What is Canadian Citizenship Application and How to Do It?

In order to be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship, you must first be a permanent resident of Canada. Individuals who have a valid residence permit and have resided in Canada for at least 3 years in the last 5 years without applying for Canadian citizenship and have filed income taxes at least 3 times can apply for Canadian citizenship.

Applications for Canadian citizenship are made through the official website of the Government of Canada (canada.ca) and are evaluated and decided by Canadian Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship (IRCC) offices.

What are the requirements for applying for Canadian citizenship for adults?

Canadian citizenship requirements for adults are listed below.

• Be over 18 years old
• Have been a permanent resident of Canada for at least 3 years in the last 5 years
• Have paid the required tax debts during your stay in Canada
• Have a clean criminal record
• Have English or French language proficiency
• Passing the Canadian citizenship test

What are the requirements for applying for Canadian citizenship through marriage?

As a foreign national, marrying a Canadian citizen does not automatically grant Canadian citizenship.

If you are applying for Canadian citizenship through marriage, all of the following conditions must be met.

• Must be the spouse of a Canadian citizen.
• Permanent residence in Canada is required.
• Must have lived in Canada for 3 of the last 5 years.
• If there are taxes to be paid in Canada, these taxes must be paid.
• Passing the Canadian citizenship test is required.
• Proof of English and French language proficiency is required.
• The marriage must be proven to be real.

What are the requirements for applying for Canadian citizenship through permanent residence?

If you are applying for Canadian citizenship through permanent residence, you must have resided in Canada continuously for at least 3 of the last 5 years.

When acquiring Canadian citizenship through permanent residence in Canada, the duration of stay in Canada must be calculated on a daily basis, and proof of permanent residence in Canada must be provided with a valid Canadian residence permit for at least 1905 consecutive days within the 1825 days immediately preceding the application for Canadian citizenship.

Long-term residence in Canada can be proven with immigration permit stamps or permits from the Canadian Department of Justice.

What are the requirements for applying for Canadian citizenship depending on the length of time you have lived in Canada?

Depending on the period of time spent in Canada, if you are going to apply for Canadian citizenship, you must have spent at least 1095 days (3 years) in Canada within 1825 days (5 years) prior to the application date for Canadian citizenship.

Canadian citizenship application requirements are listed below, depending on the length of time spent in Canada.

• Income tax return
• Adequate language skills
• Obtaining a sufficient score on the Canadian citizenship test

What is a Canadian Income Tax Return?

A person who is a legal resident of Canada and is applying for Canadian citizenship must submit Canadian income tax returns for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the application date.

Even if you reside in Canada for only part of a certain year, you must be able to file an income tax return for that year.

Taxes on monthly income earned from employment in Canada, income earned from the sale of property owned in Canada, and scholarships and research grants received from Canadian-origin sources are some of the items that must be shown on the Canadian citizenship income tax return.

What are the Language Skills Requirements for Canadian Citizenship?

To apply for Canadian citizenship, results from approved language tests in English or French must meet the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4 or higher level of language proficiency.

The following test types approved by Canadian authorities can be preferred when proving language skills in the Canadian citizenship application.

• For English language proficiency;
  • CELPIP
  • IELTS
• For French language proficiency
  • TAMBOURINE
  • TCF
  • DELPH
  • DALF

What is the Canadian Citizenship Test?

The Canadian citizenship test is the next step that must be taken by those who have officially submitted their Canadian citizenship application and been granted Canadian citizenship.

Those who want to become Canadian citizens are responsible for knowing the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. In order to measure their knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship, applicants must take the Canadian citizenship test. Canadian citizenship test questions include questions about Canada; history, geography, economy, government, laws and Canadian symbols.

The Canadian citizenship points system is determined by the IRCC offices.

What are the Required Documents for Canadian Citizenship Application?

The documents required for Canadian citizenship application are listed below.

• The original printout of the Canadian online physical assets calculation or the assets calculation form (CIT 0407) may be used to prove financial position.
• Photocopies of the ID pages of valid, current and expired passports or travel documents held within the last 5 years are required. (The ID page is the page that includes the name, passport document number, issue date and expiration date.)
• Two personal ID photocopies are required. One of the two personal ID photocopies will be the biographical page of the passport, while the second can be chosen from among the ID samples listed below.
  • A Canadian permanent residence card (PR card) may be preferred.
  • Driving license may be preferred.
  • A health insurance card may be preferred.
  • Elderly ID card may be preferred.
  • An adult card may be preferred.
  • Passports from foreign countries or government-issued identity documents may be preferred.
• For those between the ages of 18-54, the documents listed below must be provided.
  • Photocopies of proof of English or French language proficiency are required. Proof of English or French language proficiency may include the following.
    • English or French language test results
    • Certificate or diploma of education in a secondary or post-secondary education program where the language of instruction is English or French
    • Proof of English or French language proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or above from a government-supported language training program
• If you are between the ages of 18-54 and cannot speak English or French due to a medical condition, you must prove your disability with one of the following documents:
  • A certified document issued by a Canadian audiologist for the hearing impaired
  • A report from a Canadian physician if there is a disability related to cognitive, psychological or physiological causes
• Two photographs to be used in Canadian citizenship documents
• Receipt of Canadian citizenship application fee of CAD 630 for adults paid online through the official Canadian website

Where to Apply for Canadian Citizenship?

To apply for Canadian citizenship, you can choose to apply online or by mail.

To apply for Canadian citizenship online;

In order to apply for Canadian citizenship online, the Canadian citizenship application package, which can be accessed through the Canadian official website, must be selected. In accordance with the guide in the Canadian citizenship application package, the necessary documents for the Canadian citizenship application must be collected and the Canadian citizenship application form must be filled out, and then these documents must be uploaded to the system.

The Canadian citizenship processing fee and the Canadian citizenship entitlement fee must be paid online through the Canadian official website and the receipt must be attached to the Canadian citizenship application.

To apply for Canadian citizenship via paper submission;

All documents and application documents collected for the Canadian citizenship application must be forwarded to the Application Processing Centre in Sydney, Canada.

Canadian citizenship application documents;

If it is to be sent via ordinary mail, it should be sent to the address
“Application Processing Centre-Sydney PO Box 7000 SYDNEY, NS B1P 6V6”
, if it is to be sent via courier, it should be sent to the address
“Application Processing Centre-Sydney 49 Dorchester Street Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 5Z2”
.

How Long Does It Take to Complete a Canadian Citizenship Application?

The Canadian citizenship application process takes approximately 12 months. After the Canadian citizenship application is evaluated, an acceptance or rejection notice (AOR) is sent to the Canadian citizenship applicant via letter or email. All Canadian citizenship matters are managed by the Canadian Application Processing Centre.

How Does the Canadian Citizenship Application Process Work?

After the Canadian citizenship application documents are completed, an acceptance or rejection notification (Acknowledgement of Receipt) (AOR) is sent to the applicant via letter or email. What is missing from the Canadian citizenship application or what needs to be done next will be sent to the person applying for Canadian citizenship via an acceptance or rejection notification (AOR) letter / email.

If your Canadian citizenship application is rejected, the missing documents must be completed and re-included among your Canadian citizenship application documents, based on the rejection notice you received.

What are the Exceptions to Canadian Citizenship?

There are exceptions to Canadian citizenship, other than marriage or permanent residence in Canada.

Canadian citizenship exceptions and situations in which you can become a Canadian citizen are listed below.

• Being born on Canadian soil
• Having a parent who is a Canadian citizen (Under Canadian law, the parent’s year of birth affects the Canadian citizenship exception.)
• Having served in the Canadian Armed Forces
• Have a child born outside Canada who is not a citizen of any other country and is a legal resident of Canada
• Being adopted by a Canadian citizen
• Be among those eligible to become citizens of Canada under the 1947 Act
• Being among those whose parents are Canadian citizens and have a delayed birth registration outside of Canada
• Be British citizens with exceptional circumstances or the children of British citizens with exceptional circumstances

What is the Canadian Citizenship Ceremony?

The Canadian citizenship acceptance ceremony takes place within 3 months after the Canadian citizenship exam if the Canadian citizenship application is successful, and the Canadian citizenship acceptance ceremony date is given by the Canadian immigration office a few weeks before.

It is necessary to stay in the hall during the Canadian citizenship acceptance ceremony and if a child who may interfere with the Canadian citizenship acceptance ceremony is brought, a guest who will take care of him/her should also be invited. The language of the Canadian citizenship acceptance ceremony is stated in the notification sent by the Canadian immigration office. Care should be taken to carry the necessary documents for the Canadian citizenship acceptance ceremony.

The Canadian citizenship oath must be repeated in English and French at the same time as the other applicants for Canadian citizenship in the hall, after the ceremony official. At the Canadian citizenship acceptance ceremony, the Canadian national anthem is sung after the Canadian citizenship oath is taken. After the Canadian citizenship oath is taken, a Canadian citizen is granted a Canadian citizenship certificate.

What to Do If Your Canadian Citizenship Application Is Rejected?

Reasons for Canadian citizenship application rejection may be due to situations such as not meeting the minimum processing requirements, not paying the required fee, or not completing the Canadian citizenship application process correctly.

If your Canadian citizenship application is rejected, a letter or email will be sent to the Canadian citizenship applicant by Citizenship and Immigration Canada explaining what is missing from your Canadian citizenship application and what steps need to be taken next.

The Application Processing Centre in Sydney is the only authorized body to physically receive Canadian citizenship applications. The letter/email sent by the Sydney Application Processing Centre will indicate which forms, documents or fees are missing for the Canadian Citizenship Application.

• When your Canadian citizenship application is rejected, the following steps should be followed, taking into account the reasons stated in the rejection letter.
• The Canadian citizenship application form must be filled out online, printed, signed and dated via the Canadian official website.
• The length of stay in Canada in the last 5 years must be recalculated.
• A new receipt must be submitted, obtained online from the Canadian official website, showing that the Canadian citizenship application fees have been paid.
• After all the documents required to obtain citizenship in Canada have been checked, the Canadian citizenship application documents must be sent back to the Sydney Application Processing Centre.

How Much Are Canadian Citizenship Application Fees?

The Canadian citizenship application fee is 630 CAD for each individual aged 18 and over.

• The Canadian citizenship processing fee is 530 CAD.
• The Canadian citizenship fee is 100 CAD.

If the Canadian citizenship process does not result in the Canadian citizenship, the citizenship application fee will be refunded to the holder. Canadian citizenship application fees are charged as a Canadian citizenship fee of 100 CAD for individuals under the age of 18.

Which Countries Can I Visit Visa-Free When I Obtain Canadian Citizenship?

When Canadian citizenship is acquired, one is granted human rights such as freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, freedom of the press, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.

When Canadian citizenship is acquired, in addition to human rights, the right to live wherever one wants in Canada, equality between men and women, equal status of French and English, and the right to freely practice one’s preferred culture are acquired. Canadian citizenship provides many opportunities to its holders in terms of visa-free places to visit. The countries that can be visited without a visa with Canadian citizenship are listed below.

• Albania
• American Samoa
• Andorra
• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Aruba
• Australia
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Bolivia
• Bonaire: St. Eustatius and Sheba
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil
• British Virgin Islands
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Cape Verde Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Chile
• Colombia
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Curacao
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Eswatini (Swaziland)
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• French West Indies
• Gambia
• Georgia
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Greenland
• Grenada
• Guam
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Kiribati
• Kosovo
• Kyrgyzstan
• Latvia
• Lesotho
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuanian
• Luxembourg
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mayotte
• Mexican
• Micronesia
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Montserrat
• Morocco
• Namibia
• Holland
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Niue
• Northern Mariana Islands
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Palestinian Territory
• Panama
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
• Train
• Reunion
• Romania
• San Marino
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St.Maarten
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Swedish
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisian
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Ukrainian
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uruguay
• US Virgin Islands
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Vatican