The areas of condition to become a Canadian citizen is age, permanent resident status, time of residence in Canada, income tax filing, language skills, intent to reside and knowledge of Canada and its prohibitions.
However, for those who have served or serving the Canadian Armed Forces, the Citizenship Act of 2014 allows you to apply through the fast-track process. It takes into account how long the military service is instead of Canadian residency.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply. For the citizenship of children below 18, parent, legal or adoptive guardian must apply for them and at least one parent must be a Canadian Citizen or applying to become one at the same time of the application.. Child must also be a permanent resident of Canada.
- Applicants must be a permanent resident of Canada with no unfulfilled conditions related to PR status and PR status must be clean and not in question or under review for questionable actions. PR card is not necessary but may be an advantage.
- Applicants must be present in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 1,460 days in the (6) six years prior to date of application. Applicant must also be present for at least 183 days during each of (4) four calendar years that are fully or partially within the six years. Date requirements do not apply for children.
- Crown servants and certain family member are also exception to this rule. Note that time spent in Canada will only be counted after applicant became a permanent resident.
- Applicants must meet personal income tax filling obligations for four taxation years that are partially or fully within the six years immediately before the date you apply.
- Applicants must declare intent to reside in Canada during the citizenship application process. Applicants must declare intent to live in Canada, work outside Canada as a Crown servant or live abroad with certain family members who are Crown Servants.
- Applicant must also display adequate knowledge in one of the two official languages of Canada. Applicant must show that they can take part in short, everyday conversations about common topics, understand simple instructions, questions and directions, use basic grammar, including simple structures and tenses and show that they know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express themselves.
- Applicants aged 14-64 must send documents supporting claim that they can understand English or French at this level. The citizenship application guide contains the type of proof that Canada accepts. Applicants must then demonstrate skills by holding conversation with staff or citizenship officer during interview. Officer will make final decision on the application, including how well you can communicate in specific language.
- Applicants must also have understanding of the rights, responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, such as voting in elections and obeying the law as well as knowledge of Canada’s history, values, institutions and symbols. Applicants aged 14-64 must take citizenship test to show adequate knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.
People who have committed crime in or outside Canada are not allowed to apply for citizenship for a period of time. Persons who are prohibited for some time are those who are in prison, parole or serving a sentence in Canada, convicted of an indictable offence in Canada or an offence outside Canada in the four years immediately before applying for a citizenship or charged with, on trial or involved in and appeal of indictable offence in Canada or an offence outside Canada. Time in prison, parole or probation in Canada does not count as time lived in Canada.
Once you become a Canadian citizen, you have the right to enter, remain in, or leave Canada, as one of the basic rights of citizenship.