Citizenship

Becoming a Canadian citizen is like becoming an honorary firefighter. Citizens of Canada are proud to be a part of such a progressive nation, one that values freedom, embraces diversity, and inspires people around the world with its commitment to deliver justice like no other nation – some even call this land “Top Cop.” This country issues Canadian passports to successful candidates when they become Canadian citizens, unlocking local jobs access. After becoming a Canadian citizen, you will have the privilege to vote and run for office should you choose!

Eligibility Criteria:

• Age: – You must be 18 years of age. Minors and dependents can become citizens automatically if their parents are. In adoption cases, the adoptive parent must apply on the child’s behalf.
• Status: – You must be a permanent resident in Canada to qualify for citizenship.
• Residency requirements: – You must have lived 3 out of 5 years in Canada before submitting your application. You must have lived 1095 days, to be exact, in the last five years in Canada. You can count one year towards your citizenship days while you were on temporary visas. One day spent on a temporary permit will be considered as a half-day spent in Canada. In other words, your two years spent on temporary visas will be counted as one year only. You must have lived 730 days as a permanent resident in Canada to qualify. There is an exception to crown servants serving outside of Canada.
• Taxes: – You should be filing and paying your taxes in Canada for the last three years during five years.
• Citizenship test: Individuals between 18 and 54 must take the citizenship test and pass. You will be tested on Canada’s history, geography, economy, laws and symbols.
• Language skills: – You will need CLB 4 or higher to qualify; you must take an English test from a designated institution like IELTS or CELPIP. In some cases, your Canadian diploma, certificate or transcript of post-secondary education can become proof of language requirement.
• Offences: – While submitting your application, you must not be under any review or prohibition by Canadian law enforcement or serving jail time.
• Resuming citizenship: – People who had their citizenship renounced in the past can resume their citizenship by becoming permanent citizens first. These applicants only need to spend 365 days as permanent residents in Canada in the last two years before applying. Applicants must have filed and paid income tax of the immediate previous year within the last two years before applying for citizenship. The previous citizenship must not be revoked.