Overview
Subject to the Citizenship Act, a person is a citizen if they were:
- Born in Canada after February 15, 1977; or
- Born outside of Canada after February 14, 1977 and at the time of his birth, one of his parents, other than a parent who adopted him/her, was a Canadian citizen; or
- He/She has been granted or acquired citizenship.
Canada permits dual citizenship. However, not all countries permit their citizens to hold Canadian citizenship (i.e. countries who do not permit dual citizenship) if they become a Canadian.
Individuals who are applying to become a Canadian citizen are required to submit an application and to write a citizenship test. Children under the age of eighteen (18) and adults over the age of sixty (60) are not required to write the test. The test requires knowledge of English or French, a general knowledge about Canada’s history, geography and political system.
Citizenship Canada has produced a book called “A Look at Canada”, which prepares one for the test.
When to Apply
It is important to be sure that the Applicant is eligible to apply for citizenship. Applicants must acquire the requisite number of days in Canada before applying for citizenship. If the Applicant applies too early, they will not be eligible. There is no refund of the processing fee.
Eligibility to Apply
The Applicant must have resided in Canada for four (4) of the past six (6) years immediately prior to his/her application, and after having obtained permanent residency. Applicants who had Temporary Resident Status immediately preceding the date of landing in Canada may also accumulate residency time up to a maximum of one (1) year. Any Temporary Resident status in Canada prior to obtaining permanent resident status counts as ½ time.
The concept of residence involves a consideration of the extent to which an applicant for citizenship settles into, maintains or centralizes his/her ordinary mode of living in Canada for the required three year period within the four years preceding the date of application. In other words a person must demonstrate having established a home in Canada in which he/she is living and while outside of Canada maintained sufficient ties and connections with Canada to suggest continuity of his/her residence in Canada.
Please contact our office should you have any questions regarding your eligibility, as the calculation is quite complex.
Children
Minor children under the age of eighteen (18) years of age are not required to have met the residency requirement as long as they have one parent who is either a Canadian citizen, or who is applying to become a Canadian citizen. The parent of a child who is under eighteen (18) may apply for the child as soon as the child receives permanent resident status.