Canada is recognized as one of the most open immigration countries in the world. It is also very open to immigration with nearly 1,000,000 immigrants projected through 2018-2020.
Becoming a Canadian Citizen is a lengthy process. Once you have Permanent Residence Status (landed immigrant), you may follow these steps to obtain Canadian Citizenship.
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1Meet the Eligibility Requirements. (Make sure you are eligible)
- You must be a Permanent Resident
- You must have been present Canada for atleast 1095 days in the 5 years immediately before you apply.
- You must have filed personal income taxes at least 3 within the last 5 years and taxes owing must be paid in full
- You must demonstrate fluency in either English or French. (if you are between 18 and 54 years old when you apply)
- You must demonstrate you have knowledge of Canada. (if you are between 18 and 54 years old when you apply)
- You are not be under a removal order and not be inadmissible or prohibited on criminal or security grounds.
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2Meet the Physical Presence Requirement.
Use the "online calculator" or the "How to Calculate Physical Presence form" to check how long you have been in Canada and print the results.
Be sure to double check your calculations.
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3Gather the Documents and Complete the Application.
Submit the following documents with your application:
- Your original prinout of Online Physical Presence Calculation or form CIT 0407.
- Your photocopies of all valid and expired passports or travel documents you had in the past 5 years.
- If you are 18-54 years old photocopies of your proof of English or French language.
- Photocopy of personal identification.
- two (2) identical citizenship photos.
Download the application form from www.canada.ca. Once you pay the appropriate fee of $630 per person, Use the document checklist to make sure your application package is complete. Your application will take approximately 12 months to process. Processing times may vary.
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4Write the Citizenship Exam.
If your application is approved, you will need to study and write a Citizenship exam. The test will assess your knowledge of the rights and responsibilities you will have as a Canadian Citizen. You may take citizenship classes, in your community, or you can study through Discover Canada. Children under 18 and adults over age 54 do not need to write the exam.
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5Attend an Interview.
You may need to attend an interview with a citizenship official or a citizenship judge, to review your documentation and/or test your language fluency.
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6Attend a Citizenship Ceremony.
If you meet all the requirements, Congratulations! You will be invited to a ceremony where you will take an oath of citizenship and officially become a Canadian citizen.
