Canadian citizenship is the end of the immigration process of applicants moving to Canada. But “How to become a Canadian citizen?” is a serious question you need to answer before begin applying. The point is that you must become eligible before applying.
This article explains who is eligible to ask “How to become a Canadian citizen?”, requirements, the eligibility principles, how to apply, and the questions.
How to become a Canadian citizen?
The answer to the question “How to become a Canadian citizen?” is up to a few factors—the requirements and eligibility change by your conditions.
In order to become eligible as a Canadian citizen, you need to have the following conditions;
- Have lived in Canada long enough under a Permanent Residency (1,095 days)*
- Arranged taxes
- Taken the test of Canada’s knowledge, rights of living in the country, and responsibilities.
- Proof of language proficiency skills.
- Have lived in Canada for 3 years at least.
*Before you apply for Canadian citizenship, you would better calculate the number of days you stayed in Canada. A few days could be subtracted from the total length.
Moving to Canada
The first step is to apply for a Canada visa and move to the country. There are different ways you can move to Canada, and each one requires eligibility principles and requirements:
- Student visa
- Work visa
- Family visa
- Post Graduate Work Program (PGWP)
- Open Work Permit
Besides the above visas, there are immigration programs that allow you to move to Canada:
- Express Entry
- A Federal Skilled Worker program
- Federal skilled Trades program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Quebec Skilled Worker program
- Provincial Nominee program
Canada visa comes in two categories;
- Short stay
- Long stay
You need to have one of the above long-stay visas and stay in the country; then, you become eligible to apply for PR or Permanent Residency. After living in Canada for three years under PR, you become eligible for citizenship and can ask, “How to become a Canadian citizen?”
Remember that to become a citizen, your days of presence in Canada will be calculated. If you have been on a trip outside Canada for a few days, the duration will be subtracted. You must have lived in Canada for 1,095 days.
Language proficiency
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level 4 or higher is required for Canadian citizenship. Before you ask, “How to become a Canadian citizen?”, determine your language skills in English and French, the two official languages of Canada.
The language test is to test whether you can suit to Canadian lifestyle or not. It evaluates that the applicant;
- Can understand and participate in everyday conversations and comprehend them.
- Comprehend how to direct and receive instruction.
- Are fluent in common everyday English and can convey meaning and express your opinion.
There are different language tests accepted by the Canadian government. It is up to the language and your choice which one to take.
Canada citizenship test
The applicants of Canada citizenship need to pass a citizenship test that is part of the application process.
Applicants who are between 18 to 54 need to take the test. They answer questions regarding their rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen and the country’s:
- history
- geography
- economy
- government
- laws
- symbols
What does the citizenship test include?
The language of the test is English or French. It is up to the area you live in. it takes you 30 min to complete it, and there are 20 answers you need to complete. Candidates need to give true answers to 15 questions to get a passing score.
There are “true or false” and “multiple-choice” questions that you need to answer. The tets is written mode, but it could be oral too.
How to become a Canadian resident?
The way to become a Canadian resident depends on your conditions:
- Age
- Education
- Financial ability
- Nationality
- Immigration background
To become a Canadian resident, you need to move to the country through one of the visas. There are different visas, and each one of them has different requirements and eligibility principles.
You can go through the top menu and see the Canada visas and immigration ways to move to the country.
When you land in Canada, you become a resident but don’t have the same rights as a Permanent Resident (PR) or citizen. You need to live in Canada and spend a few years on becoming eligible for PR or citizenship.
How to become a Canadian citizen from America?
The American citizens and nationals have a few advantages being the neighbor of Canada.
Answering the question of “How to become a Canadian citizen?” for them might be different. To become Canadian citizens, Americans need to meet the eligibility principles mentioned on this page. Each one of them applies to US citizens. But there are various ways that US citizens can move to Canada. They have much less difficulty moving to the country compared with the Asian or African countries.
The following ways are some of the ones that US citizens can move to Canada:
- Canada Student visa
- Job offer and Open Work Permit
- Sponsoring your family through the sponsorship program
- Canada Startup Visa program
- Canada Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
- Express Entry
- Global Talent Stream
- Self-Employed Persons Program
- Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) or (NAFTA Work Permits)
The US citizens can move to Canada from the above ways and then receive the PR when they are eligible. After living under PR for three years in five years duration, they become eligible for Canadian citizenship.
How to become a Canadian citizen from the UK?
The UK citizens who want to move to Canada have many advantages, but one is the language. One of the two official languages of Canada is English, and the British won’t have a problem with language learning. They can try and learn French, which has more benefits along the immigration process.
The first step is to move to Canada through one of the immigration ways:
- Study permits
- Federal Skilled Worker
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Family sponsorship
- Entrepreneur programs
- Farming programs
- Provincial programs
- Work permits
The UK residents need to take the following steps to become a Canadian citizens:
- Move to Canada through an immigration way
- Become a permanent Resident
- Live in Canada for three years out of five years.
- File tax records if you need to do it.
- Pass a test on knowledge of Canada and your rights and responsibilities.
- Take the oath
- Prove your language skills.
How to become a Canadian citizen through marriage?
The people who look for the answer to “How to become a Canadian citizen?” often seek ways in marriage. If you think you can marry a Canadian citizen and receive citizenship, you are wrong. Canadian law doesn’t permit you that.
You must have lived and stayed in Canada for 1,095 days to become eligible for citizenship.
The point is that your Canadian spouse can sponsor you to become a permanent resident if you don’t lie in Canada and don’t have a PR.
The Canadian authorities are serious about the rules, and there seems to be no loophole. So you would better not be deceived by fraudsters.
How long does it take to get a Canadian citizen?
The processing time to become a Canadian citizen is 12 months, but it could take a bit longer. Sean Fraser, the Canadian immigration minister, has announced that they have plans to facilitate the application processes and make them faster.
The thing that matters is to ensure you meet the eligibility principles and have the requirements. As you must have lived for three years over the past five years, this duration must pass so you can apply for citizenship.
How much does it cost to become a Canadian citizen?
The fee or cost of Canadian citizenship is up to your conditions.
The following table explains how much you have to pay:
Adult (18 and over) | $630.00 |
Minor (under 18) | $100.00 |
Stateless adult born to a Canadian parent | $100.00 |
Citizenship Certificate | $75.00 |
Search for your record of citizenship | $75.00 |
Renounce your citizenship | $100.00 |
Resume your citizenship | $530.00 |
Resume your citizenship (under 18) | $100.00 |
Right of Citizenship | $100.00 |
How to get Canadian dual citizenship
In some countries when you receive another citizenship, the first one becomes revoked automatically. But that is not the case for Canada. The national law of the country recognizes dual citizenship and you won’t lose your first citizenship by receiving Canadian citizenship.
How hard is it to become a Canadian citizen?
Before you answer this question, answer “How to become a Canadian citizen?”. If you find a way to move to Canada through one of its immigration ways, you just need to stay in the country and show good character.
The hard thing is to get to the country as there is tough competition in receiving the visa. There are thousands to millions of applicants for each Canada visa. So you need to be eligible and have a higher score for each eligibility principle.
After entering the country, you need to show good character. You have to obey the law and avoid any crime or illegal act.
You can increase your chance by working on the eligibility items and trying to achieve them.
The precautions are tough the process is fine.
When can you not become a Canadian citizen?
Part of the question of “How to become a Canadian citizen?” is when you cannot become a Canadian citizen. You don’t have permission to become a Canadian citizen if the followings apply to you are:
- In prison, jail.
- On parole or probation
- are serving a sentence outside Canada;
- Were sentenced or convicted inside or outside Canada in the lasted four years of applying for citizenship.
- Are or have been under a removal order
- Investigated for a war crime
- You misrepresented yourself
- Revoked Canadian citizenship due to fraud
- Submitted false information
How to get Canadian citizenship?
Follow the below steps to apply for Canadian citizenship:
Step 1. Achieve the eligibility principles
The first step to becoming a Canadian citizen is to achieve the eligibility principles. It takes a few years so to have lived 1095 days in Canada. So you would better read the instructions and prepare yourself.
The knowledge and understanding you gather along the way are necessary.
Step 2. Get the Canadian citizenship application
You need to complete the Canada citizenship online application form for the first step. There is also a “Physical Presence Calculator” that you need to fill in. It adds the total number of days you have stayed in Canada and determines whether you are eligible or not.
In case your child is in the application process, you, as the adult, need to complete the Application for Canadian Citizenship – Minors on their behalf.
If parents are citizens or are applying for citizenship, children don’t need to live for three years in Canada to become eligible for citizenship.
Step 3. Complete the submit the application
Besides the online application, you need to submit a few physical documents. Photographs of yourself or your family members are required. The IRCC also provides a list of supporting documents that you need to submit.
Also, a language proficiency certificate in English or French is required. Bear in mind that the original document is required at the time of the interview or test.
When you complete the application form and prepare the supporting documents, submit or mail everything to IRCC.
Step 4. Take the citizenship interview or test
In case the applicants meet the requirements, the IRCC will schedule them an interview or test date. The article explained the test, how to take it and what does it include. The test evaluates your language proficiency knowledge of the Canadian:
- government
- the political system
- history
- geography
- people
- industry
- voting procedures in Canada.
The point to remember is to bring your original documents, passport, and all the other things to the test.
Step.5. Take the citizenship oath test
When you fulfill all the requirements and take the test successfully, the IRCC will inform you to take the oath of citizenship. They will tell you the location and time of the ceremony that you need to attend.
During the ceremony, you take the oath and receive your certificate. Also, you need to bring the following to the oath ceremony;
- A signed copy of the Permission Release and Consent form
- permanent resident card or confirmation of permanent residence
- Record of landing (if you arrived before June 28, 2002)
- Two Pieces of Personal Identification
- All passports and travel documents
- Ceremony Notice
The following are the words that you say during your oath:
“I swear that I will be faithful
And bear true allegiance
To Her Majesty
Queen the Elizabeth the Second
Queen of Canada
Her Heirs and Successors
And I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada
Including the constitution
Which recognizes and affirms
The Aboriginal and treaty rights of
First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people
And fulfill my duties
As a Canadian citizen”.
Congratulations. Now you are a Canadian citizen and can enjoy its many benefits and advantages. Only one of them is the Canadian passport. You can travel visa-free to 185 countries and stay for some time.
Le’s sum up…
When you live for three years in Canada as a PR resident, you’ll become eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.
The article explained requirements, the eligibility principles, how to apply, and all the details you need to know. This is your ultimate guide on “How to become a Canadian citizen?”
If you have questions regarding “How to become a Canadian citizen?”, write your questions in the comment section and the Visa Library team will respond right away.