For immigrants who have made Canada their home and desire to establish roots permanently, citizenship in Canada is a cherished aspiration. However, the process of applying for citizenship can be intricate, resulting in applicants feeling bewildered and unsure about the necessary procedures to follow.
Suppose you’re excited about becoming a citizen but feel daunted by the Canadian citizenship application process’s complexity. Rest assured that you’re not the only one in this boat! Thankfully, though, if you grasp the criteria and stick to a plan of action, you can sail through the process with ease, boosting your odds of achieving your goal.
Steps to Apply for Canadian Citizenship
Follow these important steps to apply for Canadian Citizenship;
- Calculate Your Residency Days
The initial part of applying for citizenship involves confirming that you have fulfilled the residency criteria by residing in Canada for a minimum of 1,095 days within five years. Calculating precisely these days is crucial because errors could result in application delays or refusals.
You have the option of utilizing the government tool for tracking your presence to ensure accurate monitoring of your residency days in Canada over five years; it is recommended that you maintain a log of the days spent outside the country as they do not contribute to meeting the residency criteria.
- Gather Your Documents
Once you’ve calculated your residency days, the next step is to gather the required documents to prove your eligibility. These documents include:
- A valid permanent resident card.
- Proof of language proficiency (if applicable).
- Proof of tax returns for a minimum of three years.
- Identification documents such as a passport.
- A list of all the travel dates outside Canada during the past five years.
Make sure all your documents are accurate, complete, and up to date to avoid delays.
- Complete the Application Form
You have the option to fill out the citizenship application form electronically or on paper according to your preference. Be meticulous in completing the form and review all details thoroughly before submission to avoid delays or potential rejection due to any inaccuracies
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After you finish filling out the form and submitting it online, in person at the office counter, or by mail, if that’s an option, you can choose to pay the required application fee, which is CAD 630 for adults and CAD 100 for children under 18 years of age.
- Submit Your Application
After you have filled out the form and collected all the required paperwork and materials needed for your application process, send it either by mail to the designated address provided on the form instructions OR through the online portal available on their website for electronic submissions.
Once your Canadian citizenship application has been successfully sent to them, you can expect to receive a confirmation of receipt from Immigration and Citizenship Canada within a certain period. The immigration officials at IRCC will carefully examine your application to verify that all details provided are accurate and that nothing is left out before proceeding with your case review.
You can check the progress of your application online by entering the special case number provided by IRCC.
- Prepare for the Citizenship Test
If you are between 18 and 54 years old and wish to obtain citizenship in Canada, you will need to complete the citizenship test, which lasts 30 minutes. This test comprises 20 multiple-choice questions covering aspects of history, geography, government structure, and laws.
To successfully pass the test, you are required to achieve a score of 15 out of 20 questions.
Go over the Discover Canada study guide to ensure you’re ready for the exam; it contains all the subjects that will appear on the test.
- Attend an Interview or Citizenship Ceremony
Once your application gets the green light and you’re selected for an interview session to discuss your language abilities and application specifics, it’s sailing from there! Upon completing the interview phase comes the part: attending a citizenship ceremony where you’ll pledge the Oath of Citizenship, sealing the deal to become a citizen officially!
During the citizenship ceremony in Canada, you will be presented with your Canadian citizenship certificate, which will signify the end of your immigration journey.
Conclusion
Getting Canadian citizenship may seem overwhelming at first; however, if you follow the procedures and satisfy all the criteria needed, you can efficiently navigate through the process with success. Meeting residency prerequisites and taking the citizenship examination are crucial for reaching your objective.
