Apply for Canadian Citizenship

Learn how you can become a Canadian citizen. Confirm your eligibility, check application requirements, and prepare for your citizenship test. Find out more about dual citizenship, or how to resume or give up your Canadian citizenship.

Do you want to know your eligibility for Canadian citizenship? Call us toll-free or take less than a minute to fill our Online Assessment for Your Visa Options.

Start Your Online Assessment

Or Call Us: 1-(888)-509-1987

Start Your Online Assessment

Or Call Us: 1-(888)-509-1987

Do you want to know your eligibility for Canadian citizenship? Call us toll-free or take less than a minute to fill our Online Assessment for Your Visa Options.

Canada looks to welcome more than 430,000 new permanent residents each year. Most of these newcomers will become proud Canadian citizens. When that process is complete, they take loyalty oaths pledging their commitment to the responsibilities and privileges of Canadian citizenship.

Who is eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allows a permanent resident to apply for Canadian citizenship after he or she has been a physical resident of Canada for three years (1,095 days) out of the five years immediately preceding the application for citizenship.

Where exceptional circumstances exist, however, someone may be allowed to apply even if he or she has not been physically resident in Canada for the required 1,095 days. The requirement to be physically present in Canada for 1,095 days does not apply to children under the age of 18.

Does a permanent resident have to apply for Canadian citizenship as soon as he or she is eligible?

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

What are some of the advantages of obtaining Canadian citizenship?

Unlike Canadian permanent residents, Canadian citizens have no residency obligations. Canadian citizens cannot lose their status unless it was obtained through material misrepresentation.

Canadian citizens also receive Canadian passports and are entitled to vote in federal, provincial, and municipal elections.

Will time spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident count towards a citizenship application?

Canadian law dictates that applicants must be physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for 1,095 days within the five (5) years immediately before applying for citizenship.

Only the five years preceding the date of the application are taken into account. Within that five-year period:

Every day spent in Canada as a permanent resident counts as a full day.
Every day spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident as a temporary resident or protected person counts as a half-day towards meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.
If the applicant became a permanent resident less than five years ago, the calculation period starts on the date that he or she became a permanent resident.
Time spent serving a sentence in Canada does not count towards the physical presence requirement (i.e. time spent in a prison, penitentiary, jail, reformatory, probation and/or on parole cannot be counted as physical presence).

Will time spent absent from Canada be counted towards a citizenship application?

Unless there are exceptional circumstances, time spent outside of Canada will not be counted towards the calculation of the 1,095 days required to qualify for Canadian citizenship.

Are Canadian citizens required to pay Canadian income tax on their worldwide income?

Not in all cases. As a general rule, only citizens residing in Canada are required to pay Canadian income tax on worldwide income. It is always best to consult with a specialist in Canadian taxation for specific advice regarding any and all Canadian taxation matters.

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Receive answers to all your immigrations questions along with available options, all in one place.

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Or Call Us: 1-(888)-509-1987

If someone was a Canadian citizen as a child but has not lived in Canada for many years, does he or she qualify as a citizen?

Anyone born in Canada is most likely a Canadian citizen. Anyone unsure of his or her Canadian citizenship can contact IRCC and request a search for citizenship records, and obtain new citizenship documents.

Do children born in Canada gain citizenship automatically?

Yes. Children born in Canada are Canadian citizens regardless of the status of their parents (i.e. a parent does not have to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in order for his or her Canadian-born child to be a citizen).

Apply for Canadian Citizenship FAQs

Since 1977, Canada has permitted its citizens to hold dual or multi citizenship. As a result, Canadian citizens will not lose their Canadian citizenship if they retain their former nationality or become citizens of another country. Many other countries, including the United States, also recognize dual citizenship.

It is advised that a permanent resident intending to become a Canadian citizen verifies whether the country of his or her current nationality permits dual citizenship.

A child must be a permanent resident of Canada to become a citizen. The physical presence requirement of 1,095 days does not apply to children under the age of 18. In order to apply for citizenship for a child under the age of 18, one of the child's parents must already be a Canadian citizen, or must apply for citizenship at the same time. This applies to adoptive children as well.

Depending on when and for what reason citizenship was revoked, it may be possible to re-apply for Canadian citizenship. For complicated citizenship problems like these, it is best to have a consultation.

Why Start with My Visa Source with a Free Online Assessment?

Congratulations on taking your first step towards Temporary Residence in Canada!

My Visa Source's immigration lawyers dedicate themselves to your immigration case, providing legal representation tailored to your personal situation.

Our expertise focuses on immigration and visa programs for Canada and the United States, including global immigration.

Partnering with an award-winning immigration team greatly increases the likelihood of achieving your specific immigration or visa goals.

Immigration is a complex process that requires strong legal strategy, precise paperwork, and perfect attention to detail and experience dealing with immigration officials and government departments, reducing the risk of wasted time, money or permanent rejection.

Begin Your Application for Temporary Residence Today!

Securing personalized legal help is quick and simple. Begin with our one-minute online assessment form or call us toll-free at 1-888-509-1987.

We have a dedicated team of licensed professionals standing by, ready to answer your immigration and visa questions. We’ve been helping people from over 120 countries for over a decade and can help you too.

Book a personal consultation to speak with an award-winning immigration lawyer either in-person, over the telephone, or through a video conference.

We're open 6am-9pm PST & EST, 7 days a week, and are ready for in-person, phone, and video consultations.

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Planning on entering the United States or Canada this year or in 2025? Avoid potential issues by consulting with a licensed immigration professional. Book a consulation today!

Apply for Canadian Citizenship

Who is eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship?

Does a permanent resident have to apply for Canadian citizenship as soon as he or she is eligible?

What are some of the advantages of obtaining Canadian citizenship?

Unlike Canadian permanent residents, Canadian citizens have no residency obligations. Canadian citizens cannot lose their status unless it was obtained through material misrepresentation.

Canadian citizens also receive Canadian passports and are entitled to vote in federal, provincial, and municipal elections.

Will time spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident count towards a citizenship application?

Canadian law dictates that applicants must be physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for 1,095 days within the five (5) years immediately before applying for citizenship.

Only the five years preceding the date of the application are taken into account. Within that five-year period:

Every day spent in Canada as a permanent resident counts as a full day.

Every day spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident as a temporary resident or protected person counts as a half-day towards meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.

If the applicant became a permanent resident less than five years ago, the calculation period starts on the date that he or she became a permanent resident.

Time spent serving a sentence in Canada does not count towards the physical presence requirement (i.e. time spent in a prison, penitentiary, jail, reformatory, probation and/or on parole cannot be counted as physical presence).

Will time spent absent from Canada be counted towards a citizenship application?

Are Canadian citizens required to pay Canadian income tax on their worldwide income?

If someone was a Canadian citizen as a child but has not lived in Canada for many years, does he or she qualify as a citizen?

Do children born in Canada gain citizenship automatically?

Apply for Canadian Citizenship FAQs

Does Canada recognize dual citizenship?

How can children under the age of 18 become Canadian citizens?

If citizenship is revoked, how can a new Canadian citizenship be obtained?

Why Start with My Visa Source with a Free Online Assessment?

Begin Your Application for Temporary Residence Today!

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Overall Planned Canadian Permanent Resident Admissions

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Planning on entering the United States or Canada this year or in 2025? Avoid potential issues by consulting with a licensed immigration professional. Book a consulation today! Learn More

Apply for Canadian Citizenship

Unlike Canadian permanent residents, Canadian citizens have no residency obligations. Canadian citizens cannot lose their status unless it was obtained through material misrepresentation.

Canadian citizens also receive Canadian passports and are entitled to vote in federal, provincial, and municipal elections.

Canadian law dictates that applicants must be physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for 1,095 days within the five (5) years immediately before applying for citizenship.

Only the five years preceding the date of the application are taken into account. Within that five-year period:

Every day spent in Canada as a permanent resident counts as a full day.

Every day spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident as a temporary resident or protected person counts as a half-day towards meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.

If the applicant became a permanent resident less than five years ago, the calculation period starts on the date that he or she became a permanent resident.

Time spent serving a sentence in Canada does not count towards the physical presence requirement (i.e. time spent in a prison, penitentiary, jail, reformatory, probation and/or on parole cannot be counted as physical presence).

Apply for Canadian Citizenship FAQs

Why Start with My Visa Source with a Free Online Assessment?

Begin Your Application for Temporary Residence Today!

See What Our Clients Are Experiencing

Overall Planned Canadian Permanent Resident Admissions

Your Source For Everything Immigration

Media

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR IMMIGRATION MAGAZINE

Planning on entering the United States or Canada this year or in 2025? Avoid potential issues by consulting with a licensed immigration professional. Book a consulation today!