Resume Canadian citizenship: Who can apply

General eligibility

To be eligible to resume your Canadian citizenship, you must meet the following requirements.

You must:

• have been a Canadian citizen
• have become a permanent resident of Canada after you lost your Canadian citizenship
• have no unfulfilled conditions relating to your status as a permanent resident
• have been physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 365 days in the two years immediately before you apply, and
• have met your personal income tax filing obligations for the taxation year immediately before you apply.

You must not:

• have had your Canadian citizenship taken away (revoked)
• be under a removal order (an order from Canadian officials to leave Canada) or
• be prevented (prohibited) from being granted citizenship .

Read more about Situations that may prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen.

If you are unsure whether you are Canadian or not, see if you may already be a citizen.

Eligibility for Canadian Armed Forces members

If you were a Canadian citizen and you are or were a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), you might be able to resume Canadian citizenship through a fast-track process for Canadian Armed Forces members. You must meet the standard qualifications to resume citizenship, with the one exception that you do not need to be living in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 365 days in the two years before you apply. Under the new fast-track rules, you must have completed at least six months (182 days) of service in, or with, the CAF in the two years before you apply.

If you are or were a foreign military member attached or seconded to the CAF, you might also be eligible. You must meet the conditions of a CAF member with the exception that you do not need to be a permanent resident of Canada and you do not need to meet the tax filing obligation.