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Becoming a Canadian citizen is an exciting milestone that comes with many benefits. The privileges entitled to a Canadian Citizen and the high quality of life offered are some of the few reasons why Canadian Citizenship is considered a coveted status and why people from all over the world and from all walks of life have been migrating to Canada. Hence, the number of people migrating to Canada for the past decade has steadily risen.
A Canadian citizen has more benefits than a permanent resident – the opportunity to vote, hold a Canadian passport, and many more. In this blog, we will look at the benefits of Canadian citizenship, eligibility criteria, the documents required, how and when to apply, the tests to complete, and the processing time. Whether you are considering citizenship for the first time or are already in the process, understanding the steps and requirements is the ultimate key to making informed decisions about your life as a citizen in Canada.
Before we do that, how about we start with the basics?
Table of Content
1Canadian Citizenship2Benefits of Canadian Citizenship3Eligibility Criteria for Canadian Citizenship4Documents Required for Canadian Citizenship5How to get Canadian Citizenship6When to apply for Canadian Citizenship7Canadian Citizenship Test8Canadian Citizenship Application Processing Time9Conclusion10Frequently Asked Questions
Canadian Citizenship
Are you already a Canadian citizen? If not, becoming one could be a life-changing decision. So, how does one become a Canadian citizen? There are many ways, in some cases, you may automatically become one.
You may automatically become a Canadian citizen if
- by birth if you are born in Canada,
- born outside of Canada to a Canadian-born parent, either legal or biological or to a parent who became a naturalised citizen before your birth,
- have received Canadian citizenship as a minor when a parent or legal guardian applied for your citizenship,
- had become a citizen because of the changes in the Citizenship Act that happened in 2009 and 2015,
- had applied for and received your Canadian citizenship.
You do not get Canadian citizenship automatically:
- if you marry a Canadian citizen
- Being the spouse of a Canadian citizen, you do not automatically become a Canadian citizen. The eligibility criteria for citizenship apply to everyone, spouses aren’t exempted or do not have any special process. But, your Canadian spouse can sponsor you for permanent residency. Later, you can apply for citizenship after you have met the eligibility criteria.
- you are adopted by a citizen of Canada
- had your refugee claim accepted by the Canadian Government,
- were born outside of Canada to Canadian parent(s) on or after 2009, April 17, and neither parent was born or naturalised in Canada.
Another thing to note is that you are not a citizen if had been born in Canada to foreign diplomats, have your citizenship revoked, or have renounced your citizenship and never applied to get it back.
Benefits of Canadian Citizenship
There are multiple benefits to being a citizen of Canada:
Children
If you are a citizen, and your children are born in Canada, they automatically become Canadian citizens. A child born in Canada will be a Canadian by birth since Canada takes recourse to the rule known as jus soli, also known as birthright citizenship, and if your child was born outside of Canada, they are a citizen at birth but only if you or your partner is a citizen of Canada.
Voting Right and Politics
You can vote in the Municipal, Provincial, and Federal elections. You can even compete in Elections as an independent candidate, join one of the parties, and attend political programmes and activities.
Dual Citizenship
Under Canadian law, you can be a citizen of another country and a Canadian citizen. Canada does not force you to accept Canadian citizenship. Some countries may not permit dual citizenship. So, check the regulations of your home country by contacting the embassy or a consulate to check whether this applies to you. India does not allow dual citizenship. Indian law mandates that a person renounce their Indian citizenship if they acquire citizenship of another country.
High-Clearance Jobs
These roles are typically reserved for Canadian citizens. Federal jobs come with competitive pay and additional benefits.
Family Sponsorship Programs
A Canadian citizen can sponsor their spouse, partner, dependent child, or the child of their spouse/partner for immigration, even if they are not in Canada. They must, however, plan to live in Canada when their sponsored relative becomes a permanent resident. Unlike permanent resident card holders, citizens are not required to remain in Canada to be eligible to sponsor.
Eligibility Criteria for Canadian Citizenship
Make sure you meet all the eligibility criteria before you apply for Canadian Citizenship. The eligibility criteria are as follows:
1. Must be a Permanent Resident
You must be a permanent resident of Canada. It is not necessary to apply for citizenship with a valid PR card. You can apply with an expired PR card. However, it’s important to note that you must still meet the eligibility criteria.
2. Must have Lived in Canada for 3 years
You must have lived in Canada for more than 1095 days (3 years) during the five years before your date of application. Minors are exempted from this criteria.
3. Income Tax Filing Proof
Before the date of your application, you must have filed your taxes for the last 3 years.
4. Language Skills
For people between 18 and 54, you have to submit proof of your language skills either in English or French. According to the Canadian Language Benchmark, you must score a Level 4 or higher.
5. Pass the Citizenship Test
Similarly, if you are between the ages of 18 and 54, you have to take a citizenship test on the day you are to submit your application.
6. Take the Oath of Citizenship
You must take the Oath of Citizenship to pledge your allegiance to Canada if your citizenship application is approved.
7. No Criminal Records
You must have no record of criminal activities during your stay in Canada. You shouldn’t be under review for immigration or fraud, which can hinder your application procedure.
Documents Required for Canadian Citizenship
The following documents are required to apply for Canadian Citizenship:
How to get Canadian Citizenship
Follow the following steps to get your Canadian Citizenship:
- Meet all the eligibility criteria before you apply.
- Do collect all the required documents you need to apply.
- Fill out the application form correctly without any mistakes.
- Submit the completed application form with other supporting documents to the appropriate Canadian government bodies.
- Wait for your application to be processed which may take a few months.
- After the processing, attend the citizenship test and interview, to assess your knowledge of Canada.
- After that take the oath of Citizenship to confirm your status as a Canadian citizen.
When to apply for Canadian Citizenship
You can apply for a Canadian Citizenship:
- After you become a permanent resident
- if you were physically present in Canada for 1095 days during the five years right before you filed your application for citizenship,
- after you meet the basic language requirements,
- have filed your taxes for the past three years while residing in Canada,
- does not have any past criminal records or history.
You can use the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) residency calculator to confirm your days in Canada in order to avoid mistakes during your application procedure. To sum up, you can apply after you meet all the eligibility criteria mentioned above.
Canadian Citizenship Test
After you have applied, you have to wait until you receive your invitation to attend the Citizenship test. This test contains 20 questions about a Canadian citizen’s rights and responsibilities. It includes questions about Canadian history, laws, government, symbols, economy and geography. You are required to get 15 questions right out of 20 to pass this test. You can refer to the official study guide, ‘Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship’. You can even take the test online. After passing the test, you will be invited to meet with a citizenship official. The final step is to attend the citizenship ceremony where you are to take the oath of citizenship if you are above 14 years old.
People above the age of 55 do not have to attend the test but they have to take the interview in some cases, this applies to minors above the age of 14. If you fail the test, you can reapply after you have met the other eligibility criteria. You will be given a date to rewrite the test which usually takes place 4 or 8 weeks after your first attempt. You have three chances to pass the test. Suppose you fail the test three times, you may be later invited to a hearing with a citizenship official.
Language test for Canadian citizenship
To pass the test, you must meet certain Canadian citizenship language requirements. It can be a diploma, certificate, transcript, or test results. You must submit proof of completing or attending a program where the medium of instruction is either French or English. Accepted language tests include CELPIP and IELTS.
Canadian Citizenship Application Processing Time
Processing time determines how quickly an application for Canadian citizenship is accepted. It varies for each situation and can change accordingly. The time authorities receive a complete application until a decision is made on a particular profile. Typically, this time depends upon the type of application submitted, ease of verification of the submitted application and other factors.
Conclusion
Canadian citizenship is a status, more than that, it’s a commitment to becoming part of a nation that values diversity, equality, and opportunity. So by understanding and meeting the eligibility requirements, gathering the right documents, and following the steps, you’ll be well on your way to starting a new chapter and a life as a Canadian citizen.
Ready to embark on the journey to calling Canada your forever home…Why wait? Start your application today and take one step closer to your dream of living as a citizen in Canada.
To learn more about Canadian Citizenship and check your eligibility, get in touch with our team of experts at CanApprove for free!
