What are the requirements for becoming a Canadian citizen?
To become a Canadian citizen, you must
be a permanent resident
have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years
have filed your taxes, if you need to
pass a test on your rights, responsibilities and knowledge of Canada
prove your language skills
Depending on your situation, there may be additional requirements.
Application for Canadian Citizenship: Adults – Subsection 5(1) CIT 0002
Applications received at our Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Sydney, NS March 1, 2021 or later must use forms from October 2020 or later (indicated on the lower left corner of the form). Application forms that are not up-to-date will be returned as incomplete. IRCC does not consider the date of signatures or mailing to be deciding factors.
Eligibility
This form for an application under subsection 5(1) is intended primarily for permanent residents aged 18 and over who want to apply for Canadian citizenship.
To be eligible for Canadian citizenship, you:
must be 18 years of age or older on the day you sign the application
must be a permanent resident (landed immigrant) of Canada
must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the 5 years immediately before you apply
Note： You (and some minors, if applicable) must have been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years before the date you sign your application. We encourage you to apply with more than 1,095 days of living in Canada in case there’s a problem with the calculation.
Note： Record your trips outside Canada
As a temporary or permanent resident, it’s a good idea to write down your trips outside Canada by air, land or boat, including day trips to the United States. You’ll need this information when you apply for a new Permanent Residence card and when you apply for citizenship.
The travel journal is an easy way to record trips outside Canada. Keep it with your passport or other travel documents. This is not an official document and we don’t need to see it. It’s just to help you remember your trips. You won’t need to send it to us with your application.
In Canada, your tax obligations depend on your residency status. Knowing your residency status will help you understand if you need to do your taxes and when you could start getting benefit and credit payments, including any related provincial and territorial payments.
You become a resident of Canada for income tax purposes when you have enough residential ties in Canada. For most newcomers, this starts the first day you live in Canada.
As a resident of Canada, you and your family can start getting benefit and credit payments like the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) credit, even before you do your taxes for the first time.
Your residency status in Canada may change from year to year. It can depend on the length and reason for your stay, if you leave temporarily or permanently, or if you live outside of Canada for part of the year.
It’s important to keep the CRA up to date on your residency status to make sure you get the right benefit and credit payments you’re eligible for.
What residential ties are
The most important factor to determine your residency status in Canada is whether you have established and maintain significant residential ties with Canada.
