Apply for citizenship: Who can apply

Answer some questions to help you find out if you’re ready to apply for citizenship.

These questions are only for adults (age 18 and over) who want to apply for citizenship.

There are additional or different requirements if you are:

• applying for a minor (under age 18)
• a Canadian applying for your adopted child born outside Canada
• a current or former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member applying under the fast-track process
• a past Canadian citizen who want your Canadian citizenship back (including current and former CAF members)

Spouses of Canadian citizens

You don’t automatically become a citizen when you marry a Canadian.

If you’re the spouse of a Canadian citizen, you must meet the same requirements listed above (no exception).

Children and grandchildren of Canadian citizens

If you have a Canadian parent or grandparent, you may be a Canadian citizen.

• See if you may be a Canadian citizen
• To find out for sure, apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate

Permanent resident status

Regardless of your age, if you’re applying for citizenship, you must have permanent resident (PR) status in Canada.

This means you must not:

• be under review for immigration or fraud reasons
• be asked by Canadian officials to leave Canada (removal order)
• have unfulfilled conditions related to your PR status, for example: medical screening

Before applying for citizenship, you should review the documents you received when you became a permanent resident to make sure you’re eligible.

You don’t need a valid PR card to apply for citizenship. You can apply with an expired PR card.

Time you’ve lived in Canada (physical presence)

You (and some minors, if applicable) must have been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years before the date you sign your application.

We encourage you to apply with more than 1,095 days of living in Canada in case there’s a problem with the calculation.

In your calculation, you may be able to include some of the time you spent

• in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person
• outside Canada if you were a Crown servant or a family member of a Crown servant.

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Crown servant

Person employed in or with the Canadian Armed Forces, the federal public administration or the public service of a province or territory.

Crown servants don’t include locally engaged employees (foreign citizens hired in their own countries by the Canadian government to support Canadian offices abroad).

Using time as a temporary resident or protected person

Each day spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person within the last 5 years counts as one half day when you calculate your physical presence. You can use a maximum of 365 days as a temporary resident or protected person toward your time spent in Canada.

A temporary resident is someone who is authorized to enter or stay in Canada as a:

• visitor
• student
• worker or
• temporary resident permit holder

A protected person is someone who:

• was found to be in need of protection or a convention refugee by the Immigration and Refugee Board or
• received a positive decision on a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

If you made a refugee claim, or were included on a family member’s refugee claim, you won’t be credited time in Canada from the date of the refugee claim until you receive a positive decision confirming you are a protected person.

Filing income tax

You may need to file taxes in Canada for at least 3 years during the 5 years right before the date you apply.

Language skills

If you’re between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your application, you must show that you have an adequate knowledge of English or French. This means you can

• take part in short, everyday conversations about common topics
• understand simple instructions, questions and directions
• use basic grammar, including simple structures and tenses
• show you know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express yourself

These speaking and listening skills are equivalent to level 4 of the

• Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English, or
• Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for French

We measure your language skills by

• reviewing the language proof you send with your application
• noting how well you speak when talking to a citizenship official anytime during the application process
• assessing your language level during a citizenship test with a our official, if necessary

We accept various certificates, diplomas and tests as proof of your language skills.

You may be in a situation where you need

• help with the language requirement (accommodation) or
• an exemption from it (waiver)

Accommodation

If you need help with the language requirement, you can request an accommodation. For example, you can get sign language interpretation when we assess your language skills at a language hearing.

Waiver (exemption)

If your situation prevents you from proving your language skills, you can request a waiver (exemption) instead.

• Your situation must meet the waiver criteria.
• If we approve your waiver request, you don’t need to prove your language skills.

Pass a citizenship test

If you’re between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your application, you must take the citizenship test.

The test will ask questions about

• the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens
• Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols

We’ll invite you to the test after you submit your application.

You may be in a situation where you need

• help with the test (accommodation) or
• an exemption from taking it (waiver)

Accommodation

If you need help with the test, you can request an accommodation. For example, we can

• provide a Braille, large-print or oral version of the test
• give you extra time to complete the test
• arrange to have you take the test in person (if you can’t take test online due to poor Internet connection)

Waiver (exemption)

If your situation prevents you from taking the test, you can request a waiver (exemption) instead.

• Your situation must meet the waiver criteria.
• If we approve your waiver request, you don’t need to take the test.

Take the oath of citizenship

You must take the oath of citizenship if

• you’re at least 14 years old when you sign your application and
• we approve your application

You may be in a situation where you need

• help with the oath (accommodation) or
• an exemption from taking it (waiver)

Accommodation

If you need help with the oath of citizenship, you can request an accommodation. For example, you can get sign language interpretation when you take the oath.

Waiver (exemption)

We’ll give a waiver only if a mental disability (like an intellectual or a developmental disability) prevents someone from understanding the oath.

• For example, they don’t understand that taking the oath makes them a Canadian citizen.
• If we approve the waiver request, the applicant doesn’t need to take the oath of citizenship.

Prohibitions

If you committed a crime in or outside Canada

• you may not be eligible to become a Canadian citizen for a period of time
• time spent serving a term of imprisonment, on parole, or on probation doesn’t count as time you’ve lived in Canada

• If you’re not sure whether the situations apply to you, contact your lawyer or arresting police officer.
• Wait until the situation no longer applies before you apply for citizenship.
• We’ll review your application on a case-by-case basis.