Guiding permanent residents toward Canadian citizenship with clarity, confidence, and trusted support.
All individuals planning to relocate to Canada have several options available. Whether you are coming to Canada to study, visit, or work, there are multiple ways to achieve your immigration goals. Many foreign nationals choose to settle in Canada permanently and, over time, apply for Canadian citizenship.
Canadian citizenship helps permanent residents fulfill their goal of remaining in Canada as citizens for the rest of their lives. Eligible permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship once they meet the required conditions.
You may not be eligible for Canadian citizenship if certain conditions apply to your situation. Once you meet the required criteria, you must submit a Canadian citizenship application.
A Canadian citizenship application is subject to several conditions. These requirements were amended in October 2017 to provide greater flexibility, whether the applicant is an adult or a minor, and regardless of recognition status.
To become a Canadian citizen, a person must first be admitted to Canada as a permanent resident and must have lived in Canada for several years. The rights of individuals in Canada are protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Once your Canadian citizenship application has been approved for processing, you may be required to take a citizenship test. The purpose of the test is to assess your knowledge of Canada.
The test consists of 20 questions and lasts 30 minutes. It can be taken in English or French and includes multiple-choice and true/false questions. In special cases, the test may be conducted orally.
You will be invited to take the test after receiving confirmation that your completed application has started processing. A specific date and time will be assigned.
If you are unable to attend the scheduled test, you must write to the government and explain the reason. If you do not provide a valid reason, your application may be closed.
If you request a new date with a valid reason, you will be given another date and time.
Citizenship testing has resumed after being paused during COVID-19. IRCC now allows applicants to take the citizenship test online.
After completing the test, you will attend an interview. Your test results will be provided before the interview. During the interview, the officer will review:
Language ability
Application and supporting documents
Compliance with citizenship requirements
If you pass the test, you will be offered a date for the citizenship ceremony.
If you fail the test the first time but meet other requirements, you will be given another opportunity. If you fail the second attempt, you will have another interview. If you fail after three attempts, your application will be refused.
The final step in the citizenship process is taking the Oath of Citizenship. You are usually informed of the ceremony date about two weeks in advance.
If you cannot attend, you must notify the authorities so another date can be arranged. Citizenship ceremonies are held throughout the year across Canada, with special ceremonies during Citizenship Week and Canada Day.
Regardless of age, anyone applying for Canadian citizenship must hold a Permanent Resident (PR) Card. Before applying, you should review the documents received when you became a permanent resident to confirm your eligibility.
Find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Canadian citizenship, eligibility, processing time, and citizenship rules.
No. Marrying a Canadian citizen does not automatically grant Canadian citizenship. You must first qualify for permanent residence and then meet all citizenship eligibility requirements before applying.
Yes. Canada allows dual citizenship, meaning you may hold Canadian citizenship along with citizenship of another country, provided the other country also permits dual citizenship.
Yes. Regardless of age, anyone applying for Canadian citizenship must hold a valid Permanent Resident (PR) card at the time of application.
If you do not pass the test on your first attempt but meet other requirements, you will be given another chance. If you fail multiple times, additional interviews may be conducted, and the application may be refused after three unsuccessful attempts.
If you are a permanent resident and ready to take the next step, our experts can guide you through the Canadian citizenship process and help ensure your application is accurate and complete.
