Canadian Citizenship

Age Requirement

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply.
• For children under 18:
  • Application must be made by a parent, adoptive parent, or legal guardian
  • The child must be a permanent resident (no need to live in Canada for 3 years)
  • One parent must be a Canadian citizen or applying to become one at the same time

Permanent Resident Status

You must have permanent resident status in Canada, and that status must not be in doubt. You cannot be:

• Under immigration investigation
• Facing an immigration inquiry
• Subject to a removal order

Time Lived in Canada

• Adults must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) in the last 4 years.
• Children do not need to meet this requirement.
• You may count days spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident if they fall within the 4-year period.

Use the citizenship calculator to check your residency days.

Language Abilities

Canada has two official languages: English and French. You must be able to speak and understand at least one language well enough to communicate effectively.

Criminal History (Prohibitions)

You cannot apply for citizenship if you:

• Were convicted of a criminal offence or an offence under the Citizenship Act in the past 3 years
• Are currently charged with an offence
• Are in prison, on parole, or on probation
• Are under a removal order
• Are under investigation or have been convicted of a war crime or crime against humanity
• Had your Canadian citizenship revoked in the last 5 years

Note: Time spent in prison, on parole, or on probation (due to conviction) does not count toward residency requirements. Probation due to conditional discharge may be counted.

Knowledge of Canada

You must demonstrate knowledge of:

• Rights and responsibilities of citizens (e.g. voting)
• Canada�s history and geography
• Canada�s political and legal system

This knowledge is tested using material from the official guide: A Look at Canada (PDF).