A Look at Canada

Applying for Citizenship

When you apply for citizenship, officials will check your documents. They will confirm your immigration status and make sure you don’t have a criminal record. They will also make sure you meet the requirements of citizenship.

To become a Canadian citizen, you must

• be 18 years old or older;
• be a permanent resident of Canada;
• have lived in Canada for at least three of the four years before applying for citizenship;
• speak either English or French;
• know Canada’s history and geography; and
• know about Canada’s system of government and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Your application may take several months. Make sure that the Call Centre always has your correct address during this time. The citizenship office will send you a “Notice to Appear” telling you where and when to go for your citizenship test or your interview with a citizenship official.

How to use this booklet
to prepare for the citizenship test

This booklet will help you prepare for the citizenship test. You should

• study this booklet;
• ask a friend or family member to help you practise answering questions about Canada;
• call a local school or school board, a college, a community centre or a local organization that provides services to immigrants and ask for information on citizenship classes;
• take language classes if you need to learn to speak English or French;
• use the questions at the back of the booklet to prepare for the test; and
• find the answers to the questions about the region where you live.

About the citizenship test

The citizenship test is usually a written test, but it could be an interview. The test helps government officials decide if you can speak English or French well enough to become a Canadian citizen. It is also used to test your knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. To pass the test, you must correctly answer all questions about the following topics

• the right to vote in elections in Canada;
• the right to run for elected office in Canada; and
• voting procedures and how to register yourself as a voter.

You must also correctly answer questions chosen from the following topics

• Canada’s history;
• Canada’s geography; and
• the rights and responsibilities of a citizen.

After the test

The Citizenship office will tell you about the results of your test. If you pass the test and meet all the other requirements, you will receive a “Notice to Appear to Take the Oath of Citizenship.” This document tells you the date, time and place of your citizenship ceremony. This is the final step in becoming a Canadian citizen. At the ceremony, you will take the oath of citizenship, sign the oath form and receive your Canadian Citizenship Certificate. Many people bring their family and friends to share this occasion.