How to become Canadian Citizen?
Who can become a Canadian citizen?
š You must be 18 years of age or older to apply to become a Canadian citizen.
š You must be a permanent resident.
š You must be in Canada legally as a permanent resident.
You must have lived in Canada for at least three years.
You must have lived in Canada for at least three years out of the four years immediately preceding your application for citizenship. For example, if you applied for citizenship on June 1, 2004, we will count back to June 1, 2000. The time you lived in Canada AFTER you became a permanent resident counts as full time. The time you lived in Canada BEFORE you became a permanent resident counts as half time only if it falls within these four years. If you came to Canada on a visa (for example, a student or a work visa) before becoming a permanent resident, you should contact the CIC Call Centre to find out when you can apply for citizenship.
You must know English or French.
English and French are the official languages of Canada. You must know enough of either language to understand other people and for them to understand you. You need to be able to speak English or French well enough to communicate with people.
You must learn about Canada.
You must know the rights and responsibilities of Canadians, such as the right to vote. You must also know some things about Canada’s history and geography, and our political system. When Citizenship Canada receives your application, you will be sent an acknowledgment letter as well as a copy of a free publication called “A Look at Canada”. You will have to answer questions on the information in this publication when you go for your citizenship test.
Applying for children
If you are the parent of a child who is under 18 years of age, you may apply for your child’s citizenship as soon as the child receives permanent resident status. Children do not need to have lived in Canada for three years to become citizens. To apply for your child, you must already be a Canadian citizen yourself or you must be applying to become a citizen at the same time.
This manual explains
š who can become a Canadian citizen (see front page)
š who cannot become a Canadian citizen;
š how you can apply to become a Canadian citizen; and
š other information you may need to know.
Who cannot become a Canadian citizen?
You cannot become a Canadian citizen if
š you are in prison, on parole or on probation;
š in the past four years, you were in prison, on parole or on probation for a year or more;
š you were convicted of an indictable offence or crime, or an offence under the Citizenship Act in the three years preceding your application;
š you are currently charged with an indictable offence or crime, or an offence under the Citizenship Act;
š you are under a removal order and are not currently allowed to be in Canada;
š you are under investigation for a war crime or a crime against humanity; or
š your Canadian citizenship has been taken away (revoked) in the past five years.
The above list is a guide to prohibitions (that is, factors that could prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen). The application form contains questions on these prohibitions, and the Citizenship Act states that you must answer them truthfully when you apply for citizenship. Citizenship Canada will check with the police to see if you have a criminal record that would prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen. Your immigration records also will be checked to make sure that you are in Canada legally. If you think you may not qualify because you have been charged with a crime or you have a criminal record, or if you need more information on this subject, please contact the CIC Call Centre.
How can you apply to become a Canadian citizen?
To apply to become a Canadian citizen, you must follow the six steps below.
1. Make sure you have the right application form.
To apply for citizenship as an adult, you must complete the “Application for Canadian Citizenship under Subsection 5(1) – Adults” form. If you are applying for children, you need a separate form for each child. The child’s form is called “Application for Canadian Citizenship under Paragraph 5(2)(a) – Minors.”
These forms are included with this Manual.
2. Read the guide Application for Canadian Citizenship before you fill out the form.
Please read the instructions contained in the guide carefully before completing the citizenship application form. The fee for processing your form and your children’s forms is not refundable, so make sure you are ready to become a citizen before applying.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
The application form comes with instructions. Read the instructions, complete the form and attach photocopies of your documents. You may have to show the original documents at the time of your test, so remember to bring them with you.
These are the documents you need to include with your adult application:
š A photocopy of your Canadian immigration document called the Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or your permanent resident card.
š A photocopy of two pieces of identification, such as your driver’s licence or your health insurance card.
š Two colour or black-and-white photographs of yourself that were taken in the past year. The application form for citizenship comes with instructions on the type of photographs you need. Take these instructions to the photographer and tell the photographer that you want “citizenship photographs.” The photographs must be stamped on the back with the photographer’s name and address and the date the photographs were taken. You cannot wear a head covering when this photograph is taken unless you need to because of your religion. You must sign the bottom of the photographs on the white strip under the picture. Make sure you sign your usual signature. Check the application form for more important information about the photographs. Children who are 14 or older must also sign their photographs.
š A non-refundable processing fee and a refundable Right of Citizenship fee must be paid at the time of application. The fees can be paid at most financial institutions in Canada and the original receipt form (IMM 5401) must be submitted with the application. An original receipt form can be obtained by using the on-line order form on the CIC Web site or by contacting the Call Centre. You may also use CIC on-line services to pay the citizenship fees and to print an official receipt form.
If you are applying for a child, you must include a copy of a legal document (for example, the child’s birth certificate or legal adoption papers) that shows the names of the parents, or a passport listing the children. You will also need to submit the child’s immigration papers, two pieces of identification, photographs and the fee.
If your documents are not in English or French, you must provide the original document, a translation of it and an affidavit from the person who completed the translation. Translations by family members are not acceptable.
4. Mail the form and documents to the Case Processing Centre.
After you have completed the application form, you must mail it in the pre-addressed envelope to:
Case Processing Centre
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
P.O. Box 7000
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6V6
Remember to:
sign and date the form and sign your photographs; include the receipt of payment (form IMM 5401);
include your application;
include your photographs; and
include photocopies of all your documents.
If you have printed the application form from the Web site, you will have to provide your own envelope to send the documents to the Case Processing Centre.
If you are applying for more than one person, you should submit all the forms and documents in the same envelope. You may also provide a receipt for the entire family.
5. Get ready for the test.
You will receive the publication A Look at Canada after Citizenship Canada receives your application form. You should begin to study as soon as you receive it to prepare for your citizenship test. You may also want to go to a citizenship class if one is being held near you.
If you meet the basic requirements for citizenship and are between the ages of 18 and 54, you will be scheduled for the test. We will send you a “Notice to Appear for a Citizenship Test” telling you the date and time when you will be given your test. You may be given a written test or, in some circumstances, an interview. The citizenship test will determine if you can speak English or French well enough to become a Canadian citizen. It is also used to test your knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. If you are 55 or older, you do not have to write the test.
You may be scheduled to appear for an interview with a citizenship judge.
6. Take the oath of citizenship.
If you meet all the requirements to become a Canadian citizen, we will send you a “Notice to Appear to Take the Oath of Citizenship” telling you when and where your citizenship ceremony will take place. At the ceremony, you may either swear on a holy book or affirm the “oath of citizenship.” Swearing accommodates those who wish to refer to their religious beliefs, while the affirmation is intended to accommodate those who do not wish to use a holy book during the ceremony. If you wish to swear the oath of citizenship on your holy book, please bring it with you to the ceremony.
Once you have taken the oath of citizenship at a ceremony, you will be a Canadian citizen. You will receive your certificate of citizenship at the ceremony. The certificate is a small card that you can use to prove that you are a Canadian citizen. You will also be given a commemorative document that shows the date when you became a Canadian. You should keep these documents in a safe place.
Other questions
You will be sent notices in the mail for your citizenship test and the citizenship ceremony. If Citizenship Canada does not hear from you after that, or if you do not appear for your citizenship test or ceremony, your file will be closed. You will have to fill in another application form and pay the fee to go through the process again.
What should I do if I move after I apply for citizenship?
You can change your address on-line at www.cic.gc.ca or you can contact the Call Centre). When changing your address, be sure to tell Citizenship Canada both your old address and your new one.
How much does it cost to become a Canadian citizen?
The fee for adults is $200. For children under 18, it is $100.
What if my application is turned down?
If you do not meet all the requirements for becoming a Canadian citizen, you will receive a letter explaining why you cannot become a citizen right now and what your next step should be.
Will I get my money back if I am turned down for citizenship?
Part of the fee for an adult application is for the right of citizenship. If you are not granted citizenship, you will receive a refund of $100.
A child cannot become a citizen unless one of the parents is already a citizen or becomes one. The child’s fee is not refundable. Before you apply for your child, make sure you are ready to become a citizen.
Do children have to write a test?
No. Only people between the ages of 18 and 54 have to write the citizenship test. If you are 55 or older, you do not have to write the test. However, children who are 14 and older must take the oath of citizenship, and they will be invited to the citizenship ceremony.
Can I apply for a child if I am not the natural parent?
If you have adopted a child, you may apply for the child’s citizenship when you apply for yourself or any time after you become a citizen. If you are a legal guardian, the natural or adoptive parent must already be a Canadian citizen before you can apply for the child.
I am still a citizen of another country. Will I lose that citizenship if I become a Canadian?
Under Canadian law, a Canadian is allowed to be a citizen of another country as well. Some countries, however, will not let you keep their citizenship if you become a Canadian citizen. The consulate or embassy of your country can let you know if this applies to you.
Could I be a Canadian citizen and not know it?
In general, if you were born in Canada, you are a Canadian citizen. You are also a Canadian if you were born in another country after February 14, 1977, and one of your parents was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth.
If you were born in another country after February 14, 1977, to a Canadian parent who was also born in another country to a Canadian parent, you may need to take steps to retain your citizenship. If you think this applies to you and you need more information, contact the Call Centre.
You may be a Canadian if you were born in another country before February 15, 1977, and one of your parents was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth. If you think this applies to you and you need more information, contact the Call Centre.
You may obtain information on CIC’s programs and services by consulting the Department’s Web site at www.cic.gc.ca.
Call Centre
The CIC Call Centre has an automated voice response system that can provide you with answers to general citizenship questions 24 hours a day. By using the touch-tone features on your telephone, you can even order an application. If you wish to speak to an agent, contact the Call Centre during normal business hours across Canada (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time) and press “0.”
For all areas within Canada: 1 888 242-2100 (toll-free).
If you are hearing impaired and you use a text telephone, you can access the TTY service at 1 888 576-8502 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time.
Dual Citizenship
What is meant by dual citizenship?
Every independent nation makes its own decision as to who its citizens will be. You possess dual or multiple citizenship when more than one country recognizes you as its citizen.
Unlike the law in effect in Canada up to 1977, the current Citizenship Act allows Canadian citizens to acquire a foreign nationality without automatically losing their Canadian citizenship. Since February 15, 1977, a Canadian citizen who acquires another nationality may retain Canadian citizenship, unless he or she voluntarily applies to renounce it and the application is approved by a citizenship judge. The current act thus makes it possible to have two or more citizenships and allegiances at the same time for an indefinite period.
Consequently, you may have the rights and obligations conferred by each of these countries on its citizens. Whenever you are in a country that recognizes you as a citizen, its laws take priority over the laws of any other country of which you may be a citizen. International treaties may, however, allow exceptions to this rule.
A person may have several citizenships at the same time. For example, a person who was born in a country other than Canada, who applies for citizenship and is naturalized in Canada, and then naturalized in a third country may be a citizen of all three countries. However, cases of dual citizenship are more common. Although this pamphlet deals primarily with dual citizenship, the information contained in it applies equally to people who are citizens of more than two countries. The terms “dual citizenship” and “dual nationality” are now used interchangeably.
How does dual citizenship occur?
If you, your parents, your grandparents and your spouse, if you are married, were all born in Canada, and you have not become the citizen of any other country, then you most likely possess only one citizenship: Canadian.
However, if one or more of these people were born outside Canada or acquired another citizenship, this might result in your having dual citizenship, depending on the laws of the countries concerned. For example, if you were born in Canada and one of your parents or your spouse was born outside Canada, you might be considered a citizen of your parents’ or your spouse’s former homeland, even if you never asked to be one. Dual citizenship occurs because citizenship can be obtained in more than one way: through country of birth, naturalization, parents, grandparents or, in rare cases, marriage.
Citizenship is a complex matter because of the great variety of citizenship laws throughout the world. Some countries allow dual citizenship while others take away the citizenship of a person who acquires another citizenship. Some do not recognize a person’s new citizenship. The laws that apply to your case are generally the ones in force at the time of the event that affects your citizenship (your birth or marriage, or your parents’ birth or marriage, for instance). This is why determining your present citizenship status can be a difficult and lengthy process.
Before the Citizenship Act of February 15, 1977, Canadian law limited dual citizenship. It also provided more ways to gain or lose citizenship than does our current law. Canadians who became citizens of another country before that date should check to see if they are still Canadians. Since that date, Canadian law, like the laws of several other countries, has allowed dual citizenship.
Are you a citizen of more than one country?
To find out whether you are or might become a dual citizen, you must contact the officials of each country in question. You will have to provide some information about yourself, such as the place and date of birth, the citizenship of your parents, and certain immigration details. You may also have to provide similar information about your parents, and possibly your spouse and grandparents.
Dual citizenship: An important issue
Dual citizenship may carry with it certain benefits, but it may also bring unexpected difficulties: legal proceedings, taxation and financial responsibilities, military service, denial of emigration, even imprisonment for failure to comply with obligations in one of your countries of citizenship. Accordingly, you should ask yourself the following questions:
Am I now a dual citizen?
Can I acquire dual citizenship, either by marriage or by naturalization in Canada or in another country?
Is dual citizenship an advantage or a disadvantage for me?
If dual citizenship is a disadvantage, what can I do about it?
Dual citizenship: Advantage or disadvantage?
Suppose you learn that you have, or a member of your family has, dual citizenship or that you might acquire it. Would dual citizenship be good for you? Would it have more advantages than disadvantages?
For some people, dual citizenship offers practical advantages (for example, social security or employment). It may also enhance the feeling of belonging because they have strong personal ties to more than one country.
However, it is important to realize that there can be difficulties and disadvantages as well. The following paragraphs suggest some of the consequences of having dual citizenship. In general, the laws that apply to you at any time are the laws of the country in which you are physically present at that time. The laws of a country may provide, for example, that people residing in the country of their second citizenship may travel only on the passport of their country of residence. Possession of a second passport could result in its being confiscated, or even in a fine.
If a Canadian has legal or other difficulties outside the country, Canadian diplomatic and consular representatives in that country can try to help. However, if the Canadian in difficulty in another country is also a citizen of that country, Canadian officials may be entirely unable to help. That country will be dealing with one of its own citizens and probably will not welcome “outside interference.” Indeed, foreign authorities will definitely consider you as one of their citizens, especially if you choose to travel under their passport.
Travelling with a Canadian passport and another country’s passport simultaneously might also lead to certain difficulties in a third country. Where permitted by the laws of the country in question, the Government of Canada encourages Canadians to use their Canadian passport when travelling abroad and to present themselves as Canadians to foreign authorities.
There may be laws in a country to which a foreign traveller is not subject, but which apply to you as a citizen of that country. For example, there may be restrictions on exit, compulsory military service, and special taxes or financial compensation for services received in the past, including educational costs. There might even be special circumstances that apply to you in particular. For example, friends or relatives may be affected by your visiting that country, or there may be legal proceedings pending against you that could begin again if you return.
You might be affected if the countries of which you are a citizen are involved in political upheavals or military conflicts.
Even while in Canada, you might be approached with demands that you fulfil certain obligations to another country of which you are legally a citizen.
These are some of the possible drawbacks to dual or multiple citizenship. They might not apply in your case, but it is important for you to be aware of them.
Avoid the hazards of dual citizenship
Suppose you are or might become a dual citizen, and you feel that this could present problems for you, your spouse or your children, or others. You can do a number of things about it.
Before applying for Canadian citizenship, you are advised to find out if you can retain your present citizenship, and if this might cause problems for you or others.
Next, find out if you can renounce the citizenship that you do not wish to retain, and whether renouncing that citizenship will remove the possible hazards. Citizenship cannot be renounced merely by making a personal declaration to this effect. You need to apply to the appropriate authorities of the country concerned and obtain formal approval.
If you are or will become a citizen of another country and you are living outside Canada, you may apply to renounce Canadian citizenship through any Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate outside Canada. Once you are no longer a Canadian citizen, however, you cannot travel on a Canadian passport or benefit from Canadian assistance outside Canada. Moreover, you cannot return to Canada as a permanent resident without going through immigration procedures.
Above all, avoid travelling to a country of which you are a citizen if it is likely to cause you difficulty.
Confirm your citizenship status
Citizenship laws are complicated. Do not assume that what applies to your friends and relatives will apply to you as well, even though your circumstances may be similar. Be certain about your own citizenship status. Seek information from the officials of every country of which you may be a citizen. Start with the Call Centre in Canada or a Canadian embassy or consulate outside Canada. Advice and guidance are free, and Canadian officials will be glad to give you information or tell you where it may be available.
If you wish to obtain a citizenship certificate to confirm your Canadian citizenship, you must make an application and pay the appropriate fees. For more information, see the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Call Centre number below. The automated voice response system will give you answers to general citizenship questions 24 hours a day. If you wish to speak to an agent, contact the Call Centre during the normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. across Canada and press “0.”
