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If you are about to get a Canadian Citizenship, that means you are at the final step of your immigration journey! Some people may wonder about the necessity of getting a Canadian citizenship. Canadian citizens have more privileges than permanent residents. For example, Canadian citizens have the right to vote and can become involved with a political party or leadership campaign. Furthermore, you do not have to worry about any expiration dates for a visa, a PR card, or a permit. There are many more benefits of getting a Canadian citizenship. If you’d like to learn more information about how to become a Canadian citizen, then continue to read this blog.
Permanent resident status
In order to apply for Canadian citizenship, a permanent resident status is required. Simply having status as a permanent resident is not enough though, you must meet all the conditions required as a permanent resident. This means:
Please note, you can apply for citizenship if you have expired PR card and even if it is lost or stolen. As long as you meet conditions set on your PR card.
Residency Requirements
To apply to be a Canadian citizen successfully, you must clearly demonstrate intent to live in Canada permanently. This is the purpose of the residency requirements individuals are subject to as permanent residents. You must spend a minimum length of time in Canada as a permanent resident to be eligible for Canadian citizenship. As a permanent resident you must have resided in Canada for been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the five years before you apply.
Please note, residency requirements do not apply to individuals who are younger than 18 years of age.
The residency calculation is different for temporary residents and protects persons. If you are a temporary resident or protected person, each day you spent physically in Canada within the last 5 years will count as one half day, with a maximum of 365 days, towards your physical presence.
Temporary resident status includes lawful authorization to enter or remain in Canada as a
Filing income tax
You need to file income taxes (if required by the Income Tax Act) for any three taxation years that are fully or partially within the five years before you apply
Language requirements
The official languages used in Canada are English and French. In order for you to be truly engaged with Canadian society, you must have satisfactory knowledge of either English or French. The language requirement applies to individuals who are between 14 to 64 years old. If you fall within this age group, you must include supporting documents proving you have the ability to speak and listen in English or French. Apart from the language tests, you may also provide a copy of your diploma, transcript, and/or certificate from a secondary or post-secondary program in English or French.
Take the Citizenship Test
Finally, an immigration officer will also assess your knowledge of Canada, as this demonstrates an effort to engage with society and learn about Canadian life. Ultimately, this helps demonstrate intent to settle in Canada permanently. An immigration officer will conduct a written test to assess your knowledge of your rights, Canada’s history, values, institutions and symbols, responsibilities and privileges of citizenship in either English or French. If you are between 14 to 64 years of age, you must take the citizenship test and prove to an immigration officer you have good knowledge of Canada. Please note, there is a study guide available and the test is based on the guide. Studying this will help you truly understand Canada’s history, values, institutions and symbols, so that you can be successful on the day of your citizenship test.
Take the Oath
After you pass the citizenship test, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada will notify you the location and the date for your oath. You will swear the oath, alongside the other applicants, to demonstrate you will be a faithful and law-abiding Canadian citizen, and your loyalty to the Queen.
Not everyone who meets the aforementioned requirements can apply for citizenship. If you have committed a criminal offence inside or outside of Canada, you may not be able to apply for citizenship for certain period of time. You will need to have paid fines, finished parole/ probation, and completed extra anger or drug management programs. From the time all conditions are completed, you cannot apply for a Canadian citizenship for a minimum of four years.
If you have been ordered to leave Canada or refused Canadian citizenship because of misrepresentation, you cannot apply for citizenship, either. If you have had your Canadian citizenship revoked, or have not met the terms and conditions of your permanent resident status, you are also not eligible to apply.
Preparing for the citizenship application can be exhausting and overwhelming. It is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to submit the application. Akrami & Associates work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients obtain Canadian citizenship. So, if you want to become a Canadian citizen, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.
With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!
