How to apply for Canadian citizenship

Canadian citizenship vs. permanent residency: what’s the difference?

Firstly, before you can apply for citizenship you must have permanent residency (PR). This means that you’ve been given permission to live in Canada indefinitely and no longer need a visa.  However, you’re not eligible to vote because you’re still a citizen of your original country only.

The ability to vote comes with citizenship, as does a brand new Canadian passport which will allow you to visit 185 countries without needing a visa. Without a Canadian passport, you must travel using your usual passport, as well as your permanent residency card when you travel to/from Canada.

A permanent resident of Canada must live in the country for at least two years out of every five - if you don’t,you risk losing your permanent residency status. Once you become a citizen, you no longer have to worry about spending a required amount of time within Canada.

Requirements for Canadian citizenship

So, you’ve got your permanent residency in Canada and you’re ready to apply for citizenship - what next? First, double check your eligibility - you don’t want to waste time and money on the process only to find out that you aren’t eligible to apply.

Here’s a quick checklist of requirements for applying for Canadian citizenship:

• You must be a permanent resident of Canada - if you don’t have PR, apply for this first.

• You must not have any outstanding issues that might affect your PR status, such as being under review or any unfinished medical screenings.

• You must have been permanently residing in Canada for three years out of the last five.

• You must pass a citizenship test to show adequate knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of Canadian citizens. unless you’re under 18 or over 54 in which case you’re exempt.

• You must demonstrate competency in either English or French.

• You might need to file income tax if you haven’t already - find out more about Canadian income tax here.

How to apply for Canadian citizenship?

Once you’ve ticked all the requirement boxes, you can start the application process. In theory, it’s only five short steps:

1. Calculate how long you’ve been in Canada

2. Gather all required documents

3. Fill out the application form (online or by post)

4. Pay the fee

5. Take the citizenship test - or go to your citizenship hearing

We’ll go through each of these steps in more detail, don’t worry!

To start with, you need to prove how long you’ve been in Canada. The easiest way to do this is to use the Canadian government’s online calculator, then print off your result and include it in your application.

What documents will I need?

The documents you’ll need to apply for Canadian citizenship are pretty much all the ones you’d expect.

As covered above, you’ll need a printout of your proof of residence in Canada for at least three years out of the last five.

You will also need copies of all your passports from the last five years, including any that expired within that time frame. This is to cover the five year period of eligibility.

As well as your passport, you need to provide copies of two forms of ID. This can include your passport, but other valid forms are:

• Driver’s licence

• Health insurance card

• Government issued ID card

• Permanent resident card (PR card)

The last bit of documentation you’ll need is something that proves your English or French language ability (if you’re aged between 18 and 54). This proof can be results from third party tests, diplomas, or other qualifications, or any proof that you have reached the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher.

How long does the application process take?

The answer to this very straightforward question is, in fact, not that straightforward itself. In short, it depends on a variety of factors, such as your personal circumstances and where you’re applying from.

At present, COVID-19 still continues to delay application times. Currently, the timeframe is estimated to be around 12-15 months.

The Canadian government has a calculator for how long your application will take, and you can check the progress of your application online.

How much does applying for Canadian citizenship cost?

The Canadian Citizenship application costs CA$630 for adults, CA$100 for minors (anyone under the age of 18).

The fees are payable online, and you must pay before submitting your application. If you don’t, your application will be returned.

The Canadian citizenship test

Similarly to many other countries, Canada requires applicants to pass a citizenship test. Depending on your circumstances and the information you submitted in your application, you’ll be asked to attend one or more of the following:

• A Canadian citizenship test

• An interview with a Canadian citizenship official

• A citizenship hearing

But what is the Canadian citizenship test? It’s a series of 20 questions designed to assess your knowledge of ‘all things Canada’, including history, government and politics, geography and citizen's responsibilities.

You’ll need to get 15 correct answers out of 20 to pass, and you’ll have three opportunities to pass the test. See Canada’s official study guide for the citizenship test for more information.

When do I get a Canadian passport?

Once your citizenship has been approved, you should apply for a passport separately. This does mean that there are separate fees to pay, as a Canadian passport is not included in the citizenship application fee.

To apply for a Canadian passport, you must  provide supporting documents in the form of proof of your citizenship and your old or current passport. You’ll also need a guarantor and two references, and - of course! - regulation passport photos. You can apply online for a Canadian passport here.

See the official calculator for how long this process usually takes - it depends on whether you’re applying from within Canada, the US, or another country.

What about dual citizenship?

Good news! There are no rules or restrictions on dual citizenship in Canada. Claiming dual citizenship largely depends on your personal circumstances and which other country you want to include. Some countries such as Botswana, Malaysia, and China, don’t allow dual citizenship. In others like India, Japan, and Nepal, you’ll lose citizenship when you claim citizenship in another country or make you choose one over the other. If in doubt, consult your local embassy.

Ready to apply for Canadian citizenship?

If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably ready to start applying to become a Canadian citizen. Congratulations! If you’re not quite there yet but still want to read more about what it’s like to live in Canada, particularly in terms of costs, take a look at our guide to the cost of living in Canada.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of our blog for more resources and guides to living abroad, and how to send money back home to your family with WorldRemit. We’re easy, we’re safe and we’re affordable, so you can send money home whenever you need to.

Sign up for free and send on our app or our website.

Disclaimer: The contents of this blog post does not constitute legal or financial advice and is provided for general information purposes only. If you require specific legal and / or financial advice you should contact a specialist lawyer or financial advisor. Information true at time of publishing.