Canadian Citizenship Services And Many More

Hundreds of thousands of people become eligible for Canadian citizenship each year.

Canada looks to welcome more than 400,000 new permanent residents each year. Most of these newcomers will become proud of Canadian citizenship. When that process is complete, they take loyalty oaths pledging their commitment to the responsibilities and privileges of Canadian citizenship.

This Silver Oaks Immigration page is meant to walk you through the Canadian citizenship process. Scroll down to learn more.

Canadian Citizenship Eligibility

Becoming eligible for Canadian citizenship entails the likes of meeting residency requirements, being able to speak English and/or French, and not having a criminal history considered prohibitive to becoming a citizen.

 

Scroll down to see an overview of Canadian citizenship requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

The following criteria must be met to be eligible for Canadian citizenship:

  • Applicants must have Canadian permanent resident status and have lived in Canada for at least three years (1,095 days) out of the past five years before applying (unless there are exceptional circumstances).
  • Applicants must be able to speak either one or both of Canada's two official languages (English or French) well enough to communicate in Canadian society.
  • Applicants cannot have a criminal history considered prohibitive to granting Canadian citizenship (as decided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC).
  • Applicants must be aware the rights and responsibilities of citizens and have a basic knowledge of Canada's geography, political system, and history.
  • Applicants must submit a formal application to IRCC and pay a government processing fee and a right of citizenship fee.

Eligible candidates can apply for Canadian citizenship. Once approved, they will be required to take a citizenship test (for applicants between 18 and 54 only. Successful applicants must then attend a citizenship ceremony where they receive a certificate of Canadian citizenship and officially become new Canadian citizens. 

Language Requirements

In order to prove language proficiency, applicants must submit one of the following documents:

  • Results from an approved third party test; or
  • Transcripts or a diploma from a secondary or post-secondary education in English or French; or
  • Evidence of achieving Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 4 or higher in certain government language programs.
  • Applicants must be aware the rights and responsibilities of citizens and have a basic knowledge of Canada's geography, political system, and history.
  • Applicants must submit a formal application to IRCC and pay a government processing fee and a right of citizenship fee.

Canadian Citizenship Application Process

The following is an overview of the steps to take to apply for Canadian citizenship after you confirm you meet the eligibility criteria: 

  • An application must be completed and sent to the appropriate IRCC office for review. When the application has been verified, the applicant will be sent a notice requesting that a citizenship test be taken. Applicants between 18 and 54 years of age are required to write a citizenship test, which tests the applicant's knowledge of Canadian history, geography, political process, and the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. IRCC provides all citizenship applicants with a study guide entitled A Look at Canada.
  • The test generally takes 30 minutes to complete.
  • On the day of the test, applicants are required to bring all original documents, including immigration documents, passport, photo identification, and any other documents relevant to the applicant's permanent residence in Canada.
  • In compliance with regulations, some applicants are also asked to appear before a citizenship judge for an interview. Interviews are generally 15 to 30 minutes in length.
  • Minors (under 18 years of age) are not required to sit the test.
  • Applicants between the age of 18 and 54 are also required to pass a language test. In order to prove language proficiency, applicants must submit one of the following documents:
  • Results from an approved third party test; or
  • Transcripts or a diploma from a secondary or post-secondary education in English or French; or
  • Evidence of achieving Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 4 or higher in certain government language programs.
  • Successful applicants must then attend a citizenship ceremony where they receive a certificate of Canadian citizenship and officially become new Canadian citizens.

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