Canada is a dream destination for many individuals due to its standardized lifestyle, universal health care, free education, and social security. Applicants want to become Canadian citizens for various reasons: however, once they obtain permanent residency, they can apply for Canadian citizenship. The guide to apply for Canadian citizenship after permanent residency is mentioned in the blog.
How to Get Canadian Citizenship
To obtain citizenship in Canada, you have to first apply for permanent residency; later, living in the country for 5 years, you can apply for Canadian citizenship; however, you must meet all the eligibility criteria and must pass the Canadian citizenship test.
Eligibility Criteria to Apply for Canadian Citizenship
You must have a permanent residency as per the Canadian law.
You must have at least lived in Canada for 3 years before you decide to apply for Canadian citizenship.
Proficiency in English is mandatory; so, it is essential to demonstrate your linguistic skills, proficiency in French can be a plus point.
It is mandatory to take a citizenship test that shows your knowledge of rights and responsibilities as a citizen of Canada if your age is between 18 and 54 years old.
While living in the country you must have filed all your taxes for at least 3 years.
What are the Requirements to Get a Canadian Citizenship?
To apply for citizenship in Canada it is important to ensure Canadian citizenship requirements:
You must hold permanent residency status in Canada
You must stay in Canada for 3+ years in the last 5 years
Tax compliance is mandatory
You are required to pass a citizenship test demonstrating your knowledge of Canadian history values and symbols
Proficiency in either English or French is essential to ensure effective communication
You must have a police clearance certificate that shows you are free from any criminal activities
Prepare for the Application to Become a Canadian Citizen
Check the Guidelines
Make sure you are updated about all these changes related to immigration you can check out the information on the official website of Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Determine your Residency
You can use the IRCC portal to verify your residency or by using the residency calculator you can find it.
Fill out the application Form
Make sure you fill out the application form with accurate information and precisely. You can re-check your application for successful outcomes, if there is any mistake your application can be delayed or rejected.
Gather Documents
To settle in Canada it is essential to acquire all the essential documents and organize them in the right way as per Immigration authorities.
Pay the Application Fee
Once you submit your application, make sure you pay the fee, which is CAD 630 per adult and CAD 100 per child as of 2025, and attach the payment receipt to your application.
Canadian Citizenship Application Submissions
You can apply for Canadian citizenship in 2 ways after you submit your application, attach all documents, and pay the fee:
On paper: You can mail or courier your completed application form with all the attached documents to the IRCC.
Online: To apply online, you can check your eligibility and apply through the online citizenship application portal.
Taking the Citizenship Test
It is crucial to take the Canadian citizenship test to be a part of Canada. However, before you take this test it is important to be familiar with a set of important details:
Your age must be between 18 and 54 years old, below then 18 or over 55 may be rejected.
There will be a test that includes 25 true and false questions and you need to provide at least 15 correct questions to pass the test. The time consideration for this test is 45 minutes.
Make sure you are prepared for the test as it will be based on the rights and regulations of Canadian citizens, its history, geography, economics, government laws, and symbols.
To prepare yourself for the test you can use the Canadian citizenship official study guide “Discover Canada.”
You can take the test three times if you fail once or twice within 30 days. However, you will be called for a hearing with a citizenship authority if you fail the test 3 times.
Receiving Your Certificate of Citizenship
At last, you need to take The oath of citizenship to become a Canadian citizen once you clear the test you will be invited to take the oath ceremony.
During the ceremony:
Take the oath as a Canadian citizen.
Sign the oath or affirmation of citizenship form.
Sing the Canadian national anthem.
You will obtain the certificate of citizenship which will be the proof of your Canadian citizenship.
You must attend a ceremony; if for any reason you are not available to attend it, then make sure you send Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada the reason for your absence and get a new date for the oath.
Benefits of Becoming a Canadian Citizen
Several reasons why immigrants are eager to be part of Canadian citizenship, and some of them are as follows:
You will be able to vote in all levels of elections, whether they are municipal, provincial, or federal. You get the right to choose your leader.
You can get the opportunity in the government sector after being a Canadian citizen.
You are free from responsibilities such as extending your PR.
You get the right to dual citizenship law.
You will obtain a Canadian passport that will open the gate to travel to several countries without any issue.
By obtaining Canadian citizenship, you will have security and stability for yourself and your family.
Once you become a citizen of Canada, you can pass the citizenship to your family or child.
FAQs
Q1. How long does it take to become a permanent citizen in Canada?
In order to acquire Canadian Citizenship, one needs to first obtain Permanent Residency (PR). Typically, after having spent at least 1,095 days (3 years) in Canada within the last 5 years, one becomes eligible for Canadian Citizenship as long as they fulfill all the conditions including language and tax filing requirements.
Q2. Which is better, PR or citizenship?
Citizenship in Canada holds some advantages over Permanent Residency. Whereas permanent residents may live, study, and work anywhere in Canada, citizens have the privilege of being able to vote, hold a Canadian passport, stand for elections, and do not need to be revalidated. But permanent residency is the crucial first step towards acquiring citizenship in Canada.
Q3. Is Canada still giving PR to Indians?
Yes, Canada does offer Permanent Residency status to qualified candidates from India in various immigration categories like Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), family sponsorships, and other economic immigrant classes. Applicants will need to fulfill the requirements of their preferred immigration class.
Q4. What happens after 5 years of PR?
The Canadian Permanent Residence Card has a validity period of 5 years. Once the expiry date of this card approaches, one is eligible to apply for renewal of the PR card, provided he/she meets all the residency obligations. However, if one has fulfilled the criteria of becoming a citizen of Canada, he/she could go ahead and apply for citizenship.
Q5. Can I get PR in 6 months in Canada?
Of course, there are certain scenarios when it can be done. Applications that have been submitted via the Express Entry system are usually processed within about 6 months after they receive an ITA, as long as all of the requirements for their completeness have been met and there are no further verifications required.