Application for Canadian citizenship refers to the process of applying to become a citizen of Canada and enjoying all the benefits and rights that come with it, such as being able to travel to over 170 countries visa-free with a Canadian passport and access to all the privileges of a Canadian citizen. To be eligible for Canadian citizenship, certain requirements must be met.
Requirements for Citizenship:
- Resided in Canada for at least 3 years (1,095 days) out of the 5 years prior to the application;
- Filed taxes for at least 3 years out of the five years prior to the application (even if there was no income or negative income);
- Time spent in Canada as a permanent resident before becoming a citizen can be counted as half towards meeting the residence requirement, up to a maximum of one year;
- Applicants between the ages of 18 and 54 must take a citizenship test and meet language requirements. The language requirement is at least CLB 4, which is roughly equivalent to an IELTS score of 4.
- Applicants must have knowledge of Canadian history, values, rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Citizenship Process:
The Canadian citizenship process consists of 5 steps: obtaining permanent residency, meeting residency and tax requirements, preparing documents, taking the citizenship test, and attending the citizenship ceremony.
Government Fees:
The fee for adult applicants is $630 CAD per person, including a non-refundable processing fee of $100 CAD and a refundable Right of Citizenship Fee of $530 CAD. The fee for a child’s citizenship application is $100 CAD.