Canadian Citizenship

Permanent resident status: You must have permanent resident status in Canada and have lived in Canada for at least three out of the five years preceding your application.

Language proficiency: You must be able to demonstrate proficiency in either English or French, the official languages of Canada.

Knowledge of Canada: You must have knowledge of Canada's history, geography, government, and rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Income tax filing: You must have filed income taxes for at least three years in the five-year period before your application.

Criminal history: You cannot have a criminal history or be under investigation for a crime.

Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for Canadian citizenship by submitting an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The application process involves filling out forms, providing supporting documents, paying a fee, and attending a citizenship ceremony, where you will take the oath of citizenship.

The processing time for a citizenship application varies, but typically takes around 12 months. It's important to ensure that your application is complete and accurate to avoid delays or potential rejection.

The average processing time if you live in Canada is five months and nine months if you applied from outside of Canada.