To be eligible for Canadian citizenship, you must have lived in Canada for at least three years (1,095 days) out of the four years (1,460 days) preceding your application. 

When calculating your time in Canada:

• only the four (4) years preceding the date of your application are taken into account;
• each day you lived in Canada before you became a permanent resident counts as half a day;
• each day you lived in Canada after you became a permanent resident counts as one day;
• time spent serving a sentence for an offence in Canada (e.g. prison, penitentiary, jail, reformatory, conditional sentence, probation and/or parole) cannot be counted toward residence - there are some exceptions to this rule;
• absences from Canada may have an impact on your residence. Only a citizenship judge can determine if you meet the residence requirements with fewer than 1,095 days of physical presence.

No, there is no obligation to apply for Canadian Citizenship at any time.

The main difference between a Canadian permanent residence and a Canadian citizen is the right to hold a Canadian passport and no residency obligation. Canadian citizens also have the right to vote. In addition, for those immigrants who wish to work for the federal government or run for political office, becoming a Canadian citizen enables you to do so. But more importantly, becoming a Canadian citizen is an important symbolic step. It shows to the community that one has embraced the values of the country and is committed to its future.

If you want to become a Canadian citizen, you must:

• Determine if you are eligible to become a citizen.
• Apply for citizenship.
• Take the citizenship test, if you are between the ages of 18 and 54.
• Attend a citizenship ceremony, if you are 14 or older.

The fee for adults is $200. The fee for children under 18 is $100.

The fee for an adult application for citizenship is $200. It includes the $100 right of citizenship fee. If you are not granted citizenship, we will send you a refund for this $100 fee only.

A child cannot become a citizen unless one parent is already a citizen or becomes one at the same time. The child’s fee is not refundable. If you are not already a Canadian citizen, make sure you meet all the requirements before you apply for your child.

All other fees for citizenship services are not refundable.

If you do not pass the test, you are sent a notice to appear for an interview with a citizenship judge. During this interview, the judge will determine whether or not you meet all the requirements for citizenship—including knowledge of your rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen, residency in Canada and an adequate knowledge of English or French.

In order to acquire Canadian citizenship, you must demonstrate an adequate knowledge of English or French, Canada’s two official languages. Adequate knowledge of English or French means the ability to speak one of Canada’s official languages well enough to communicate with people. An applicant must know enough English or French to understand other people and for others to understand them.

The citizenship knowledge test and your interaction with CIC staff will be used to assess if you have an adequate ability to communicate in either English or French. CIC staff will observe

• your ability to understand basic spoken statements and questions, and
• your ability to communicate basic information or respond to questions.

For example, as part of your interaction with departmental staff or as part of your written test or your interview with a citizenship judge, you will be expected to:

• answer simple questions on familiar topics, using short sentences;
• show that you know enough words for basic everyday communication;
• tell a simple story about everyday activities;
• speak about something you did in the past (or will do in the future);
• give simple everyday instructions and directions; and
• express satisfaction or dissatisfaction.

No. Marriage to a Canadian citizen does not give you citizenship. You must first apply and obtain permanent residence, then apply for Canadian citizenship and meet the same requirements as any other person seeking citizenship in Canada.

A child’s legal guardian may apply for citizenship on behalf of the child if the child has at least one Canadian parent (natural or adoptive). If a child has a Canadian legal guardian but no Canadian parent (natural or adoptive), the child is not eligible for citizenship.

Under Canadian law, a Canadian is allowed to be a citizen of another country as well. Some countries, however, will not let you keep their citizenship if you become a Canadian citizen. The consulate or embassy of your other country of citizenship can let you know if this applies to you.

No. You must have accumulated at least three years of residence (1,095 days) on the day you sign your application. Otherwise, the application will be returned.

Under the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), qualified Canadian citizens can benefit from facilitated admission into the US, Mexico and Chile for business and work-related purposes.

Every country decides who it considers to be a citizen. Dual citizenship is when you are recognized as a citizen by more than one country.

You do not apply for dual citizenship and there is no certificate.

Since February 15, 1977, Canadians have been allowed to take foreign citizenship while keeping their Canadian citizenship.

If you are a permanent resident but not a Canadian citizen, you should check with the embassy of your country of citizenship to find out about their rules before applying for Canadian citizenship.

Children who are under the age of 18 at the time of application do not have to write the citizenship test. Only people between the ages of 18 and 54 have to write the citizenship test. If you are 55 or older, you do not have to write the test and do not have to meet the language and knowledge requirements.

Children under the age of 14 do not have to take the oath. Only people aged 14 and older have to take the oath.

You will receive a letter telling you when and where to go for your citizenship test and for your citizenship ceremony.

If you do not appear for your scheduled citizenship test, another mail will be sent telling you that because you missed your citizenship test, you are now scheduled to appear for an interview with a citizenship judge.

If you miss that interview, another interview will be scheduled for you and you will receive a notice of that second scheduled date by registered mail.

If you do not attend the second scheduled interview, your file will be closed.

If you do not attend the citizenship ceremony and do not contact the citizenship office within 60 days, your file will be closed. You will then have to fill out another application form and pay the fee to go through the entire process again.

Yes. If you are not approved, you may appeal the judge’s decision to the Federal Court of Canada, or reapply as soon as you feel ready to meet all the requirements. There is no waiting period before you can reapply.

Many people will be taking the oath with you. The citizenship judge will speak briefly about the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship.

You will then take the oath of citizenship, which will be administered by the citizenship judge. After taking the oath, you become a citizen. The judge will give you a certificate of Canadian citizenship.

If your citizenship certificate was lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, you can apply for a replacement.

Some countries do not allow dual citizenship. If you are a citizen or want to become a citizen of a country that does not allow dual citizenship, you may have to renounce, or give up, your Canadian citizenship. This requires a formal application to renounce your citizenship. Find more information about renouncing citizenship in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

If you renounce your Canadian citizenship, you will lose all the rights and privileges of Canadian citizenship. For example, you will lose the right to travel under a Canadian passport. If you remain in Canada or if you want to return to Canada as a permanent resident, you will have to go through immigration procedures.