When to Apply for Canadian Citizenship | Tips For Immigrants

Any adult who wishes to seek Canadian citizenship must first reside in Canada for a specific period of time before being eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship. Although there are additional factors for Canadian Citizenship Eligibility besides time spent in Canada, this essay will only address the question “How long do I have to wait before I can apply for Canadian Citizenship?”

There are essentially three types of people who can apply for Canadian citizenship, and the duration of qualifying varies for each.

Canadian Permanent Residents

When our clients have successfully obtained Permanent Resident status, one of the most common inquiries we receive is, “How long after PR can I apply for Citizenship in Canada?” Although the conventional criterion is that the applicant demonstrate three years of physical presence in Canada within a five-year period before applying for Citizenship, each applicant’s timeline for Citizenship eligibility will be different.

If you obtained PR status on the day you arrived in Canada, you must show that you have lived in Canada for at least three years since becoming a Permanent Resident in order to apply for Citizenship.

If you were already in Canada as a guest, student, or worker before becoming a Permanent Resident, you can apply for up to 12 months of credit toward the three-year citizenship requirement. You can count as 1/2 day any time you were in Canada with legal temporary resident status (visitor, worker, or student) within the 5 years preceding the date of your Citizenship application. It is important to note that the maximum credit you can claim is 12 months if you have spent at least two years in Canada as a temporary resident. Even if you were a temporary resident in Canada for more than two years, you cannot obtain more than 12 months of credit.

Those who lived in Canada before becoming a PR will be able to apply for Citizenship using the following formula:

Number of days spent in Canada as a temporary resident /2 + number of days spent in Canada as a permanent resident > 3 years

Remember that you can only list days within the last five years before signing the Citizenship application.

Minor children of Canadian Permanent Residents

Sometimes a family will obtain Permanent Resident status in Canada, and some members will live in Canada while others remain overseas to complete job or education commitments. A frequently asked issue in this case is “Does a child need to meet the three-year minimum residency requirement to be eligible for Canadian Citizenship if they are applying with their parent?”

No, it does not. Minor children (under the age of 18 at the time of application) are exempt from the Canadian residency requirement for citizenship if one of the following requirements is met:

• They are both applying for Canadian citizenship at the same time or
• One of their parents is already a Canadian citizen.

Although the young kids must have Permanent Resident status on the day their application for Canadian Citizenship is submitted, they do not need to have lived in Canada for a certain amount of time.

Military personnel in Canada: Canadian Armed Forces Citizenship

Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals serving in the Canadian Armed Forces can apply for Citizenship under a fast-track program after serving for three years (1095 days) during a six-year term. It is important to note that actual presence within Canada is not essential, as eligibility is determined by the length of time you have served in the Canadian Armed Forces. These applications are prioritized and typically take substantially less time to complete than a traditional Citizenship application.

Can I become a Canadian citizen without first obtaining PR status?

In most situations, you will need to first gain Permanent Resident status before applying for Citizenship after living in Canada for some time. Foreign military soldiers serving in the Canadian Armed Forces are exempt from this restriction, as are those born overseas to Canadian parents who are already considered Canadian citizens at birth and only need to ask for proof of Canadian citizenship.

Can I obtain Canadian citizenship without ever having lived in Canada?

There are a few exceptions, such as foreign military personnel serving with the Canadian Armed Forces and children born overseas to Canadian parents who can earn Canadian citizenship without first residing in Canada.

How to Calculate Time Spent in Canada (Physical Presence)

Anyone planning to seek Canadian citizenship should keep track of all travel to and from Canada. You will be expected to disclose the dates of any time spent outside of Canada within the five years before your application for Canadian citizenship as part of your application.

In Canada, any amount of the day (even an hour) spent with your feet on the ground qualifies as a day of physical presence.

Is it necessary for me to apply for Canadian citizenship as soon as I am eligible?

There is no compulsion to apply for Canadian citizenship as soon as you are eligible, or even at all. If you desire, you can stay a Permanent Resident indefinitely as long as you complete the PR residency requirements of two years within Canada every five years.

However, when you are eligible, it is usually a good idea to apply for Canadian Citizenship because Citizenship has many privileges that Permanent Residence does not, such as the option to discontinue keeping records of your trips. There is no longer any physical presence requirement after you obtain your Canadian passport, and you can live anywhere in the world while maintaining your Canadian citizenship.

Other Criteria for Canadian Citizenship

The timeframe is not the only significant factor to consider when preparing to apply for Canadian citizenship; it is simply the one that causes the most misunderstanding. Adult applicants must also address the following factors:

• File income taxes for at least three years within the five-year term (this does not apply to foreign military personnel).
• Show linguistic proficiency in one of Canada’s two official languages – either English or French equal to Canadian linguistic Benchmarks CLB 4 or higher is required for hearing and speaking.
• Pass a Canadian Citizenship test on Canada’s obligations, rights, and understanding.
• Attend a Citizenship Ceremony in Canada and take the Oath of Citizenship.

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