What is Canadian Citizenship?

Canadian citizenship is the legal status given to individuals with the Right to live and be recognized as citizens of Canada. Citizenship in Canada can be acquired by descendancy, by birth, or through the naturalization process. There are many advantages of becoming a Canadian citizen, including voting rights, participation in the country’s democracy, and having one of the world’s strongest passports, the Canadian passport. Canada aims to invite over 430,000 new permanent residents annually, allowing them to become Canadian citizens upon eligibility. To qualify for Canadian citizenship, one must fulfill specific criteria, including minimum residency requirements in Canada, being a Canada PR holder, clearing the citizenship test, etc. Foreign nationals meeting the requirements will attend the Canadian Citizenship Ceremony and take the Oath of Citizenship, after which they will be declared official citizens. 

Why apply for Canadian Citizenship?

Canadian citizenship offers many benefits, including access to healthcare, permanent residency, and the legal right to vote. Along with the other benefits, Canadian citizenship gives you access to one of the world’s strongest passports, the Canadian passport.

The benefits of Canadian citizenship are as follows:

• “NO” renewal required: Once you get Canadian citizenship, you do not have to renew it. You can live in Canada permanently without renewing the permit.
• Get visa-free travel benefits: Canadian citizens can travel to nearly 185 countries with visa-free and visa-on-arrival options.
• Get access to the Canadian job market: You can access a wide range of job opportunities, including government jobs.
• Enjoy voting rights: As a Canadian citizen, you can vote in the municipal, federal, and provincial elections and participate in other political activities.
• Dual citizenship benefits: You can enjoy dual citizenship benefits as a Canadian citizen and citizenship in your native country.
• Avail of healthcare and social security benefits: As a Canadian citizen, you can avail healthcare, housing, and childcare support.

Canadian Citizenship Practice Test

A Canadian Citizenship test is a mock test that helps test-takers prepare for the test. The practice test consists of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The practice tests are available online and taken from “Discover Canada.” The questions in the citizenship test are about the roles and responsibilities of Canadian citizens, history, laws and symbols, government, economy, geography, etc. The questions will be available in English or French. You must clear at least 15 out of 20 questions to clear the Citizenship test.

Eligibility for Canadian Citizenship   

The eligibility criteria for Canadian citizenship are as follows:

• Be a Permanent Resident in Canada
• Fulfill the minimum residency requirements in Canada.
• File the required taxes.
• Submit your language proficiency skills.
• Clear the Citizenship test.

Requirements for Canadian Citizenship

The requirements to fulfill for a Canadian Citizenship are as follows:

• Have permanent resident status: Individuals applying for a Canada PR must have permanent residence (PR) status in Canada; however, you do not require a valid PR card when applying for citizenship. Applicants below 18 must also fulfill the Canadian residency requirements but need not meet the 3-year requirement.
• Fulfill the residency requirements in Canada: To qualify for citizenship, applicants must have lived in Canada for at least 3 years or 1,095 days out of the 5 years before applying.
• Filing taxes: You may be required to file your taxes in Canada for at least 3 out of the 5 years. You must pay taxes even if you have partially lived in Canada.
• Language proficiency skills: Applicants between 18 and 54 must submit proof of English or French proficiency by scoring at least Level 4 of CLB and NCLC.
• Clear the Citizenship test: You must attend and pass the Citizenship test to become a Canadian citizen.
• Oath of Citizenship: The Oath of Citizenship is one of the major requirements of becoming a Canadian citizen.

How to apply for Canadian Citizenship?

IRCC offers two different modes of applying for Canadian citizenship; you can either apply online or offline.

Here are some of the easy steps to follow to apply for Canadian citizenship:

Step 1: Download the application package based on your current situation or status

Step 2: Gather the required documents as per the above requirement checklist.

Step 3: Complete the application fee payment, including the processing fee and the right to citizenship fee.

Step 4: Submit your application along with all the required documents

Step 5: Wait for the application status; if approved, you will be notified about the citizenship ceremony, where you will receive a Certificate of Canadian citizenship and officially become Canadian citizens.

How to get a Canadian Citizenship Certificate?

The Canadian Citizenship certificate is a standardized and official document issued by the IRCC as proof of your Canadian citizenship. Passport Canada accepts the birth certificate and the citizenship certificate as evidence of your citizenship. 

You can follow the below steps to apply for a Canadian Citizenship certificate:

Step 1: Download the application package from the official IRCC website

Step 2: Submit the requirements, including proof of at least one of your parent being a Canadian citizen

Step 3: Complete the fee payment

Step 4:  Submit your application online

Step 5: Get an Acknowledgement of receipt (AOR)

Step 6: Wait for the application to be processed.

Canadian Citizenship Ceremony

The Canadian citizenship ceremony is the last step in transitioning to Canadian citizenship.

For a Canadian citizenship candidate, the ceremony gives you a chance to reflect on your rights and responsibilities of being a Canadian citizen. As a part of the ceremony, citizenship candidates would be required to sing Canada's national anthem and take the Oath of citizenship.

Here is the checklist of things that are required for the Citizenship ceremony:

• The official invitation to the ceremony
• Record of Landing (IMM 1000) only if you become a PR holder before June 28, 2002
• A PR card (Even an expired one will work)
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR)
• A valid and original passport
• Proof of identity, such as a driver’s license or a health card

Candidates who are attending the virtual Citizenship ceremony must also carry the below-listed documents:

• The virtual seat number
• An official consent form or a signed copy of the permission

Oath of Citizenship

Candidates who clear the Citizenship test will be required to take the Oath of citizenship as the final step in becoming citizens.

Canada’s Oath of Citizenship is as follows:

English: I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of Canada, His Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, including the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.

French: Je jure (ou j'affirme solennellement) que je serai fidèle et porterai sincère allégeance à Sa Majesté le roi Charles Trois roi du Canada à ses Héritiers et Successeurs que j'observerai fidèlement les lois du Canada y compris la Constitution qui reconnaît et confirme les droits ancestraux ou issus de traités des Premières Nations, des Inuits et des Métis et que je remplirai loyalement mes obligations de citoyen Canadien.

What are the Rights and Responsibilities of Canadian Citizens?

Once you acquire Canadian citizenship, you will be granted certain rights and responsibilities.

The rights you can exercise as a Canadian citizen are as follows:

• Legal rights
• Mobility rights
• Aboriginal Peoples' rights
• The right to peaceful assembly
• Freedom of thought
• Freedom to practice religion
• Equality rights
• The right to vote
• Freedom of speech

The responsibilities you can exercise as a Canadian citizen are as follows:

• Obeying the Canadian law
• Taking responsibility for yourself and your family by working hard to the best of your abilities while abiding by the Canadian values
• Exercise the right to vote in federal, provincial, and local elections.
• Helping your community through volunteering work at charities, assisting in your child’s school, volunteering at a food bank, etc.
• Protecting the environment and preserving the country’s natural, cultural, and architectural heritage. 

Canada citizenship fees

It costs around $630 for adults and $100 for minors to apply for Canadian citizenship. The table below has a complete breakdown of the Canadian citizenship cost:

Fees	$CAN
Adult (18 and over) Processing fee ($530) + Right of citizenship fee ($100)	630
Stateless adult (18 or over) born to Canadian parent	100
Minor (under 18)	100

 

Canada Citizenship Processing Time

The processing time for Canadian citizenship takes around 8 months starting from the time of application submission. The processing time for Canadian citizenship begins from the date of submitting your application and ends once you take the Oath of citizenship. The Canadian citizenship process may vary or be postponed based on other factors like the complexity of the application, incorrect or insufficient documentation, or the overall application backlog at the IRCC.

How can Y-Axis help you?

As the world's No. 1 overseas immigration consultancy, Y-Axis has provided unbiased and personalized immigration assistance for 25+ years. Our team of visa and immigration experts will assist you with the following:

• Assistance with the Canada Immigration process.
• Arranging the immigration document checklist
• Filling out application forms
• Documentation and petition filing
• Getting your updates and follow-ups
• Obtaining Canadian Permanent Residence