Guest Blog
What are the Requirements for Becoming a Canadian Citizen?
Canada is a multicultural and diverse nation that encourages immigrants to reach their full potential by facilitating their integration and active engagement in social, cultural, economic, and political concerns. If you are interested in getting Canadian citizenship, then read on.
How To Get Canadian Citizenship?
To qualify for Canadian citizenship, you must satisfy the criteria established by the federal government of Canada. You should:
- Have Canadian permanent resident status
- Have resided in the nation for at least three of the last five years
- Take and pass a citizenship exam
- Exhibit fluency in English and/or French.
It is vital to remember that the following situations will need extra Canadian citizenship requirements:
If you are applying for someone under the age of 18, you must provide proof of parental consent.
If you are a Canadian citizen adopting a kid from another country, you may petition for that child’s Canadian citizenship.
If you are or have been a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CA) and apply through a predetermined expedited procedure, you are eligible.
Disqualification for Citizenship
Conversely, petitions for citizenship will be refused to those who:
- Are not Canadian permanent residents;
- Not meeting or are unable to show evidence of basic residence criteria;
- Do not fulfill the minimal English or French language proficiency requirements;
- Fail the citizenship exam and/or the interview;
- Are required to depart Canada;
- Have been convicted of a crime during the previous three years;
- Whose citizenship has been revoked;
- Are on parole or probation, or they are incarcerated;
- Have been convicted of a crime against humanity or a war crime or are under investigation for such a crime
Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities
Citizenship and Immigration Canada provides Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship at no cost as the only approved study guide for the citizenship exam. If you have applied for citizenship and are studying for the citizenship exam, the official study guide should be your main reference. You do it at your own risk if you utilize any other materials to study for the citizenship exam.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada will send you a copy of Discover Canada that you must read. The variations between the print, audio, and digital editions of Discover Canada are minimal. However, these variations will not hinder your preparation for the citizenship exam.
Include the following materials together with your application:
All pages (valid or expired) of your passport(s) or travel document(s) throughout your (5) year qualifying period, including the biographical page that contains your name, picture, date, and place of birth, passport/travel document number, issuance date and expiry date.
If you do not possess these papers or if there is a gap between the expiration dates of your travel documents, please offer an explanation in question 14 of the application.
- two (2) photocopies of personal identification documents
Examples of acceptable forms of identification include:
- a copy of the biographical page of your passport/travel document (as asked above and as one (1) of your identifying documents).
- permanent resident card (PR card)
A PR card may only be accepted as identification if the second form of identification issued by the Canadian government is also shown.
- Driver’s license
- Medical insurance card
- Elderly citizen identification card
- Certificate of Majority Age
- Foreign identification papers, such as a passport or government-issued ID, are acceptable.
Language Skills
The official languages of Canada are English and French. If you are between 18 and 54 years old when you sign your application, you must demonstrate that you can speak and listen at a certain level in one of these languages.
The following methods are used to evaluate your English or French language skills:
Examine the documentation you provide with your application.
Noting your communication skills whenever you interact with a naturalization official during the procedure.
if required, test your language proficiency during an interview with a naturalization authority.
Level 4 or higher of the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) is required for citizenship. Therefore, you can:
- Engage in brief, daily chats regarding common subjects
- Interpret basic instructions, queries, and directions
- Use elementary grammar, including straightforward structures and tenses
- Demonstrate sufficient command of basic words and phrases to answer inquiries and communicate effectively.
Processing Costs
$530 for each applicant aged 18 or older who applies under paragraph 5(1), and $100 for each child who applies under subsection 5(2).
Once we begin processing your application, your processing fee is non-refundable, even if you are denied. If you choose to withdraw your application or abandon your application, only the Right of Citizenship money will be returned.
Fee for the Right to Citizenship
$100 for each candidate above the age of eighteen.
If you do not become a citizen, your right to citizenship will be reimbursed.
You must pay a total of $630 for the processing charge and the price for the right to citizenship.
Refunds will be sent to the individual listed in the Payer Information section of the receipt. If no name appears on the receipt, the reimbursement will be sent to the applicant.
