There are many benefits to becoming a Canadian citizen including the right to settle permanently in one of the world’s most prosperous countries, participate in the country’s democracy, and possess one of the world’s strongest passports.
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. The following is an overview of the steps to take to apply for Canadian citizenship after you confirm you meet the eligibility criteria:
Submit Your Application
An application must be completed and sent to the appropriate IRCC office for review. When the application has been verified, the applicant will be sent a notice requesting that a citizenship test be taken.
Citizenship Test
Applicants between 18 and 54 years of age are required to write a citizenship test, which tests the applicant’s knowledge of Canadian history, geography, political process, and the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. IRCC provides all citizenship applicants with a study guide entitled A Look at Canada. There are 20 questions on the test. The pass mark is 15 out of 20. The test generally takes 30 minutes to complete.
On the day of the test, applicants are required to bring all original documents, including immigration documents, passport, photo identification, and any other documents relevant to the applicant’s permanent residence in Canada. In compliance with regulations, some applicants are also asked to appear before a citizenship judge for an interview. Interviews are generally 15 to 30 minutes in length.
Minors (under 18 years of age) are not required to sit the test.
Language Proficiency
Applicants between the age of 18 and 54 are also required to demonstrate proficiency in English or French. In order to prove language proficiency, applicants must submit one of the following documents:
- Results from an approved third-party test or
- Transcripts or a diploma from a secondary or post-secondary education in English or French or
- Evidence of achieving Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 4 or higher in certain government language programs.
Citizenship Ceremony
Successful applicants must then attend a citizenship ceremony where they receive a certificate of Canadian citizenship and officially become new Canadian citizens.
To make application for citizenship could be complex for many like to meet the physical presence due to many issues of the applicant or some other obligations someone might have, to have help you with those according to Canada Citizenship Act get in touch with us.