Everything You Need to Know If You Want to Become a Citizen of Canada
If you’re a permanent resident of Canada, you can apply to become a citizen after you’re eligible. However, there are a few things that you need to learn about the process of becoming a Canadian citizen before you start your application.
In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know if you want to become a citizen of Canada. Let’s find out!
You are required to live in Canada for at least three years
If you want to become a citizen of Canada, you should have lived in the country for at least three years or 1,095 days for your application to be considered. The 1,095 days you’re required to live in Canada to be eligible for citizenship don’t have to be continuous. In addition to that, the days that you lived in Canada as a temporary resident are also counted — but one day as a temporary resident is tallied as half a day.
However, even if you lived in Canada for three years, you must have been a five-year permanent resident to apply for citizenship.
You must be fluent in English or French
If you want to become a Canadian citizen, you must submit proof that you’re fluent in English or French — even if that is a requirement before you become a permanent resident. This means you could be required to re-submit the test results of the approved language test you took before relocating to Canada. However, you can also take another CELPIP or IELTS test to meet the eligibility criteria — the IRCC requires all applicants to score four or higher.
Alternatively, you can submit a transcript, certificate, or diploma that proves you communicated in English or French in high school, college, or university.
You are required to file your income tax in Canada
To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must file your income tax consistently for at least three years. The income tax you report should also include any income that you’ve earned abroad as a permanent resident of Canada. Similarly, you should disclose any cash you’ve received off the books that is considered part of your income.
You must be a law-abiding immigrant
The IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) runs a background check on all applicants who want to become Canadian citizens. This is because applicants with a criminal background are disqualified from becoming Canadian citizens. More succinctly, if you’re on trial or sentenced due to a criminal offence in Canada or outside Canada, your application could be revoked. Your application could be suspended if the IRCC concludes that you lied or misrepresented facts.
In other words, if you want to become a citizen of Canada through naturalization, you must be a law-abiding immigrant since any suspicion that proves otherwise could be a reason to revoke your application.
You must pass the citizenship test
All permanent residents who want to graduate to citizenship must pass the citizenship test — unless they’re younger than 18 or 55 years old and above. The citizenship test takes 30 minutes, and you must answer 20 questions in multiple choices within that timeframe. To pass the citizenship test, you must attain a 75% score equivalent to correctly answering 15 questions.
Every topic you will be evaluated on during the citizenship test will be derived from the official study guide approved by the IRCC. To pass the citizenship test, you should know the official study guide. You can also do mock tests online to help you pass the citizenship test.
The IRCC will send you a 2-week notice to prepare you for the citizenship knowledge test. However, you will have enough time to study for the citizenship test while waiting for your application to be processed.
Most applicants pass the Canadian citizenship test on their first attempt. If you fail, you will have another chance to take the citizenship test later. But if you don’t pass the citizenship test after your second attempt, you will be required to attend an interview with a citizenship officer who will ask you oral questions to determine if you should proceed to the next stage.
You must take an oath
All applicants who are 14 years or older are required to attend the citizenship ceremony to take an oath. The oath ceremony will be scheduled three months after you’re done with the citizenship test. Remember that until you take the oath, you won’t be declared a Canadian citizen even if you passed the citizenship test.
After you take the oath, you will be declared a Canadian citizen and given a certificate to prove it!