Requirements to Become a Canadian Citizen
Canada welcomes tens of thousands of newcomers every year. Many of these foreigners who come to Canada either to work or join their families have decided to become Canadian citizens. According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), about 170,000 foreigners become citizens of Canada every year. While a person automatically becomes a citizen of Canada if born in the country, those who came to Canada as immigrants have to apply to become a citizen. The CIC enumerates the requirements in applying for citizenship.
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Age
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To apply for Canadian citizenship, an individual must be at least 18 years old. If a person is under 18, his parent or legal guardian must apply on his behalf. The parent who is applying for the child must already be a Canadian citizen or is also applying to become a citizen.
Permanent Residency
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The applicant must be a permanent resident in Canada and must have lived in the country for at least three years or 1,095 days in the last four years. A permanent resident below 18 years old does not have to meet the three-year residency requirement. An applicant can use the residence calculator to find out if she meets the required years of stay in Canada (see Resources).
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Language
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Canada requires adequate knowledge of either French or English--the two official languages of Canada. The CIC staff will determine the applicant’s ability in either language through the citizenship test and during his interaction with the immigration official on the day of the test. (Reference 4).
Criminal Records
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An applicant cannot become a citizen if she has been convicted of a criminal offense or if she has violated the Citizenship Act in the last three years before her application. She is also barred from becoming citizen if she is in prison, on parole, on probation or has been ordered by Canadian authorities to leave the country. An individual who is under investigation or has been charged or convicted of a war crime or a crime against humanity, is not eligible. A person who has been stripped of his Canadian citizenship in the past five years is also not qualified.
Documentation
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The applicant must complete the application form which can be downloaded from the CIC website. The other required documents include the Canadian immigration record, two pieces of personal identification and two photos. The applicant must submit his completed application with the fee, to the processing center in Nova Scotia. A parent applying for his child must put “Sydney-Grant Minors” in the address (see Resources).
Knowledge of Canada
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An applicant must know her rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen, as well as the country’s history, values and institutions. After the receiving the application, the CIC will inform the applicant of the test date and will mail her a study guide about Canada. Only applicants between the ages of 18 and 54 are required to take the test. (References 1 and 4)
Oath of Citizenship
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If the applicant passes the test and meets all the requirements, the CIC will inform him the date and venue of the citizenship ceremony where he will take his oath of citizenship. (Reference 4)
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References
Resources
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