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Canadian Citizenship
Becoming a Canadian citizen is intrinsic to developing a true sense of belonging in Canada. It is a relatively simple process and an important step for anyone who has decided to permanently settle in Canada.
Canadian citizenship is a valuable thing. It provides you with rights and freedoms that are not found in many other countries in the world. Rights and Freedoms of a Canadian citizen include:
- Legal rights
- Equality rights
- Mobility rights
- Aboriginal Peoples' rights
- The right to peaceful assembly
- The right to vote
- Freedom of thought
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom to practice religion
It is important to recognize that these rights and freedoms come with responsibility. In the third week of October each year, Canadians celebrate Citizenship week and remind themselves of the responsibilities involved in having such privileges. These responsibilities include:
- To obey Canada's laws
- To express ones opinions freely while respecting the rights and freedoms of others
- To help those in your community, for example, through volunteering
- To take responsibility to protect our environment and preserve our heritage
- To eliminate discrimination and injustice
Each Canadian is responsible for ensuring that they respect the rights and freedoms of other Canadians, and do what they can on a daily basis to preserve these rights and freedoms. Many Canadians make a positive impact in their community by doing even the simplest of things, like helping an elderly person in a grocery store, ensuring that they vote in political elections, or volunteering their time to events and organizations which serve people in need.
All Canadians are proud of their citizenship.
The Application Process
The Canadian Citizenship application process varies slightly depending on your age and time spent in Canada. The information below outlines the general process your application should take.
Regular Adult (18 years of age and above)
The first step is to obtain your permanent residency and settle in Canada.
Citizenship will only be granted to applicants who have good language abilities in one of the two official Canadian languages. Before applying for citizenship, it is important that you have developed good ability to speak either English or French.
The 1,095 day (three year) residency rule applies to all applicants. It stipulates that to be eligible for Canadian citizenship, you must have lived in Canada for a minimum of 1,095 days within the four years prior to your application. There are some exceptions made to this rule, but they are dealt with on an individual basis and eligibility is determined by a judge. It is most advisable to wait until you have met the 1,095 day minimum.
There is a very strict definition of a residency day. For example, if you first arrived in Canada as a student and remained in Canada until you obtained your permanent residency status, each day lived in Canada previous to obtaining your PR can only be counted as a half day. Similarly, absences from Canada for either work or leisure will not be included as a residency day, as you were not physically present in the country. Any time spent serving a sentence for an offence in Canada cannot be counted as a residency day. The calculation can be complicated. To help, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has provided a residency day calculator which will facilitate the calculation and provide you with assurance that you have met the minimum required residency days. Note: Save and print the final page of the calculator and attach it to your citizenship application as proof of your residency days.
Once you have lived in Canada for 1,095 days, you may apply for your Canadian citizenship. There is a simple application that you must complete and a small government processing fee is applied. You can find the application forms, instruction guide and fee breakdown here.
When your application is received by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and your eligibility is approved, you will receive a booklet in the mail called A Look at Canada (or you can download a pdf version here). This is your new study guide!
The Study Guide
A Look at Canada is Citizenship and Immigration Canada's study guide for citizenship applicants. An important aspect of becoming a Canadian citizen is having knowledge of Canadian history, geography, political process and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. All applicants must write a test in order to demonstrate their knowledge of these important Canadian topics. A Look at Canada provides citizenship applicants with a focused study guide and practice questions for their upcoming citizenship test. Study hard in order to do the best possible on the test!
When your application has been verified, you will be sent a notice in the mail requesting that you write the citizenship test and/or appear before a citizenship judge for an interview. If you are asked for an interview, do not worry! Citizenship and Immigration Canada has a rigorous quality control mandate and requests interviews at random from applicants.
On the day of your test, remember to bring with you all required original documents, including your immigration documents, passport, photo identification, and any other documents relevant to your PR in Canada.
The test generally takes 30 minutes to complete. Interviews are generally 15 to 30 minutes in length.
Applicants over 55 years of age are not required to write the test.
The Oath of Citizenship
I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.
Je jure (ou j'affirme solennellement) que je serai fidèle et porterai sincère allégeance à Sa Majesté la Reine Elizabeth Deux, Reine du Canada, à ses héritiers et successeurs, que j'observerai fidèlement les lois du Canada et que je remplirai loyalement mes obligations de citoyen canadien.
Applicants who successfully completed the citizenship test and/or interview will then be invited to a citizenship ceremony. Applicants must memorize the Oath of Citizenship (above). All applicants will give the Oath of Citizenship to Canada before a judge and be granted their Canadian citizenship. Many bring their families and friends along with them to celebrate this joyous event. Congratulations!
Minor (Under 18 years of age) Application
Minors and children under 18 years of age may apply for citizenship if they are a permanent resident and have a parent who is either a Canadian citizen, or who is applying for citizenship at the same time. A simple government application and processing fee is all that is required.
Fees
All applicants must pay two standard fees:
- $100 Government Processing Fee
- $100 Right of Citizenship Fee
- Total: $200 CAD per application
Who is not Eligible
Canadian citizenship will not be granted to applicants who:
- Do not meet the minimum required residency days as a permanent resident in Canada
- Cannot speak either English or French
- Do no pass their citizenship test and/or interview
- Cannot provide the required documentation
There are multiple legal and criminality issues which may make you ineligible for Canadian Citizenship. If any of the following apply to you, you may not qualify for citizenship:
- You have had your citizenship taken away within the past five years
- You are currently, or have been convicted of a criminal offence in the past three years
- You are in prison, on parole or on probation
- You are under removal order from Canada
- You are under investigation for, or have been convicted of a war crime or a crime against humanity
Did you know?
Some countries do not allow their citizens to hold multiple citizenships. Therefore, you could lose your current citizenship if you become a Canadian citizen. Be sure to verify the details of this with the consulate, embassy or high commission of your present nationality.
Adoption or exceptional cases please go here.
For information on the changes to the Canadian Citizenship law, April 17, 2009 see Loonie’s blog: http://www.loonlounge.com/community/blogs/view/321/
Need more information? Visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada