There is no shortcut in applying for Canadian citizenship. You need to follow the process, meet specific eligibility requirements, and pass the citizenship test. To be granted Canadian citizenship, you should:
For Canadian citizenship applications under 18, requirements may be different. Minors who have a Canadian parent or a parent applying for citizenship must:
Meanwhile, application for Canadian citizenship minors under 18 years of age who don’t have a Canadian parent or parent applying for citizenship must:
If you are applying for citizenship, you must obtain a permanent resident (PR) status in Canada. This means that you should not:
Regardless of your age, you must be physically present in Canada for at least 1095 days during the 5 years preceding your application. It is highly suggested that you apply with more than 1095 days of physical appearance to have extra days in case you will encounter problems with the calculation. Using a travel journal to record your trips will help you calculate your physical presence in Canada.
The following are the list of documents you have to gather and attach with your application:
If you cannot provide Canadian personal identification documents, you may provide identity documents equivalent to the documents listed above. If your identification documents are not in English or French, you may also include a translation and affidavit.
Note: If you’re applying for a minor who doesn’t have 2 valid IDs or photo ID, you must provide an explanation letter along with the application. Birth certificates, Social Insurance Number (SIN) cards, bank cards, and previous Canadian citizenship certificates are not valid as personal identification documents.
When applying for citizenship, you can get an application package that suits your situation. The package comprises of the instruction guide, document checklist, and all the forms you have to feel out. You can choose from the following application packages for your situation:
Make sure you use the newest version of the application form dated October 2017 or later to avoid hassles of returned applications due to outdated form.
Follow the steps below to complete your application form:
Canadian citizenship application fee payment varies whether you are an adult or minor. If you more than one from your family is applying for citizenship you can pay the fees altogether. Only pay the application fees when you’re ready to submit your application as they are non-refundable once the processing has begun.
| Adult (aging 18 to 54) | Minor (under 18) | |
| Processing fee | $530 | |
| Right of Citizenship fee | $100 | $100 |
| Total Application fee | $630 | $100 |
The only form of payment accepted is online, so if you pay it in another form of payment, the IRCC will return your application. For applicants who are currently outside Canada and the United States and have no access to the Internet, you must pay directly to the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate where you will submit your application.
After you have gathered all the necessary documents and have completed your application, send it to the following addresses:
Case Processing Centre-Sydney
P.O. Box 7000
SYDNEY, NS
B1P 6V6
Case Processing Centre-Sydney
49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 5Z2
Note: Your application will be returned if it is incomplete; it doesn’t meet the minimum processing requirements, and; does not include the correct fee payment.
If you are 18 to 54 years old during your citizenship application, you will be invited to take the citizenship test weeks after the IRCC receives your application. After the test, you may also be invited to an interview or hearing with a citizenship officer. You will be examined on your knowledge of Canada’s history, geography, government, rights and responsibilities of a citizen, and language skills.
Once you have submitted complete documents, it usually takes 12 months for IRCC to process your applications and grant you Canadian citizenship.
You can check your Canadian citizenship application status online once the processing has started. You will know when the processing has started when you receive an acknowledgment letter or email with your application letter. If you can’t check your status online, you can refer to the processing times as a guide to how long the process might take.
Individuals born outside of Canada are Canadian citizens by descent if one of their parents is a citizen of Canada either by having been born in Canada or by naturalization.
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