Canadian Citizenship- Resource

What are the advantages of a Canadian Citizenship?

Permanent residents may apply for Canadian citizenship after approximately 3 years in Canada (conditions apply, see below).

The primary benefits of Canadian citizenship over and above the PR benefits are:

  • You continue to get social benefits.
  • You can vote
  • You can run for office in municipal, provincial, or federal elections.
  • You can apply for a Canadian passport, one of the most valuable ones in the world.
  • You can live anywhere without losing citizenship.
  • Your kids, born anywhere in the world, will be Canadian.

How does a Canadian passport compare to my passport from back home? 

According to the according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index, holders of a Canadian passport can visit 185 countries and territories visa-free or with visa on arrival. This earns Canada  a rank of 6 in terms of travel freedom ( Tied with the Belgian, Irish and Swiss passports).

 

How do I become a citizen of Canada?

To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, the applicant must

  • be a permanent resident
  • have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years
    • Adults and some minors must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1095 days during the five years immediately before the date you sign your application.
  • have filed your taxes, if you need to
  • show how well you know Canada
    • If you’re 18 to 54 years of age on the day you sign your application, you need to take the citizenship test
    • Download and study this guide that contains everything you need to know about Canada
  • prove your language skills
    • You need to meet the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level 4 or higher in English or French

Do I become a Canadian citizen when I marry a Canadian?

  • No. Marrying a Canadian citizen doesn’t give you citizenship.
  • If you want to become a Canadian citizen, you must follow the same steps as everyone else. There isn’t a special process for spouses of Canadian citizens.

 

*All information is current as on the date of posting and is intended as a general guide for general knowledge. Please click here for the latest criteria as per the government of Canada.