically designed to test your knowledge of Canada and its culture. 

According to IRCC, the test that is 20 multiple choice or true/ false questions that will ask questions about: 

  • The rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens 
  • Canada’s geography, history, economy, government, symbols, and laws 

The test is administered in either French or English and lasts 45 minutes. To pass, you must answer at least 15 out of 20 questions correctly. 

You will have 30 days from obtaining the invitation to complete the test. Within the 30-day period, you will have up to three attempts to pass the test. If you fail three times, IRCC will invite you to a hearing with a citizenship official. The official will ask you questions similar to those found on the test.  

If you fail the hearing, IRCC will refuse your application. If you still want to become a citizen, you will need to reapply and pay the fees again. 

Taking The Test 

Most citizens will be invited to take the test online; however, those with specific accessibility requirements might be invited to take it over Microsoft Teams or in person.

IRCC offers a free official study guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, to help applicants prepare for the test. 

You can access this on the IRCC website. You can choose from the following formats: 

  • Reading it online in the browser
  • Downloading the PDF or eBook
  • Ordering a paper copy online
  • Listening to the MP3 version 

Citizenship Ceremony 

How can you apply for Canadian citizenship? Well, this is the final step in the process. 

Ceremonies can take place across the country and throughout the year. Most applicants will be invited to participate online, but some might be invited to participate in person. 

On the day, you will need to provide the following: 

  • Ceremony notice
  • Permanent resident (PR) card if you have one or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM5292 or IMM5688)
  • A signed copy of the Permission Release and Consent form (included with the notice)
  • Record of Landing (IMM 1000) if you became a permanent resident before June 28, 2002
  • 2 pieces of personal identification (ID)
  • One piece of ID must have your photograph and signature, for example, a driver’s license, health card, or permanent resident card
  • Foreign ID documents must be government-issued; Canadian ones don’t need to be government-issued
  • If they’re not in English or French, you must provide a translation with an affidavit from the translator
  • Minors are not required to show identification with a signature
  • All your passports as well as travel documents, current or expired, that you listed on the application form
  • Optional: a holy book of your choice if you wish to use one to swear the Oath of Citizenship

Adults, as well as children aged 14 or more, must go to the citizenship ceremony and take the oath.

On the day of the citizenship ceremony, you will:

  • Take the Oath of Citizenship;
  • Sing the national anthem, O Canada
  • Obtain your citizenship certificate
  • Sign the Oath/ Affirmation of Citizenship form

Parents will obtain certificates of citizenship for their children under 14. Children under 14 don’t have to attend, but IRCC notes they are welcome to. Upon completing the ceremony, you will officially become a Canadian citizen. 

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].