How to Become Eligible for Canadian Citizenship – An Overview

Undoubtedly, there are many reasons to shift from PR to Canadian Citizenship in Canada. But before this, you need to check if you stand eligible for citizenship.

Who are eligible to get a Canadian Citizenship Certificate?

You are automatically a Canadian resident in the scenario if were born in Canada except if brought into the world by international diplomats. To qualify for the Canadian citizenship certificate, you need to;

Get a Permanent Resident Status

You must be a permanent resident in order to apply for Canadian citizenship eligibility, and must not:

  • Be reviewed for immigration fraud;
  • Be asked by Canadian officials to leave Canada;
  • Have unfilled conditions related to your PR status, like medical screening, police verification, etc.

Meet Canada’s physical presence requirement

One of the most important eligibility criteria to become a Canadian citizen is that one needs to be living in Canada for three out of five years. Among other eligibility criteria, if you are 18 or older, you need to be living in Canada for at least 1095 days out of the five years immediately before you apply for citizenship.

Before you start calculating your citizenship eligibility, make sure that you have been a permanent resident for at least two years in a manner to meet the physical presence requirement. After you become a PR, every day will be counted as one full day toward your citizenship application. If a person is physically present in the country as a temporary resident before becoming a permanent resident then it will be counted as a half-day, up to a maximum of 365 days. So, if a temporary resident did not leave Canada for three years, it would only be counted as 1 year.

IRCC only considers five years the one spends immediately before the application for the physical presence requirement.

File your taxes (if required)

You are required to file taxes in Canada for at least three years during your five-year tenure. It may also be a requirement to file an income tax return, even if you lived in Canada for only part of a year if you:

  • Require to pay tax for the year
  • Want to claim a refund
  • Wish to get benefits and credit payments

Pass a Canadian citizenship test

Once you’re done meeting the eligibility criteria, you can apply for Canadian citizenship. Approved candidates between the age of 18 and 54 will have to take a citizenship test. After this, one attends a citizenship ceremony and receives a certificate of Canadian citizenship.

Prove your language skills

You need to be fluent in either English or French language to communicate in Canadian society. If you are between the age of 18 and 54, you have to submit proof of language proficiency. You can demonstrate your language skills to IRCC by providing evidence (for example, proof that you attended a secondary or post-secondary educational program in English or French) or by assessing the quality of communication you have with citizenship officials during the application process. An IRCC official may assess your language skills during a citizenship hearing if necessary.

What is the ineligibility of Canadian citizenship?

There are also legal and criminal issues that would make you ineligible for Canadian citizenship.

  • If you have had your citizenship revoked within the last five years, you would be ineligible for Canadian citizenship;
  • you have been convicted of a criminal offense in the past three years, you are in prison, on parole, or on probation;
  • you are under a removal order from Canada, or you have been investigated for or convicted of war crimes or crimes against humanity.

How to apply for the Proof of Canadian Citizenship Process?
To apply for proof of citizenship;

  • You need to download the application form accessible on IRCC’s site
  • You need to show your natural or lawful parent was a Canadian resident when you were born.
  • IRCC acknowledges proof, for example, your parent’s birth declaration, Canadian citizenship card, or citizenship certificate.

IRCC will send an affirmation of receipt, known as an AOR when the submission of an application is done. Upon the application being supported, IRCC will send a Canadian citizenship certificate.

Austin Campbell

Austin has been quite active in the immigration arena since 2010. He has authored over 250 immigration publications, given over 70 presentations, and organized numerous events featuring federal and provincial immigration ministers and leaders from other sectors. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto and Durham University.
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