Why should I become a Canadian citizen?
Firstly, Canadian citizens have an absolute right to enter, leave, and remain in Canada.
For some people, a Canadian passport may give them more travel privileges.
Further, you will not lose your citizenship by living outside Canada. This is different from permanent residents (PRs).
Last but not least, a Canadian citizen can run a political office and participate in political elections.
How to obtain Canadian citizenship?
Generally, people who were born in Canada automatically become citizens.
For people who were born outside Canada, there are a number of programs for them to obtain citizenship.
The most common one is that a PR applies for citizenship.
Further, people who were born outside Canada, and whose parent was a Canadian at the time of birth, may inherit citizenship. Similarly, an adopted child may also receive citizenship this way.
Help your spouse or common law partner get Canadian citizenship
If your spouse or common law partner is a foreign national, they will not become a Canadian citizen by marrying or being in a relationship with you.
Instead, you need to first sponsor them to become a PR. When they meet the requirements, they can apply for citizenship on their own. For more information about sponsorship, please visit our Service page.
Am I eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship?
If you are a PR, you must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the past 5 years. Further, you must have filed income tax returns for at least 3 years in the past 5 years, if applicable.
Moreover, if your age is between 18 and 54, you must prove you have English or French skills and complete a citizenship test.
Note that there are many ways that you can prove your language skills. For example, you have studied in Canada. You may also use your past language exam result even if it is expired.
Your PR status and citizenship application
You must have PR status to apply for citizenship. You don’t need a valid PR card to apply. Note that only your PR card expires. Your PR status does not expire.
Further, you must not be subject to a removal process. Also, your PR status must not be under investigation.
Last but not least, if your PR status has unfulfilled conditions, such as medical surveillance, you must first solve these conditions.
Residence in Canada
Generally, you must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the past 5 years in order to apply for Canadian citizenship. However, there are a few exceptions in which you may count your days outside Canada to meet this requirement.
Firstly, if you are a Crown Servant living outside Canada, you and your family members do not need to meet this requirement. You family members must live with you.
A Crown Servant is a person employed in or with the Canadian Armed Forces, the federal public administration, or the public service of a province or territory.
Secondly, if you were a temporary resident (TR) in the past 5 years before becoming a PR. each day while living in Canada as a TR equals half day towards this requirement. You may receive up to 365 days as credit.
Lastly, this requirement does not apply to children younger than 18 years of age who apply together with their parents. In this case, only the parents need to meet this requirement.
If you haven’t met this requirement, you may simply continue living in Canada until you have reached 1,095 days.
How to calculate days in Canada?
Calculating the days is very important because it determines your eligibility. Unfortunately, this could be challenging for some people because they may have travelled a lot.
However, here are some tips. Firstly, the day you leave or arrive in Canada is counted as a full day towards the requirement. Secondly, for the Canadian part, you may obtain a travel history report from Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA).
What if I was born to a Canadian parent outside Canada?
Generally, if this is your case, you most likely can apply for a citizenship certificate directly. However, this parent must not have become a Canadian citizen in the same way. In other words, this parent must not have inherited it from your grandparent.
Beware of preventing factors
If you have these factors, you are not eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship. These factors include but are not limited to certain criminal charges or a subject of a removal process.
LGBTQ immigration and Canadian Citizenship
Many LGBTQ people wish to move to Canada either for work or study. They will want to become PRs or citizens.
If you wish to apply for Canadian citizenship, you may first consider becoming a PR. Canada also allows you to include your same sex spouse or common law partner. You and your partner can also be non-binary.
To learn more about PR programs, please visit our Service page. You may also book a consultation. We can help you with your questions.
What do we do?
We work with LGBTQ people and help with their journey to Canada. At LegalRoots, client experience is what we care about. We also create a safe and friendly place for those who wish to discuss their matters with us freely.
Book an initial assessment today or contact us directly.
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