What is Canadian Citizenship and Why is it Worth Having?
The benefits of Canadian Citizenship are:
- Inalienable rights, such as equality, freedom from oppression and freedom of assembly, as well as responsibilities, namely to abide by Canadian laws
- A Canadian Passport, allowing visa-free travel to over 140 countries
- The right to vote
- US & Mexican Free Trade Agreement labor mobility benefits
- No physical Residency Obligations
- A sense of security in knowing that your status can’t be easily revoked.
Citizenship status is much more secure than Permanent Residency and can only be taken away if it was obtained fraudulently, unlike Permanent Residency, which can be revoked as a result of serious criminality.
Can I Apply for Canadian Citizenship Online?
You sure can! To apply for Canadian Citizenship online, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old or have a parent or legal guardian apply on your behalf.
- Have been physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 1095 days (3 years) out of the last five years before applying.
- Have filed income taxes for at least 3 years within the last five years.
- Demonstrate language proficiency in English or French. You can prove your language proficiency by providing proof of completion of a designated language test or through secondary or post-secondary education in English or French.
- Pass a citizenship test. The test assesses your knowledge of Canadian history, values, institutions, and symbols.
- Have no outstanding immigration or criminal issues.
- Intend to reside in Canada once you become a citizen.
- Have a basic understanding of Canada’s rights and responsibilities, such as obeying the law, voting in elections, and respecting the rights of others.
- Meet the requirements of the Citizenship Act and the Citizenship Regulations.
What are the Steps for Applying for Canadian Citizenship Online?
If you are looking to apply for Canadian citizenship online, here are the general steps you need to follow:
- Determine if you are eligible: Check if you meet the eligibility requirements for Canadian citizenship. You can do this with the handy online tool “Am I Eligible?”
- Gather necessary documents: Gather all the documents such as proof of your identity, residence, language proficiency, and make sure your income tax filings are up to date. You may also need to provide additional documents depending on your situation.
- Create an online account: Create an account on the Canadian government’s website, which is called the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account. This is where you will submit your application and track the progress of your application.
- Fill out the application: Fill out the application form online, including all the required information and upload the necessary documents.
- Pay the application fee: Pay the application fee using a credit or debit card.
- Submit the application: After completing the application and paying the fee, you can submit it online through your IRCC account.
- Wait for the processing of your application. The processing time may vary depending on your situation.
- When invited, attend and pass the Citizenship test.
- If your application is approved, you will receive an invitation to attend the citizenship ceremony where you will take the Oath of Citizenship and receive your Canadian citizenship certificate.
What Documents Will I Need for my Canadian Citizenship Application Online
To apply for Canadian citizenship online, you will need to provide certain documents. Here is a list of the documents that you may need:
- Proof of identity: This could be a valid passport, driver’s license, or any other government-issued identification.
- Proof of language proficiency: You will need to provide proof of your proficiency in either English or French. This can be done by providing the results of a language test recognized by the Canadian government or through your educational transcripts.
- Proof of residency: You will need to provide documents that prove you have been physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 1,095 days (3 years) out of the last five years before applying.
- Proof of income tax filings: You will need to provide your SIN number and the Government will check that you have filed at least 3 income tax returns for the last five years.
- Police certificates: You may need to provide police certificates or a criminal record check from any country where you have lived for more than six months in the past five years.
- Other documents: Depending on your individual circumstances, you may need to provide additional documents such as marriage certificates, divorce decrees, adoption papers, or custody documents.
- After you have submitted the application you will be invited to sit and pass the Citizenship test.
Proof of Citizenship Certificate by Descent
Canadian citizenship by descent refers to the process by which a person born outside of Canada can acquire Canadian citizenship if they have a Canadian parent. Here are the requirements for Canadian citizenship by descent:
- You must have been born outside of Canada after April 17, 2009, and at least one of your biological or adoptive parents was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth.
- You must be able to provide proof of your Canadian parent’s citizenship at the time of your birth. This can be done by providing their birth certificate, passport, citizenship certificate or any other official document that proves their Canadian citizenship.
- You must be able to provide proof that you have not renounced your Canadian citizenship in the past.
- You must meet the language and knowledge requirements, which means that you must be able to communicate in either English or French and have knowledge of Canada’s history, geography, and government.
- You must be at least 18 years old to apply for citizenship on your own behalf. If you are under 18, your Canadian parent or legal guardian can apply for citizenship on your behalf.
