Steps to becoming a Canadian citizen

Steps to becoming a Canadian citizen

I’m a Canadian. What’s your superpower?

As per IRCC, Canada has naturalized 136,000 people in 2021. Several immigrants come to Canada for various purposes like work, study, travel, etc., and decide to make Canada their forever home. However, the road to Canadian citizenship is not easy. Factors like eligibility, documents, history, the application process, and the interview come with different challenges when handling them alone. 

If you are planning to get Canadian citizenship, then this article fits your needs as we have covered all the necessary steps for obtaining Canadian citizenship, situations that could hinder your application for Canadian citizenship, tips to make a strong Canadian citizenship application, benefits, and how to apply for citizenship, as well as the most frequently asked questions. 

Let’s get started. 

What are the requirements for obtaining Canadian citizenship?

If you want to become eligible for Canadian citizenship, you should fulfill the six-point checklist to fulfill Canadian citizenship requirements-

1. Applicants above 18 years of age must have lived in Canada for at least three during the last five years before submission of the citizenship application. 
2. Applicants must have a permanent residence(PR) card. An expired Canada PR card can be handy at the time of application, as a valid Permanent Residence card is not necessarily required. 
3. Applicants should ensure the filing of applicable taxes for at least three years within the five years duration. 
4. Applicants must prove their language skills to level 4 or higher by proficiency in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark.
5. Applicants must pass a Canadian Citizenship test for which they need to demonstrate knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens, along with a solid understanding of Canadian history, the economy, government regulations, and the political system. 
6. Applicants should not possess a criminal history as it would attract ineligibility for Canadian citizenship. 

Exemption: Minors below 18 years and adults above 54 years are exempted from mandatorily taking the citizenship test and providing proof of language proficiency.

Do you have a criminal record but want to apply for Canadian citizenship? There is a possibility that your application will be rejected or put on hold. Depending on your case, you might still have the opportunity to fulfill your Canadian dream and overcome this restriction. Want to know how? 

Then, please book a consultation and get started with your application by contacting our regulated Canadian immigration consultant at northern connection Canada immigration.

Let’s move to the next section. 

What are the situations that can affect Canadian citizenship?

If you intend on becoming a Canadian citizen, your actions must comply with the Canadian Citizenship Act. If you fall under any of the following circumstances, your citizenship application will be put on hold or rejected:

1. In the last five years, you were refused citizenship due to misrepresentation.
2. You have been convicted or under investigation for a crime against humanity or a war crime. 
3. You are on probation, parole, or serving a prison sentence in Canada. 
4. You are currently serving a sentence outside Canada. 
5. You are under a Canadian removal order. 
6. You have been found guilty of an offense under Citizenship Act or an indictable offense in Canada. 
7. As a permanent resident, you were associated with an armed force involved in armed conflict with Canada or were convicted of high treason, spying, and terrorism. 

What documents do you need for your Canadian citizenship?

Applicants are required to procure the appropriate documents beforehand. Thus, we set forth the relevant list of documents which includes:

1. Original printout of online physical presence calculation.
2. Colored copies of travel documents and passports, including biographical page, passport number, issue, and expiration date. 
3. Two photocopies of any stated documents for personal identification out of Driver’s license, PR card, senior citizen identification card, foreign identity documents, Health insurance, and age of majority card.  
4. Application fee receipt.
5. Language proficiency proof.
6. Two similar photos.

What are the steps involved in becoming a Canadian Citizen?

Another paramount question that comes to the minds of applicants is how to obtain Canadian citizenship. So, here we present the necessary instructions that one must follow to become a Canadian Citizen:

1. To commence, applicants must obtain and fill out appropriate citizenship application forms depending on their age and category. The distinguished types include packages for minors, adults, armed forces, and stateless persons. 
2. After this, applicants ought to pay fees which contain both the right of citizenship fee and processing fee. 
3. Next, the appropriate application must be completed and submitted to IRCC. In addition to this, the applicants are needed to provide a specific set of documents. 
4. Further, two notices are sent inviting the applicant to sit for a Citizenship test and an Interview after your application gets approved. You receive it after you receive an acknowledgment of the receipt letter. To become a Canadian Citizen, you must pass the test by at least answering 15 questions correctly out of 20 questions.
5. A basic understanding of relevant information regarding the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of Canada and Canadians is assessed. After the successful test and interview, attend Citizenship Ceremony and take the Oath of Citizenship. Following this, an Affirmation of Citizenship form is signed, followed by the singing of the National Anthem.  
6. Be familiar with recent immigration news as immigration laws and regulations of Canada keep evolving. 
7. Now, a notice is issued to the applicant mentioning the details of the citizenship ceremony. It requires them to attend the citizenship ceremony, take an oath and receive a certificate of Canadian citizenship. 
8. Lastly, apply for a valid Canadian passport to ensure your entry into Canada. 

Tips to improve your Canadian application

Want to boost your citizenship application, then follow these six valuable suggestions for seamless immigration to your dream country:

1. A physical presence in Canada for more than 1095 days after gaining permanent residency will increase your success rate. To strengthen your case, maintain a travelogue that comes in handy to determine the exact time spent in Canada.
2. Enhance your profile through a valid job offer, as you will be considered a potential asset to the growth of the Canadian economy. 
3. Biometrics is an essential step as it eases access to Canadian citizenship. It will determine your criminal records and prior immigration breaches, if any. Therefore, the laws of the land must be abided in every sphere of life. 
4. A benchmark measures your ability to communicate in either English or French through your engagement with immigration authorities, proof of language skills, and basic proficiency in grammar. 
5. Your profile visibility can increase if you establish that no outstanding tax records are available on your records.

What are the Benefits of applying for Canadian citizenship?

Canadian citizenship brings various advantages that are not available to permanent residents. So, here are the five guaranteed benefits you should make the most of it!

1. Citizens became eligible to vote in national and provincial elections, and they could also preside over the political office and represent their respective constituencies. 
2. Citizenship comes with a Canadian passport which is a true blessing as it provides access to certain countries without a visa for authorized purposes. 
3. There are no immigration repercussions, such as losing citizenship, as Canadian law does not oblige you to abide by residency requirements. There are only specific reasons for revoking citizenship, such as citizenship obtained by fraud or false representation and infringement of international rights. 
4. Citizenship certificates are valid for an indefinite period. There is no obligation to renew them as compared to PR Cards.
5. Access to specified government jobs and specific other opportunities related to security clearances is widened as they are only available for Canadian citizens. 

What are the types of Citizenship in Canada?

Canadian citizenship is entrusted in three ways:

1. By Birth- As the name suggests, citizenship is granted when the person is born in Canada or has at least one Canadian parent, except if they were born to foreign diplomats. For people born outside Canada, the condition is that at least one of their parents must be a first-generation Canadian.
2. By Naturalization- It is granted when an immigrant is eligible to become a Canadian citizen after fulfilling the requirements like being a permanent resident, living in Canada for at least three out of five years, and other requirements outlined above. Children below 18 years can receive naturalized citizenship only after their parents become Canadians. They are also entitled to benefit from certain access privileges. 
3. By Investment- To attract foreign investment in Canada, the Canadian government offers foreigners the chance to gain citizenship by investing 1,20,000 dollars with a retention time of 5 years. Before applying for citizenship, the foreigner must first apply for permanent residence and live in Canada for three years, spending at least 183 days there. Citizenship through investment in Canada is available in Quebec, but it has been frozen until 2023. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a non-routine citizenship application?

An application is regarded as non-routine in various cases. For example, if you do not fulfill language requirements, fail to appear for interviews or hearings, have a non-clearance of the Citizenship test, request to change personal information, and submit extra documents such as fingerprints & residence documents.  

Will I lose Canadian citizenship if I’m also a citizen of another Country?

No. As Canadian law allows dual citizenship, you can maintain the nationality of another country. However, one must consult the embassy of another country to know about their citizenship rules because some countries don’t recognize dual citizenship.  

What is the processing time for Canadian citizenship?

Processing time is based on the nature of the application: routine or non-routine. It usually takes around 26 months to process a routine Canadian Citizenship application after receiving the completed application. However, it may take longer processing time for non-routine ones. 

What if I fail the Canadian Citizenship test?

If you were unsuccessful for the first time, you have the option to sit for another test in 4-8 weeks. But, you have a right to appear for a hearing before a citizenship official in case you fail again. During the hearing, it is ensured that the applicant meets all the requirements for Canadian citizenship. 

What is the processing fee for Canadian citizenship?

The varied cost involved in becoming a Canadian Citizen is-

1. Minors- Processing fee is $100
2. Adults- $630 in total, $100 as citizenship fee and remaining $530 as processing fee
3. Stateless adults- Citizenship fee of $100 
4. To get a Citizenship Certificate- $75 per applicant. 

Do I need an immigration consultant if I’m applying for Canadian citizenship?

No, you don’t need a Canadian immigration consultant, but hiring an immigration consultant certainly will help you navigate the complex immigration process more quickly and easily. 

If you are looking to hire an experienced immigration consultant, reach out to Northern Connections Canada Immigration, where you’ll get experienced advice from a licensed immigration specialist and complete handholding throughout the citizenship application process.

Conclusion 

Before moving permanently to Canada, it’s necessary to understand what the entire process of becoming a Canadian citizen entails – along with the rights and responsibilities of being a Canadian citizen, including types of Canadian citizenship and eligibility requirements. If you are ready to roll but stuck with complex procedures, give us a call for a consultation, and we’ll help you figure it all out with our regulated Canadian immigration consultant.

Book a free online inquiry today to know about your prospects of becoming a Canadian Citizen so that you can consider undertaking immigration services from top-rated immigration legal representatives. 

Please call us at 306-351-5595 for immediate assistance and to resolve any questions you have about our immigration legal services. 

We hope you found all the answers you need to take the next big step to follow your Canadian dream. 

The Team at Northern Connections Canada