Often ranked as one of the best places to live in the world, Canada is a popular destination for immigrants. This vast country is among the biggest globally, and with a relatively low population, the Canadian government actively tries to encourage visitors from around the world. At any given time, authorities handle over two million permanent residency or citizenship applications.1 But success is by no means guaranteed—there are strict requirements for those who can become Canadian citizens.
Remitly is committed to supporting people starting a new life in Canada and further abroad. In this guide, we’ll look at how to get Canadian citizenship, the eligibility requirements, and some practical tips to put you on the right track.
What does Canadian citizenship mean for you?
Holding Canadian citizenship means you’ve received the full legal status—whether by birth, by descent, or through naturalization—to live legally in the country and enjoy certain rights. Specifically, you can:
- Hold a Canadian passport
- Live and work in Canada for any period
- Vote in federal, provincial, or territorial elections and run for office
- Pay Canadian taxes
- Serve on a jury
- Receive consular protection abroad
However, you must also fulfil various responsibilities, like being proficient in the language and making an effort to integrate into local life.
Residency in Canada
Did you know it’s possible to live in Canada without being a citizen? Studies show that, by 2021, only 45.7% of immigrants who had resided in the country for five to nine years had obtained Canadian citizenship. The truth is, some pathways let you live in the country without citizenship:
- Study permit
- Work visas and permits
- Temporary Resident Visa (or visitor visa)
- Permanent resident (PR) status
Permanent residency is awarded to immigrants moving to Canada. Recipients gain the right to live, work, and study in the country permanently—all without losing their original citizenship.
Citizenship vs residency
Permanent residents have many of the same rights as Canadian citizens, but there are some differences:
| Rights | Citizen | Permanent Resident |
| Right to vote | Yes | No |
| Right to run for office | Yes | No |
| Right to work | Yes | Yes, but may be barred from jobs with high security clearance |
| Right to open bank accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Right to hold a Canadian passport | Yes | No |
| Right to live indefinitely in Canada | Yes | Yes |
| Right to travel freely | Yes | Yes, but must have spent 730 days out of the previous five years in Canada |
| To pass citizenship to foreign-born children | Yes | No |
What are the citizenship requirements?
Anyone born in Canada automatically becomes a Canadian citizen. Plus, the children of Canadian citizens born abroad can usually claim citizenship if they apply for it. But what about the rest?
Eligibility
For people who immigrate to Canada, the path to citizenship is more complex. You need to meet these requirements:
| Y/N | Eligibility requirement |
|
|
You have Permanent Resident status. |
|
|
You’ve been physically present in Canada for 1,095 days out of the last five years before the date of your application. Those days don’t have to be consecutive. |
|
|
You’ve filed taxes in Canada for at least three of the five previous years. |
|
|
If you’re applying as an adult, you can demonstrate the ability to speak either English or French competently. |
|
|
You passed a citizenship test on Canada’s history, geography, government, laws, and economy. |
|
|
You agree to take an Oath of Citizenship if you’re more than 14 years old. |
|
|
You haven’t been convicted of a crime inside or outside Canada. |
It’s worth noting that marrying a Canadian citizen doesn’t automatically give you citizenship. The requirements outlined above still apply.
Language proficiency requirements
As an applicant, you must achieve Level 4 of the Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT) to meet the English language requirement.
Meanwhile, to prove your French competency, the Niveaux de competence linguistique canadien (NCLC) applies.
But when it comes to these tests, certain rules apply:
- You probably won’t have to take the tests if your secondary or postsecondary education was conducted in English or French.
- This applies whether you studied inside or outside Canada.
- Your diploma or transcript is adequate proof of language competency.
Children under 18 aren’t required to meet the language requirements or pass the Canadian citizenship test. They must take the Oath of Citizenship if they are over 14, though.
How to get Canadian citizenship: step-by-step process
The requirements for Canadian citizenship are quite strict. However, your chances of success will be much higher if you follow the necessary steps.
Step 1: Gather the required documents
Collect all the necessary documents before making your application, including:
- Your PR card, accepted even if it has expired.
- A color photocopy of all pages of your passport.
- Your tax returns for at least the last five years.
- Proof of English or French language competence.
- A copy of your Physical Presence Calculation, which demonstrates that you’ve been in Canada for the required 1,095 days.
- Two identical citizenship photos that meet the specifications.
- A completed application form.
- A receipt for payment of your application fees, currently $649.75 CAD (approximately $470 USD) for adults over 18, and $100 CAD (just over $72 USD) for minors.
You can apply online or by using a paper application through the mail. If you’ve spent any time outside Canada in service of The Crown, or a representative will submit the application on your behalf, you’ll need to use a paper application.
Step 2: Fill out the application form
You must complete all the questions on the form unless otherwise instructed. If you fill out the form online, you can save your information anytime and complete your application later.
- Choose the language you want to communicate in, either English or French.
- Enter your Unique Client Identifier (UCI) from your Record of Landing or PR card.
- Also, enter your name, gender, and other personal details.
- Indicate your Physical Presence Calculation.
- List your work and study history for the past five years.
- Fill out the required information about your tax returns and criminal record.
- Sign the form.
Step 3: Pay the fees
For adults over 18, applying for Canadian citizenship costs $649.75 CAD (approximately $470 USD, based on exchange rates at the time of writing). This includes a $530 CAD processing fee and a $119.75 CAD right of citizenship fee.
The processing fee is waived for stateless adults born to Canadian parents, so the total cost is $119.75 CAD (around $86.64 USD).
For children under 18, the application costs $100 CAD (just over $72.27 USD).
Step 4: Submit your application
Submit your application in one of two ways:
- Online by uploading your documents to your Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account on the official website.
- Mail your paper application to the Canadian embassy, consulate, or high commission nearest to you.
Step 5: After submission
Once you submit your application, the Canadian authorities will confirm that it meets the minimum processing requirements. They will check for all the required documents and ensure you’ve paid the mandated fees.
If everything is in order, you’ll receive an acknowledgement of receipt, either online or through the mail, depending on how you applied. But if your application doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, it will be returned with a letter explaining your next steps.
Once your application has been processed, you’ll get an invitation to take the citizenship test and attend a formal interview.
The Canadian citizenship test
Most people get nervous at the thought of taking a test or interview. But a little preparation can help you feel more confident. If you’ve been living in Canada for the necessary three years, you probably have a decent knowledge of Canadian laws, customs, and rights. However, it never hurts to brush up on your knowledge, so focus on learning more about the country’s history, geography, and governance.
The citizenship test has 20 multiple-choice or true-or-false questions. They will be in either English or French, depending on the language you chose to apply in. You’ll have 45 minutes to complete the test, and must get at least 15 out of the 20 questions correct.
The test is usually taken online. The official study guide is available for free as an MP3 audio file, e-book, or paper copy.
You’ll be able to take the test within one week of receiving your acknowledgement of receipt. Once you receive the invitation, you have 30 calendar days to complete the test and three attempts to pass it. If you fail on your third attempt, you’ll be invited to a hearing with a citizenship official to decide your case.
What should you expect during the interview?
If you pass the Canadian citizenship test, you may be invited to an interview with a citizenship official. However, this happens on a case-by-case basis, so don’t be alarmed if you don’t receive the invitation. Still, it’s a good idea to be prepared for one.
In the interview, the government official will:
- Check your language skills in English or French, depending on the language you chose on your application.
- Verify your application and original documents.
- Ask any questions they may have about your application, including time spent in Canada, your reasons for becoming a citizen, your tax returns, and more.
Tips for a successful interview
Although you should take the interview seriously, try not to worry too much if you’re selected. For your application to get this far, it indicates you probably meet the citizenship requirements. They may just have some follow-up questions to clarify anything they didn’t quite understand in your citizenship application.
Also, be sure to bring all your supporting documents with you so you can clear up any concerns the official may have. Be polite, honest, and helpful, and you’ll sail through this part of the process.
Citizenship processing times
Currently, the wait time to receive your Canadian citizenship is 11 months. That’s calculated as the time from when IRCC receives your application to the day you take your Oath of Citizenship. It does not include how long it’ll take you to gather all your documents.
Your application may be delayed if you are missing important documents, or if Canadian authorities have further questions about your eligibility. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you have your documentation in order before starting Canada’s citizenship process.
The citizenship ceremony
If your application is successful, you’ll have the privilege of attending a citizenship ceremony, where you’ll be officially granted Canadian citizenship. This is a big occasion, so celebrate!
The invitation will be sent to you when you receive citizenship approval. The ceremony itself may be held online or in person, so choose which option you prefer. Here are some other helpful tips:
- Bring your PR card and some government-issued ID.
- Also, carry a holy book of your choice if you want to swear the oath on it, but this isn’t required.
- You’re allowed to bring a mobile phone or camera to capture the moment.
- Wear business attire appropriate for a serious occasion.
- Your invitation will clarify whether you can bring guests or not, so check to confirm beforehand.
The ceremony can last several hours, mainly because you’ll share the experience with many other successful applicants. Toward the end, you’ll be asked to stand and recite the words of the Oath of Citizenship and sing the national anthem. While saying the oath in English and French is encouraged, it isn’t necessary. You can sing the anthem in either language.
Common challenges and how to deal with them
Your application will go smoothly with luck, but it’s always possible to run into problems. Some of the most frequent mistakes that can delay an application include:
- Missing documents: These could include tax returns and immigration records.
- Incomplete forms: Review your citizenship application form carefully and ensure you fill in every section.
- Incorrect fee payments: Your application will be returned if you don’t pay the fee by debit or credit card.
- Time spent outside Canada: You may need to prove that you’ve spent 1,095 days of the last five years in Canada. Keep a detailed travel log and retain copies of entry and exit stamps in passports to show you were in the country.
- Name changes: If your name differs from the one on your official identity documents, you’ll need proof of the change, such as a marriage certificate or court order.
If your application is refused, there’s no waiting period to reapply. However, it’s a good idea to go over your citizenship application carefully and understand why it was rejected before applying again.
You can also seek judicial review by the Federal Court of Canada if you feel that you were unjustly denied citizenship. You have 30 days from the date of the refusal letter to apply for this review.
Successfully navigating Canada’s citizenship process
Canada is a beautiful and welcoming place to live, and becoming a citizen makes you a full member of this unique nation. If you’re currently a permanent resident who has spent enough time in the country, you may well be eligible to take the final step in your journey to Canadian citizenship.
Don’t be intimidated by the process. Although it’s important to follow all the rules, it’s actually quite straightforward. You can also seek help from legal or immigration professionals if your situation is more complex.
Ultimately, it’s well worth the effort to become a Canadian citizen. With this guide, you can start your application today.
FAQs
How long does it take to get Canadian citizenship?
The application process takes around 11 months. If you or your parents were not born in the country, you must first become a permanent resident and live in Canada for at least three years.
Can I keep my original citizenship when I become Canadian?
Yes, Canada allows dual citizenship. You won’t be asked to surrender your original citizenship by Canada, but your home country may ask you to do so.
What happens if I fail the citizenship test?
If you fail the citizenship test, you can try again. But if you fail three times, you’ll be invited to an interview with an official who will judge your case instead.
Do I need to speak perfect English or French to become a citizen?
No, you don’t need to speak either English or French—Canada’s official languages—perfectly. Officials must gauge if you’re skilled enough to pass a test and participate in daily life.
Can I apply for citizenship if I have a criminal record?
You can apply for citizenship with a criminal record, but it may complicate things. Serious crimes like terrorism may make you ineligible for citizenship, but less serious ones are judged on a case-by-case basis.