Canadian Citizenship: Ways to Becoming a CanadianCitizen

There are three main pathways to Canadian citizenship: by birth, descent, and naturalization. To become a Canadian citizen, foreign nationals must first receive permanent residency and live in Canada for five years. After meeting the requirements, they can acquire citizenship.

Canada is a wealthy country with a stable political environment. It’s a popular destination due to the various benefits of Canadian citizenship, such as visa-free travel to 187 countries and a high quality of life. Today, the beautiful mountains, lakes, and forests attract tourists and hundreds of thousands of investors looking to expand their business ventures. This article will cover how to become a Canadian citizen, the application process, eligibility criteria, and other requirements.

Keep reading to learn about:

• How to get citizenship?
• Step-by-step application process
• Application fees

Benefits of Canadian Citizenship

The benefits of Canadian citizenship are increasingly sought after due to the high travel mobility, healthcare system, social assistance, quality of life, and desirable business setting. These advantages include:

• 

  Affordable healthcare – The government of Canada covers about 70% of healthcare costs. Most essential and emergency medical care is free for Canadian citizens, with minor out-of-pocket costs.
• Path to dual citizenship – Canadian citizens can have multiple citizenships without renouncing their former nationality status.
• Global travel – A valid Canadian passport provides visa-free travel or visa-on-arrival to 187 countries.
• High quality of life – Canada has a high standard of living with low unemployment rates.
• Cheaper tuition – College and university fees are lower for Canadian citizens and permanent residents than for foreign nationals.
• Family sponsorship – A Canadian citizen can sponsor a family member, grandchild, niece, or nephew to immigrate to Canada and receive citizenship Canada. Canadian passport holders can also sponsor a first-generation descendant born outside Canada.
• Social assistance – Canadian citizens receive social assistance, while non-residents cannot, regardless of citizenship status. Social assistance covers basic needs like food, utilities, clothing, shelter, and housing supplies. These Canadian citizenship benefits make the Citizenship certificate valuable for low-income families.
• Civic duties and privileges – Canadian citizens can vote in local, territorial, provincial, and federal elections and run for political office.

How to get Canadian Citizenship?

There are three main ways to acquire citizenship Canada. You can become a legal citizen by birth, descent, or naturalization. Here is a more detailed look at each of them.

Canadian citizenship by birth

The Canadian Citizenship Act determines that a child born in Canada to a Canadian parent receives automatic citizenship. The Citizenship Act states that a child born in Canada to Canadian parents is a citizen by birth. A birth certificate is usually enough to prove eligibility, but people can also apply for a citizenship certificate.

Canadian citizenship by descent

Canadian citizenship by descent means that a person born abroad is eligible for Canadian citizenship because one or both parents are Canadian citizens. The Citizenship Act limits citizenship by descent to the first generation born abroad, as long as the parent hasn’t renounced their citizenship.

Canadian citizenship by naturalization

The naturalization process allows eligible immigrants to become Canadian citizens. Foreigners can obtain citizenship upon becoming permanent residents.

Applicants born outside Canada can receive a Canadian citizenship card after meeting specific requirements, such as having been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) during the five years before the date they sign the application.

Foreign nationals must be permanent residents, provide the necessary identification documents, and pass the citizenship test to qualify for the naturalization process.

Who can apply for Canadian Citizenship?

To apply, you must be:

• A permanent resident
• 18 years or older (or a minor of a Canadian parent)
• Someone who can meet the language requirement (English or French)
• Someone who passed the Canadian citizenship test

What documents are required?

The government of Canada often requires the following documents when applying for Canadian citizenship.

These documents can include:

• Original printout of your citizenship application form.
• Color photocopy of your travel documents or passport.
• Photocopy of two pieces of personal identification, like your identification document (ID), driver’s license, senior citizen identification card, health insurance card, etc.
• Proof of permanent residence.
• Two citizenship photos.
• Authorized documents that determine English or French language proficiency.
• Receipt of paid application fees.

What is the citizenship language requirement?

Applicants between 18 and 54 must provide a diploma, certificate, or transcript that proves they can communicate and understand English or French. The government of Canada requires demonstrating proficiency level 4 or higher based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB).

A Canadian citizen must be able to communicate and write in Canada’s two official languages. The francophone provinces and territories use French as an official language. The CLB requirements vary between provinces. For example, Québec province requires at least CLB 5 in French.

What are the steps to becoming a Canadian citizen?

To become a legal citizen and receive a Canadian passport, most applicants must:

1. Be a permanent resident. Submit proof of permanent residency that indicates you lived in Canada for three years during the five years before you signed the citizenship application.
2. Fill out the form. Complete the citizenship application form and provide the necessary documents.
3. File taxes if necessary. You must meet your tax filing obligations to be eligible for citizenship Canada. These obligations may be different for every applicant.
4. Complete a citizenship test. You must pass the test covering important government and history topics.
5. Meet the language requirement. Provide proof of English and French proficiency with a level four score or higher.
6. Attend the citizenship ceremony. Take an oath of citizenship to receive a certificate and become a legal citizen, regardless of your previous nationality status.

It can take a few years to meet all the Canadian citizenship requirements, depending on your residency status.

How to apply online for Canadian citizenship?

You can apply online if you are a permanent resident, 18 years or older, or a minor to a Canadian parent. The official government website for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides online services and all the forms you must complete.

How to apply on paper for Canadian citizenship?

To apply on paper, you must be physically present in Canada. The government of Canada provides an application package with the forms, an instruction manual, and required documents, like an identification document (ID). To be eligible for Canadian citizenship, you must be a permanent resident, 18 years or older, or a minor to a Canadian parent.

What are Canadian citizenship fees?

The Canadian citizenship cost varies based on your age. The application fee for an adult is $649.75, and $100 per minor. The payment receipt is the same whether you fill out a physical form or apply online. The table below provides all the application fees in Canadian dollars.

Canadian Citizenship Processing Time

Canadian citizenship processing time varies but often takes months. You first wait about four months to receive a decision on your application, then another three to four months to receive your citizenship. If you are applying for a minor located outside the country, the processing time can last six to eight months.

The average processing times include:

• Three months for a Canadian citizenship certificate.
• Eight months for a citizenship grant.
• Eight months for a renunciation of citizenship.
• 15 months for a search of citizenship records.

Other factors can cause delays, such as background checks, incomplete forms, interview scheduling, etc.

How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments. 

We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.