Canada is a diverse, multicultural country with a growing population, many of whom are individuals who have integrated into Canadian society and chosen to become Canadian citizens.
Other than being born in Canada, there are two main ways for someone to become a Canadian citizen:
- By descent: If you are the child of a Canadian citizen but are born overseas, you will generally be granted Canadian citizenship
- By grant (naturalization): If you are a non-citizen of Canada and have lived in Canada for a given period of time (see residency requirements in ‘eligibility’ below) you can apply to become a Canadian citizen
What are the benefits of Canadian citizenship?
All Canadian citizens are eligible to:
- apply for a Canadian passport
- travel freely to and from Canada
- live, work and study freely anywhere in Canada
- hold dual or multiple citizenship (providing the other country or countries permit this)
- vote in Canadian elections
- stand for public office in Canada
Who can apply for Canadian citizenship?
If you are intending to apply for Canadian citizenship by grant of naturalization, you will usually need to:
- be aged 18 or over
- currently hold permanent resident status in Canada
- have been living in Canada for at least three of the past five years
- prove your English or French language ability
- applies only if you are aged 18-54
- take and pass a Canadian citizenship test
- applies only if you are aged 18-54
- not be ineligible for citizenship because of failure to meet certain good character requirements
How do I apply for Canadian citizenship?
In order to apply for Canadian citizenship, you should first determine if you are eligible. You can do this yourself by referring to the criteria outlined above. Alternatively, you may wish to discuss your situation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, who will be able to advise you on your eligibility.
Once you have confirmed your eligibility, you will usually be required to submit an application online. You can only submit a citizenship application on paper if you are not permitted to submit one online, for instance if you have spent significant time outside Canada as a crown servant or their family member.
The fee for a Canadian citizenship application is CAD $630 for most adults, CAD $100 for minors and CAD $100 for stateless adults who have a Canadian parent.
Applications for Canadian citizenship typically receive a decision within seven months.
Will I need to take a Canadian citizenship test and/or interview?
If you are aged between 18 and 54, you will be required to take and pass a citizenship test, otherwise your application will be rejected. Adults aged 55 or over or children aged 17 or younger are not required to take and pass a citizenship test.
There are some limited circumstances in which someone may be granted an waiver from the citizenship test requirement. For example, you can request a waiver if you have a severe medical condition lasting at least one year, low levels of literacy or education in your first language, or have experienced significant trauma due to war, torture, experiences as a refugee or similar traumatic experiences.
Whether you are invited to a citizenship interview will depend on whether the caseworker reviewing your application has additional questions about the supporting information you have provided. This interview can take place in person or virtually, such as via Teams or Zoom. There is no fixed time limit for these interviews, but many people report them as taking as little as five to ten minutes where the questions are straightforward.
You will not be asked questions relating to the citizenship test. Instead, you should expect to be asked to present your ID and/or passport, and to confirm or provide further detail on the information you provided in your application e.g. your travel history, your place of work or your family members in Canada.