Citizenship in Canada

Written by Luis Minvielle Moderated by Oleksandra Dosii

Luis Minvielle

Luis is a writer with over 5 years of experience in B2B software. Even though he has always worked in tech, a sector he regularly publishes about, his initial incursions into writing were, curiously enough, music essays discussing scenes from different parts of the world—most likely to deal with his unfulfilled ambition of becoming a neo-soul crooner.

Oleksandra Dosii

Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.

Last update: September 15, 2024

Next update: Scheduled for February 1, 2025

After living in Canada as a permanent residence for five years, you may become eligible for Canadian citizenship. The only way expats can gain Canadian citizenship is through naturalisation. But even if it’s the only available, and it may sound too restrictive, it’s actually for the best—having only one way means the path to getting Canadian citizenship is fairly simple to understand. To help you get through the process, this guide will walk you through the requirements and steps to apply for Canadian citizenship.

What are the benefits of Canadian citizenship?

Permanent residents enjoy many of the same benefits as citizens. However, only citizens can vote, hold a Canadian passport, run for public office, and live abroad without losing their status. Citizens also get one year of free admission to Canada’s natural parks and cultural centres. Canada doesn’t take those free admissions lightly. They are so fond of them that doctors have been prescribing national park passes like those.

Does Canada allow dual citizenship?

Canada allows dual citizenship, but not all countries do. If you become a Canadian citizen, some may revoke your original citizenship, others may not recognize it at all, while some might recognize both.

What are the ways to get Canadian citizenship?

There are three ways to get Canadian citizenship, with naturalisation being the only option for expats. At first sight, it might look like the path to citizenship is too severely restricted. But Canada has made it simple (not easy—simple) and having such a narrow range of offerings is likely to make them more efficient at it. Plenty of countries struggle with this, with aspiring-to-be citizens having to wait an indeterminate amount of time once they apply. These are the three ways to be or become a Canadian citizen:

By birth

Like most of the nations in the Americas, Canada is one of the relatively few countries that follow jus soli, meaning anyone born on Canadian soil automatically becomes a citizen, except for children of foreign diplomats or those exempt from Canadian law.

By descent

If you were born outside Canada to at least one Canadian parent, you may be eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent.

By naturalisation

To become a Canadian citizen by naturalisation, you must first immigrate as a permanent resident and, after five years, meet specific requirements to be eligible for citizenship.

When can you apply for Canadian citizenship?

To become a Canadian citizen by naturalisation, you should:

• Be a permanent resident.
• Have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the last 5 years (1,095 days). Note: Each day spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before getting permanent residence counts as half a day. You can use up to 365 of these half-days to meet the 1,095-day requirement.
• Have filed taxes, if required.
• Pass the citizenship test.
• Prove language skills in English or French.
• Take the oath of citizenship.

Other requirements may apply. Use this tool to find out if you are eligible.

What documents are required?

Throughout the process, you will need to present the following documents:

1. The original printout of your Online Physical Presence Calculation or form CIT 0407.
2. Application for Canadian citizenship (CIT 0002).
3. Colour photocopy of all pages (valid or expired) of your passport(s) or travel document(s) during your five-year eligibility period, including the biographical page.
4. Photocopies of two pieces of personal identification. Examples: a copy of the biographical page of your passport/travel document, permanent resident card (PR card) (only if your second piece of personal identification was issued by the Canadian government), driving licence, health insurance card, foreign identity documents, among others.
5. If you are 18 to 54 years old: Photocopies of your proof of English or French language ability.
6. Two (2) identical citizenship photos.
7. Fee receipt.
8. The Document Checklist (CIT 0007).
9. Other documents that might apply specifically to you.

Document validation

When submitting documents that aren’t in English or French, you must include both the English or French translation and an affidavit from the translator if they aren’t certified. To certify a photocopy of a document, an authorized person (like a notary public, commissioner of oaths, or commissioner of taking affidavits) must compare the original to the photocopy and sign it.

How to apply for Canadian citizenship?

You can apply either online or on paper (only if you’re not eligible to apply online). If the application is missing, it will be returned to you. If it’s complete, you’ll receive a confirmation letter (AOR) and processing will begin. Processing time of the complete application, including the citizenship test, interview and ceremony, takes seven months.

You can check your application status online to find out the progress with your application, only after you’ve received your AOR letter or email.

Canadian citizenship ceremony

The last step to becoming a Canadian citizen is the citizenship ceremony. At the ceremony, you will take the Oath of Citizenship. You’ll receive a Notice to Appear, which is an invitation to the ceremony. Taking the oath means you agree to follow Canadian rights and responsibilities.

What is the Canadian citizenship test?

You will usually receive the invitation within one week of your Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) letter or email. Most applicants will be invited to take the citizenship test online. After you receive the invitation, you have 30 days to complete the test, and you can try up to 3 times during this period.

The test covers questions about Canadian citizens’ rights and responsibilities, Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws, and symbols. It includes 20 questions in 45 minutes, either multiple choice or true/false in English or French. To pass, you need to get 75% correct answers. To prepare, use the official study guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. Don’t fail the exam.

After you pass, you may be invited to an interview with a citizenship official or to the citizenship ceremony directly.

Can your family members get Canadian citizenship?

Your family members can apply for Canadian citizenship if they meet the eligibility requirements. Each family member must apply individually, but they can submit their applications together as a family group. If they don’t already live in Canada, you can sponsor them for permanent residence.

What are Canadian citizenship fees?

The fees are the same for applying online or on paper, and are paid online. These are Canadian dollars, you should note.

Processing fee:

• Adult (18 or older): $530
• Minor (under 18): $100

Right of citizenship fee:

• Adult (18 or older): $100
• Minor (under 18): -

What if your application is rejected?

There’s no waiting period to reapply after your application has been rejected, but you should pay a new fee. Check that you meet the requirements first. If your application was refused, you can request a judicial review by the Federal Court within 30 days, but this isn’t an appeal of the decision. If you do want to appeal, you should file a Notice of Application to the Federal Court within 30 days of receipt of the decision from citizenship.

Talk to an immigration expert

If you’re aiming to become a Canadian citizen, you should first become a permanent resident. And to become a permanent resident, landing a job with an employer who can sponsor your application is the best way to secure your chances.

Relocate.me has successfully connected many jobseekers with companies looking to hire talent from around the world. We can also introduce you to immigration experts. Whether you’re planning to live and work in Canada or even become a citizen one day, reach out to us—we can connect you with immigration experts who can help you get started.

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