Citizenship
To become a Canadian citizen, you must
- be a permanent resident
- have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years
- have filed your taxes, if you need to
- prove your language skills
- pass a citizenship test
- take the oath of 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)
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
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. You are encouraged to apply with more than 1,095 days of living in Canada in case there’s a problem with the calculation.
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
Your language skills are measured 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 an official
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. You will be invited to the test after you submit your application.
The test
- will ask questions about
- the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens
- Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols
- has 20 questions that are either
- multiple choice or
- true or false
- is in English or French
- is 30 minutes long
You need to get at least 15 out of 20 questions right to pass the test. Most applicants take the citizenship test online. If you fail the test twice, you’ll do an oral retest with a citizenship official (this is your last chance to pass 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
- your application is approved