Apply for citizenship: Who can apply

Eligibility

Check your eligibility

Answer some questions to help you find out if you’re ready to apply for citizenship.

These questions are only for adults (age 18 and over) who want to apply for citizenship.

Check your eligibility

There are additional or different requirements if you are:

Spouses of Canadian citizens

You don’t automatically become a citizen when you marry a Canadian.

If you’re the spouse of a Canadian citizen, you must meet the same requirements listed above (no exception).

Children and grandchildren of Canadian citizens

If you have a Canadian parent or grandparent, you may be a Canadian citizen.

Permanent resident status

Regardless of your age, if you’re applying for citizenship, you must have permanent resident (PR) status in Canada.

This means you must not:

Before applying for citizenship, you should review the documents you received when you became a permanent resident to make sure you’re eligible.

You don’t need a valid PR card to apply for citizenship. You can apply with an expired PR card.

Time you’ve lived in Canada (physical presence)

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.

In your calculation, you may be able to include some of the time you spent

Find out how to calculate your physical presence

Filing income tax

You may need to file taxes in Canada for at least 3 years during the 5 years right before the date you apply.

Find out if you need to file your taxes

Language skills

If you’re between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your application, you must show that you have an adequate knowledge of English or French. This means you can

These speaking and listening skills are equivalent to level 4 of the

We measure your language skills by

We accept various certificates, diplomas and tests as proof of your language skills.

Get a language accommodation or waiver (exemption)

You may be in a situation where you need

  • help with the language requirement (accommodation) or
  • an exemption from it (waiver)

Accommodation

If you need help with the language requirement, you can request an accommodation.  For example, you can get sign language interpretation when we assess your language skills at a language hearing. 

Learn more about accommodations

Waiver (exemption)

If your situation prevents you from proving your language skills, you can request a waiver (exemption) instead.

  • Your situation must meet the waiver criteria.
  • If we approve your waiver request, you don’t need to prove your language skills.

Learn more about waivers

Check the language proof we accept

Pass a citizenship test

If you’re between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your application, you must take the citizenship test.

The test will ask questions about

We’ll invite you to the test after you submit your application.

Get a test accommodation or waiver (exemption)

You may be in a situation where you need

  • help with the test (accommodation) or
  • an exemption from taking it (waiver)

Accommodation

If you need help with the test, you can request an accommodation. For example, we can

  • provide a Braille, large-print or oral version of the test
  • give you extra time to complete the test
  • arrange to have you take the test in person (if you can’t take test online due to poor Internet connection)

Learn more about accommodations

Waiver (exemption)

If your situation prevents you from taking the test, you can request a waiver (exemption) instead.

  • Your situation must meet the waiver criteria.
  • If we approve your waiver request, you don’t need to take the test.

Learn more about the waiver  

Learn more about the citizenship test

Take the oath of citizenship

You must take the oath of citizenship if

Get an oath accommodation or waiver (exemption)

You may be in a situation where you need

  • help with the oath (accommodation) or
  • an exemption from taking it (waiver)

Accommodation

If you need help with the oath of citizenship, you can request an accommodation. For example, you can get sign language interpretation when you take the oath.

Learn more about accommodations

Waiver (exemption)

We’ll give a waiver only if a mental disability (like an intellectual or a developmental disability) prevents someone from understanding the oath.

  • For example, they don’t understand that taking the oath makes them a Canadian citizen.
  • If we approve the waiver request, the applicant doesn’t need to take the oath of citizenship.

Learn more about waivers  

Learn more about taking the oath of citizenship

Prohibitions

If you committed a crime in or outside Canada

Find out about situations that may prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen:

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