CITIZENSHIP
recent updates on Citizenship Act
Starting October 11, 2017 permanent residents will be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship if they have lived in the country for three out of the previous five years.
In addition, applicants over 55 years of age are once again exempt from the language and knowledge tests for citizenship under the amended citizenship regulations.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must meet the following requirements:
Permanent Resident Status
Regardless of your age, when you are applying for citizenship, you must have your Permanent Resident (PR) status in Canada. Your status must not be in question, or be under a review for immigration fraud, or be under a removal order, or have any unfulfilled conditions.
Time you have lived in Canada
Regardless of your age, you must have been physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for at least:
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1,095 days during the five years right before the date you sign your application
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(will be updated soon)___ days during each of three calendar years that are fully or partially within the five years right before the date you apply
When calculating how long you have lived in Canada, you can only count time spent after you became a permanent resident.
These requirements don’t apply to children under 18 where a parent or guardian has applied on their behalf for citizenship using the subsection 5(2) application form.
You may be eligible to apply even if you don’t meet the minimum time lived in Canada if you’re a:
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Crown servant (certain categories of public officials)
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family member of a Crown servant
Income tax filing
You are required to provide your personal income tax filing for three tax years that are fully or partially within the five years right before the date you apply.
Language abilities
Applicants between 18 to 54 years old must be able to demonstrate their speaking and listening skills in English or French Languages. This means they can:
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take part in short, everyday conversations about common topics
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understand simple instructions, questions and directions
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use basic grammar, including simple structures and tenses
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show their know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express themselves
Citizenship staff will decide how well you can communicate in English or French during your interview. A citizenship officer will make the final decision on your application.
How well you know Canada
You are required to pass a test about Canadian values, history, symbols, institutions, rights, responsibilities and privileges of citizenship to meet the knowledge requirement for citizenship.
Tests are can be taken in English or French and made up of questions based on the Discover Canada study guide. It's in a written format, unless you need to take it orally with a citizenship officer.
Note: Applicants under 18 years of age applying under the 5(1) grant category do not have to meet the knowledge requirement.
Prohibitions
Applicants who have committed a crime in or outside Canada, may not be eligible to become a Canadian citizen for a period of time. This includes if they:
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are serving a sentence outside Canada
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are serving a term of imprisonment, on parole or on probation in Canada
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are charged with, on trial for, or involved in an appeal of an:
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indictable offence in Canada
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offence outside Canada
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have been convicted in the four years before applying for citizenship of an:
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indictable offence in Canada
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offence outside Canada
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Time spent serving a term of imprisonment, on parole, or on probation doesn’t count as time you have lived in Canada.