To be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship, you must:
- Be a permanent resident of Canada
- Have lived in Canada for at least 3 years (1,095 days)
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be able to communicate in English or French (age 18-54)
- Have knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship (age 18-54)
- Have filed your taxes for at least 3 years
- Not be under a removal order
- Not be convicted of an indictable offense or have a criminal record
There are other requirements for a minor, an adopted child born outside of Canada, or a past Canadian citizen who wants to regain Canadian citizenship.
Permanent Resident Status Requirement
You must be a permanent resident of Canada to apply for Canadian citizenship, and you must not:
- Be under review for immigration or fraud reasons
- Be under a removal order
- Have unfilled conditions related to your PR status, such as medical screening
You do not need to have a valid Permanent Residence (PR) card at the time of your application, you can apply even if your PR card has expired.
Physical Presence Requirement
To meet the physical presence requirement, you must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the five years before you apply. This means you must have been in Canada for at least three years (1,095 days) out of the last five years.
If you are a temporary resident or protected person, you may be able to include the time you spent in Canada before you got your permanent resident status.
To calculate your total days of physical presence in Canada, include:
- The days you were in Canada before you got your permanent resident status if you are a temporary resident or protected person (each day counts as half a day. You may only use up to 365 days)
- The days you were in Canada after you got your permanent resident status
- The days you were outside Canada if you meet certain conditions
- The days you spent in full-time study or full-time training if you meet certain conditions
- The days you spent working full time on a valid work permit if you meet certain conditions
If you cannot meet the physical presence requirement, you might still be eligible to apply for citizenship under the exceptional circumstances provision.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recommends that you submit your Canadian citizenship application with over 1,095 days of living in Canada.
