Canada and Dual Citizenship

If you are a citizen of a different country, you can still obtain Canadian Citizenship. Every country decides whom it considers to be a citizen. If more than one country recognizes you as a citizen, you have dual citizenship.

As a Canadian citizen, you are allowed to take foreign citizenship while keeping your Canadian citizenship.

Before you apply for your Canadian citizenship, ask the embassy in the country of your citizenship about its rules before applying for Canadian citizenship. Some countries do not allow you
to have dual citizenship. By being granted Canadian Citizenship, you might lose your other citizenship.

Marrying a Canadian Does NOT Make You a Canadian Citizen

Marriage to a Canadian citizen does not give you citizenship. You must first apply for and get permanent resident status. Then you must apply for Canadian citizenship and meet the same requirements as any other person seeking Canadian citizenship.

Adequate Knowledge of English or French

Having adequate knowledge of either English or French is a must now to becoming a Canadian citizen. “Adequate knowledge” basically means that you have the equivalent of level 4 for speaking and listening in the Canadian Language Benchmarks or Niveaux de compétence linguistique Canadian. This level means you can understand other people when they speak to you, and they can understand you.

You can send a number of different documents to show that you have achieved CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in speaking and listening in English or French. For example:

• the results of a CIC-approved third-party test, or
• evidence of completion of secondary or post-secondary education in English or French, in Canada or abroad, or
• evidence from certain government-funded language training programs.

Did You Fail Your Citizenship Test?

If you do not pass the written test, you will be scheduled for a second test. If you do not pass the second test, you will be sent a notice telling you to appear for an interview with a citizenship judge. This will be an oral interview. During the oral interview, the judge may:

• test your knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship,
• ask questions about your residency in Canada and/or
• assess if you have adequate knowledge of English or French.

If you are asked to attend an interview but applied for citizenship with your family by sending your applications in the same envelope, your application will be processed separately from your family’s unless you want them to be processed together. Meaning it is possible for some members of your family to successfully have completed the Citizenship requirements, whereas others might need to meet the judge for the oral interview.