7 STEPS OF CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP TEST
Explore the 7-step guide to Canadian citizenship: from eligibility to application submission. Simplified steps for a smooth citizenship journey
STEP: 1 IS IT ELIGIBLE FOR ME TO APPLY?
Be over the age of 18 in order to apply for Canadian citizenship.
Evidence demonstrating your proficiency in either English or French, one of Canada’s official languages;
Be a resident indefinitely;
Be physically present in Canada for three of the five most recent years (1,095 days) before the application deadline;
Have paid any income taxes you may owe and have filed your taxes for at least three of the previous five years.
If you are under 18, your parent or legal guardian must submit an application on your behalf when they do so for themselves.
If you are over 18 and are a parent, you may submit your application for citizenship along with that of your children.
You might be qualified for a fast-track application process if you are or have ever been a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.
STEP: 2 VERIFY YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH OR FRENCH
You will need to submit one of these types of documents to prove your proficiency in either English or French when you apply for Canadian citizenship.
Results of tests conducted by a third party that are at least CLB/NCLC 4 (speaking and listening). You must re-submit copies of these if you previously submitted them with your application for the Canadian Experience Class or the Skilled Worker Program.
a transcript, diploma, or certificate from a secondary or post-secondary program in English or French.
Evidence that you passed a level CLB/NCLC 4 speaking and listening course in an Ontario, Manitoba, or British Columbia LINC, CLIC course, or from a provincially-funded language training program.
If you cannot provide any of the aforementioned language proof because you are deaf, you must submit:
a report on hearing from a Canadian audiologist.
a letter from the same audiologist confirming your deafness and describing your severe to profound hearing loss, along with a description of how it affects your capacity for listening and/or speaking.
You can ask in writing to have the language requirements waived if you have a cognitive impairment that makes it impossible for you to provide documentation of your language proficiency. Your request must be supported by a medical opinion and an explanation of your disability.
STEP: 3 MAKE SURE YOU CAN SHOW THAT YOU MEET THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS.
You must have been a permanent resident of Canada for at least three of the five years immediately preceding the application date in order to be eligible to apply for citizenship.
In order to include your Residence Calculator results in your citizenship application, you will need a copy of them. It can be used to determine whether you have lived in Canada long enough to be eligible to apply for citizenship.
STEP: 4 SAVE AND COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM
You will need to download and complete the application form in order to apply for citizenship.
Before sending, make sure your application is complete. Your application will be returned to you if it is not complete. Because you will need to submit your application again, this will cause the citizenship process to be delayed. This can be avoided by:
Completing the application form completely. If the question doesn’t apply to you, type “n/a.”
applying with a signature
sending the proper payment
attaching certified citizenship photos along with all necessary translations and supporting documentation (if necessary)
STEP: 5 SUBMIT ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
You must submit the following supporting documents with your application:
two official passport photos.
a duplicate of your immigration documents (such as your PR card or Record of Landing)
Language evidence
a page in your passport or other travel documents that contains your bio (valid and cancelled, for the last 5 years).
authorized school records
a driver’s license and a health card are examples of two forms of photo identification.
receipt for payment
Further documents (e.g. translated documents)
a copy of the outcomes from the residence calculator
STEP: 6 APPLICATION FEE MUST BE PAID.
You must pay the application fees once you have completed the citizenship application. You must print out your payment receipt and attach it to your application.
Fees for applications are:
Each adult application will cost $630. (18 years old and older)
Processing fees are $530 and citizenship fees are $100.
Each minor application will cost $100. (less than 18 years old)
($100) processing fee
STEP: 7 POSTPONE YOUR APPLICATION
You must mail your application to the following address once it is finished:
Regular Mail:
Case Processing Centre-Sydney, Sydney, Nova Scotia, P.O. Box 7000
B1P 6V6
Send a message to this courier at:
Case Processing Center-Sydney 49 Dorchester Street Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 5Z2
STEP: 8 SCHEDULE YOUR RESIDENCE QUESTIONNAIRE AND PREPARE
Following the submission of your citizenship application, you might be required to complete a residence survey (RQ). Not everyone is requested to complete an RQ. The RQ aids IRCC in determining whether or not you spent three of the five years prior to applying for citizenship in Canada.
You will be required to submit documentation proving that you met the residency requirements if you are asked to complete an RQ. These records could be things like bills, school records, leases, pay stubs, travel documents, and so forth. By gathering as much information as you can about your visit to Canada, you can get ready for this in advance.