Citizenship

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In order to qualify for Canadian citizenship, a Permanent Resident needs to reside in Canada for 4 out of 6 years immediately preceding your application. To qualify for Canadian citizenship you must:

• Be over 18 years of age
• Provide proof that you know how to speak and write in one of Canada's official languages (either English or French)
• Be a Permanent Resident
• Have lived in Canada as a Permanent Resident for at least 4 years out of the 6 years (1,460 days) before you apply
• Be physically present in Canada for at least 183 days of each year during the 4-year period
• Have filed your taxes for at least 4 years during the last 6 years and any income tax you may owe must be paid
• Apply for citizenship from within Canada

Children need not meet the residency requirement,but they must be a permanent resident of Canada and an adult applying on their behalf must either be a Canadian citizen or be applying for citizenship as a family. Certain people may not apply for citizenship; for example, those subject who have recently been or are in prison, on parole or probation, are serving a conditional sentence or have been charged or convicted of an indictable crime.

Individuals born outside Canada to Canadian parents may already be citizens. If so, they may apply for a formal determination of whether or not they are a citizen.