- Posted date : 5th November, 2018
- Posted by : Migration Concerns
- Category : Permanent Residence Visa
What Defines a Canadian citizen?
You likely are a Canadian citizen if you…
- Were born in Canada
- Became a citizen because of changes to the Citizenship Act
- Applied for and received your Canadian citizenship (became a naturalized citizen)
- Received Canadian citizenship as a minor when a parent or legal guardian naturalized you by applying for your citizenship
- Were born outside Canada and at least one of your parents was:
Born in Canada
Naturalized in Canada before your birth
How Can I Get Citizenship of Canada
To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must meet all the conditions, including:
Permanent Resident status
Regardless of your age, if you are applying for citizenship, you must have:
- Permanent Resident (PR) status in Canada
- No unfulfilled conditions related to your PR status
Your PR status must not be in question. This means you must not:
- Be under review for immigration or fraud reasons
- Have certain unfulfilled conditions related to your PR status
- Be under a removal order (an order from Canadian officials to leave Canada)
You don’t need a valid PR card to apply for citizenship. If you have an expired PR card, you can still apply for citizenship.
The Time you have Lived in Canada
Regardless of your age, you must have been physically present in Canada for at least:
- 1095 days during the five years right before the date you sign your application
Travel Journal
Record your trips outside of Canada. It will help you calculate your physical presence in Canada.You may be able to use some of your time spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person towards your physical presence calculation. Each day spent physically in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident within the last 5 years will count as one-half day, with a maximum of 365 days, towards your physical presence.
Temporary resident status includes lawful authorization to enter or remain in Canada as a:
- visitor,
- student,
- worker or,
- the temporary resident permit holder
Income Tax Filing
Regardless of your age, if required under the Income Tax Act, you must meet your personal income tax filing obligations in three tax years that are fully or partially within the five years right before the date you apply.
Language Abilities
Canada has two official languages: English and French.
To become a citizen, you must show that you can speak and listen to one of these languages. This means you can:
- Take part in short, everyday conversations about common topics
- Understand simple instructions, questions, and directions
- Use basic grammar, including simple structures and tenses
- Show you know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express yourself
If you are 18 to 54 years old, you must submit proof that demonstrates you can speak and listen in English or French at this level. Find out what examples you can send with your application.
How Well You Know Canada
To become a citizen, you’ll need to take a test to meet the knowledge requirement for citizenship. You’ll need to answer questions about Canada’s:
- Values
- History
- Symbols
- Institutions
- Rights, responsibilities, and privileges of citizenship, such as voting in elections and obeying the law
The Tests are:
- in English or French
- made up of questions based on the Discover Canada study guide
- usually in a written format, unless you need to take it orally with a citizenship officer
- given to applicants 18 to 54 years old.
Note:
Applicants under 18 years of age applying under the 5(1) and 5(2) grant category do not have to meet the knowledge requirement.
If you need any accommodations to take the test, let us know as soon as possible.
Everything you need to know for the test is in Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.
Prohibitions
If you have committed a crime in or outside Canada, you may not be eligible to become a Canadian citizen for a period of time. This includes if you:
- Are serving a sentence outside Canada
- Are serving a term of imprisonment, on parole or on probation in Canada
- Are charged with, on trial for, or involved in an appeal of an:
The indictable offense in Canada
Offense outside Canada
Have been convicted in the four years before applying for citizenship of an:
The indictable offense in Canada
Offense outside Canada
Time spent serving a term of imprisonment, on parole, or on probation doesn’t count as a time you have lived in Canada.
Benefits of Canadian citizenship
- One can hold dual citizenship, as Canada allows dual citizenship
- One can eligible to work in Government jobs
- No tension of losing status
- Can work in any province of Canada
- A Canadian passport is powerful; one doesn’t need a visa to travel Europe Union, Mexico, etc.
How do I Find if I am Eligible to Apply for Canadian Citizenship?
For information on how to apply and if you are eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship, please visit our website: http://migrationconcerns.ca or call us 905-232-7222
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