Canadian Citizenship

Applying for Citizenship in Canada is the last step in Canadian Immigration. This means that you have met your residency obligations and can join the millions of Canadians who benefit from living in one of the greatest countries in the world.

There are a number of different types of Citizenship applications. You will need to find the one that applies to you.

Applying for Grant of Citizenship

This application is for those who obtained their Permanent Resident status in Canada through previous applications and have met the residency obligation to apply. There are six areas where you must qualify for Canadian Citizenship:

• age,
• permanent resident status,
• time you have lived in Canada,
• language ability,
• criminal history and
• how well you know Canada.

Proof of Citizenship

You may already be a Canadian Citizen and not even know it. If you were born to parents and at least one of them is Canadian Citizens, you may qualify for Naturalization. This means that you are already a Canadian Citizen based on the fact that one of your birth parents are. In this case, a Grant of Citizenship is not required as you can apply directly for your status.

You might need proof of Canadian citizenship to:

• vote,
• get a passport,
• get a driver’s licence or other identity card,
• get a job,
• get government services, such as health care or a pension, or
• get a Social Insurance Number so you can work.

Resume Citizenship

For those who have lost their Citizenship Status or gave it up, you may be eligible to obtain this again. In order to be eligible, you must:

• have been a Canadian citizen;
• have become a permanent resident of Canada after you lost your Canadian citizenship; and
• have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for at least one year immediately before you apply.

You must not:

• have had your Canadian citizenship taken away (revoked);
• have been convicted of an indictable (criminal) offence or an offence under the Citizenship Act in the three years before you apply;
• be currently charged with an indictable offence or an offence under the Citizenship Act;
• be in prison, on parole or on probation;
• be under a removal order (an order from Canadian officials to leave Canada); or
• be under investigation for, be charged with or have been convicted of a war crime or a crime against humanity.

You may already be a citizen if…

• you were born in Canada,
• you were naturalized (you immigrated to Canada and later got citizenship) in Canada or
• you were born outside Canada after April 17, 2009, but one parent was born in Canada or naturalized in Canada.

You may not be a citizen if…

• you marry a Canadian citizen,
• you are adopted by a Canadian citizen,
• your refugee claim is accepted,
• you have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for many years,
• you renounced your citizenship and never applied to get it back
• you were born outside Canada on or after April 17, 2009, and one or both of your parents was a Canadian citizen, but neither of them was born or naturalized in Canada, or
• the Government of Canada took away (revoked) your citizenship.