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How to Become a Canadian Citizen

This brochure

• explains who can become a Canadian citizen
  and who cannot
• tells you how to apply to become a Canadian citizen
• answers some questions you may have

Who can become a Canadian citizen

To become a Canadian citizen…

You must be a permanent resident and be 18 years of age or older

Children under 18 years of age can also become citizens, but they do not have to meet the same requirements as adults (see “Applying for children”).

You must have lived here for at least three years

You must have lived in Canada for at least three years (1,095 days) out of the four years immediately before you apply for citizenship. For example, if you applied for citizenship on June 1, 2006, we would count back to June 1, 2002. The time you lived in Canada AFTER you became a permanent resident counts as full time (one day for each day). The time you lived in Canada BEFORE you became a permanent resident counts as half time (half a day for each day) only if it falls within these four years. If you came to Canada on a visa (for example, a student or a work visa) before you became a permanent resident, contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre to find out when you can apply for citizenship or use the on-line Residence Calculator available on CIC’s Web site at www.cic.gc.ca.

You must know English or French

English and French are the official languages of Canada. You must know enough of one of the two languages to understand other people and for them to understand you. That is, you need to be able to speak English or French well enough to communicate with people.

You must learn about Canada

You must know the rights and responsibilities of Canadians, such as the right and responsibility to vote. You must also know some things about Canada’s history and geography, and its political system. When we receive your application, we will send you an acknowledgment letter and a copy of our free publication, A Look at Canada. You will have to answer questions on the information in this publication when you go for your citizenship test.

Applying for children

Parents, including adoptive parents, or legal guardians may apply for citizenship on behalf of minor children (under 18 years of age). One parent, including an adoptive parent, but not a legal guardian, must already be a Canadian citizen or must be applying to become a citizen at the same time.

To become citizens, minor children need to be permanent residents but do not need to have lived in Canada for three years. Minor children do not have to write the citizenship test.

Who cannot become a Canadian citizen

You cannot become a Canadian citizen if

• you are in prison, on parole or on probation
• in the past four years, you were in prison, on parole or on probation for a year or more
• you were convicted of an indictable offence or crime, or an offence under the Citizenship Act in the three years preceding your application
• you are currently charged with an indictable offence or crime, or an offence under the Citizenship Act
• you are under a removal order (instructed by Canadian officials to leave Canada)
• you are under investigation for, are charged with, or have been convicted of a war crime or a crime against humanity
• your Canadian citizenship has been taken away (revoked) in the past five years

The items listed above are prohibitions—factors that could prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen. The application form contains questions on these prohibitions, and you must answer them truthfully when you apply for citizenship. We will check with the police to see if you have a criminal record that would prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen. We will also check immigration records to make sure you are a permanent resident. If you think you may not qualify because you have been charged with a crime or you have a criminal record, or if you need more information on this subject, contact the CIC Call Centre.

How to apply to become a Canadian citizen

To apply to become a Canadian citizen, follow the six steps below.

1. Make sure you have the right application form

To apply to become a Canadian citizen, you must complete an application form and follow the instructions in the guide provided with the form.

If you are an adult (18 years of age or older), you must complete the “Application for Canadian Citizenship – Adults” form. If you are applying for your children (under 18 years of age), you need a separate form for each child. The children’s form is called “Application for Canadian Citizenship – Minors.”

You can order the application forms and guide you need through the CIC Call Centre. Please be ready to tell us the name, age and date of permanent resident status for everyone you are applying for, your full address (including the postal code), and the number of adult and children’s forms you need.

You can also visit the CIC Web site at www.cic.gc.ca to download and print the application forms and guide.

2. Read the guide Application for Canadian Citizenship before you fill out the form

Read the instructions in the guide carefully before you complete the citizenship application form. The fee for processing your form and your children’s forms is not refundable, so make sure you are ready to become a citizen before you apply.

3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents

The application form contains instructions. Read the instructions, complete the form and attach photocopies of your documents. You will have to show the original documents at the time of your test or interview, so remember to bring them with you.

You need to include the following documents with your adult application:

• A photocopy of your Canadian immigration record document (either your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5509), and a photocopy of both sides of your Permanent Resident Card if you have this card.
• A photocopy of two pieces of identification, one of which must have your photograph on it. Examples include your driver’s licence, your health insurance card or your passport. If you do not have a piece of photo identification, you will have to explain why.
• Two colour or black-and-white photographs of yourself that were taken in the past year. The application form for citizenship comes with instructions on the type of photographs you need. Take these instructions to the photographer, and tell the photographer that you want “citizenship photographs.” The photographs must be stamped on the back with the photographer’s name and address and the date the photographs were taken. You cannot wear a head covering for this photograph unless you need to because of your religion. You must sign the bottom of the photographs on the white strip under the picture. Make sure you sign with your usual signature. Check the application form for more important information about the photographs. Children who are 14 or older must also sign their photographs.
• You must pay a non-refundable processing fee and a refundable Right of Citizenship fee must be paid at the time of application. You can pay the fees at most financial institutions in Canada, and you must submit the original receipt form (IMM 5401) for the payment with the application. An original receipt form can be obtained by using the on-line order form on the CIC Web site or by contacting the Call Centre. You may also use CIC’s on-line services to pay the citizenship fees and to print an official receipt form. The total fee for an adult application is $200 and $100 for a minor application (under 18 years of age).

If you are applying for a child, you must include a photocopy of a legal document (for example, the child’s birth certificate or legal adoption papers) that shows the names of the parents, or a passport listing the children. You will also need to submit the child’s immigration papers, two pieces of identification, photographs and the fee.

If your documents are not in English or French, you must provide the original document, a translation of it and an affidavit from the person who did the translation. Translations by family members are not acceptable.

4. Mail the form and documents to the Case
Processing Centre

After you have completed the application form, mail it in the pre-addressed envelope to

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Case Processing Centre
P.O. Box 7000
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 6V6

Remember to

• sign and date the form and sign your photographs
• include the receipt of payment (form IMM 5401)
• include your application
• include your photographs
• include photocopies of all your documents

If you have printed the application form from the Web site, you will have to provide your own envelope to send the documents to the Case Processing Centre.

If your application is stale-dated (signed more than three months before we receive it) or if it is post-dated (dated into the future), your application will be returned to you.

If you are applying for more than one person, you can submit all the forms and documents in the same envelope and they will be processed together. For example, family members who want their application to be processed at the same time must send all applications in the same envelope. If they are sent in different envelopes, they will be processed separately. You may also provide a receipt for the entire family.

5. Get ready for the test

You will receive the publication A Look at Canada after we receive your application form. Start studying as soon as you receive it to prepare for your citizenship test.

If you meet the basic requirements for citizenship and are between the ages of 18 and 54, we will schedule you for the test. We will send you a “Notice to Appear to Write a Citizenship Test” telling you the date and time you will be given your test. When you come for the test, you will have to bring the original documents (personal identification, immigration documents, etc.) you submitted with your application and your passport and/or travel documents relevant to the four years preceding your application. You may be given a written test or an interview. The citizenship test will determine if you can speak English or French well enough to become a Canadian citizen. It will also test your knowledge of Canada and of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

If you are 55 or older, you do not have to write the citizenship test. You will be scheduled to appear at the local office for a review of the original documents (personal identification, immigration documents, etc.) you submitted with your application and of your passport and/or travel documents relevant to the four years preceding your application.

You may be scheduled to appear for an interview with a citizenship judge.

6. Take the oath of citizenship at a citizenship
ceremony

The citizenship ceremony is legally and symbolically important. At the ceremony, new citizens are formally welcomed into the Canadian family and formally accept the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship.

If you meet all the requirements to become a Canadian citizen, we will send you a “Notice to Appear to Take the Oath of Citizenship” telling you when and where your citizenship ceremony will take place. At the ceremony, you may choose to either swear on a holy book or to affirm the “oath of citizenship.” Swearing is for people who would like to refer to their religious beliefs; while the affirmation is for those who do not want to use a holy book during the ceremony. If you want to swear the oath of citizenship on your holy book, please bring it with you to the ceremony.

You must bring all original immigration documents in your possession to the citizenship ceremony. If you have a Permanent Resident Card, you must bring it. If you became a permanent resident before June 28, 2002, you must bring your immigration Record of Landing (IMM 1000). If you have both of these documents, bring both of them to the ceremony.

Once you have taken the oath of citizenship at a ceremony, you will be a Canadian citizen. You will receive your certificate of citizenship at the ceremony. The certificate is a small card that you can use to prove that you are a Canadian citizen. You will also receive a commemorative document that shows the date you became a Canadian. Keep these documents in a safe place.

Questions

What should I do if I move after I apply for citizenship?

You can change your address on-line at www.cic.gc.ca or you can contact the CIC Call Centre. When you change your address, be sure to tell us both your old address and your new one.

How much does it cost to apply for Canadian citizenship?

The fee for adults is $200. For children under 18, it is $100.

What if my application is turned down?

If you do not meet all the requirements for becoming a Canadian citizen, we will send you a letter explaining why you cannot become a citizen right now and what you can do next.

Will I get my money back if I am turned down for citizenship?

The fee for an adult application includes the $100 right of citizenship fee. If you are not granted citizenship, we will send you a refund for this $100 fee only.

A child cannot become a citizen unless one of the parents is already a citizen or becomes one at the same time. The child’s fee is not refundable. If you are not already a Canadian citizen, make sure you meet all the requirements listed at the beginning of this brochure before you apply for your child.

Where can I find out the status of my citizenship application and the processing time?

For information about the status of your citizenship application or to find out how long it takes to become a Canadian citizen, visit the CIC Web site at www.cic.gc.ca or contact the CIC Call Centre.

Do children have to write a test and take the oath?

Children who are under 18 years of age at the time of application do not have to write the citizenship test. Only people between the ages of 18 and 54 have to write the citizenship test. If you are 55 or older, you do not have to write the test.

Children who are 14 and older must attend the citizenship ceremony to take the oath of citizenship. Children under the age of 14 are not required to take the oath of citizenship.

Can I apply for a child if I am not the parent?

A child’s legal guardian may apply for citizenship on behalf of the child if the child has at least one Canadian parent (natural or adoptive). If a child has a Canadian legal guardian but no Canadian parent (natural or adoptive), the child is not eligible for citizenship.

I am still a citizen of another country. Will I lose that citizenship if I become a Canadian?

Under Canadian law, a Canadian is allowed to be a citizen of another country as well. Some countries, however, will not let you keep their citizenship if you become a Canadian citizen. The consulate or embassy of your other country of citizenship can let you know if this applies to you.

Could I be a Canadian citizen and not know it?

In general, if you were born in Canada, you are a Canadian citizen. You are also a Canadian if you were born in another country after February 14, 1977, and one of your parents was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth.

If you were born in another country after February 14, 1977, to a Canadian parent who was also born in another country to a Canadian parent, you may need to take steps to retain your citizenship before you turn 28 years of age. If you think this applies to you and you need more information, contact the CIC Call Centre or visit the CIC Web site at www.cic.gc.ca.

You may be a Canadian if you were born in another country before February 15, 1977, and one of your parents was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth. If you think this applies to you and you need more information, contact the CIC Call Centre.

What happens if I miss the citizenship test, my interview or the ceremony?

We will mail you notices telling you when and where to go for your citizenship test and for your citizenship ceremony. If you do not appear for the citizenship test, you will be scheduled to appear for an interview with a citizenship judge. If you miss that interview or do not attend the citizenship ceremony, your file will be closed. You will then have to fill out another application form and pay the fee to go through the entire process again.

Contact information

Web Site

The CIC Web site at www.cic.gc.ca contains information on CIC’s programs and services.

CIC Call Centre

The CIC Call Centre has an automated voice response system that can provide answers to general citizenship questions 24 hours a day. By using a touch-tone telephone, you can even order an application. If you want to speak to an agent, contact the CIC Call Centre during normal business hours across Canada (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time) and press “0.”

For all areas in Canada: 1 888 242-2100 (toll-free)

If you are hearing impaired and you use a text telephone, you can access the TTY service at 1 888 576-8502 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. your local time.

If you are calling from outside Canada, please contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate covering your region.