Eligibility
Canada offers citizenship through naturalization and by birth in Canada.
Under current law, to qualify for citizenship through naturalization, candidates must have three years of qualifying permanent resident status during the preceding five years.
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Eligibility
Applicants must also:
- Meet the Citizenship Language Requirement, if between the ages of 18 and 54;
- Not be under a removal order;
- Not have a criminal prohibition;
- Pay processing fees.
Applications are submitted to the citizenship office in Sydney, Nova Scotia where they are pre-screened to ensure the application is complete and the 3-year residence rule has been met. Within about 12 months from submission, applicants will be required to attend an interview to demonstrate their knowledge of Canada in one of Canada’s official languages.
Benefits of Canadian Citizenship
Citizenship holders also have the following benefits and obligations:
Politics
Citizens can vote in federal, provincial and municipal election, can run as independent candidates, or by joining one of the established parties.
Dual citizenship
Canada does not make you choose between being a Canadian citizen and being a citizen of your home country.
Right to do all jobs
Some jobs require high-level security clearance, which only citizens can have. This includes some jobs at the federal level. These jobs tend to pay well and have many benefits.
Passport
Canadian citizens get a passport, which is easier to renew and must be renewed less often than a permanent resident card.
Your children
As a citizen, if your children are born in Canada, they automatically become Canadian citizens.
Tax
Canadian tax laws work on residency rather than citizenship. You can be a citizen but not live in Canada, and therefore not have to pay Canadian taxes.
Language Requirements
Applicants for citizenship between the ages of 18-54 must provide evidence of their knowledge of one of Canada’s official languages on the date their application is submitted. The minimum language abilities to be met are described in the regulations as the capacity to:
- Take part in short, every-day conversations;
- Understand simple instructions and questions;
- Use basic grammar, simple structures and tenses in oral communication;
- Use vocabulary that is adequate for routine oral communication.
The applicant for Citizenship must have English or French speaking and listening abilities that meet the language requirements described above. Written proficiency is not necessary. Evidence of language proficiency must include one of the following:
- Results of a third-party language test, approved by IRCC, showing CLB or NCLC level 4 or higher in listening and speaking;
- Diploma or transcripts showing secondary or post-secondary education in English or French, either in Canada or abroad;
- Results from a government-funded language course showing CLB or NCLC 4 or higher;
Individuals who underwent language testing in the process of applying for permanent residence can use those results as evidence of proficiency, even if they have since expired.
Residency Requirements
Where a person has maintained residence in Canada as a permanent resident for three years in the 5 year period immediately preceding the date of their application, they may be eligible for Canadian citizenship.
