We are often asked what it takes to go from being a Canadian permanent resident to a Canadian citizen. It’s no surprise that there are so many permanent residents who wish to become Canadian citizens. After all, with Canadian citizenship comes an immense amount of benefits such as holding a Canadian passport and being able to vote in elections. 
But getting Canadian citizenship is an application process, it is not automatic. There are many different requirements you must meet before you can obtain Canadian citizenship.
What’s needed to get Canadian citizenship?
Getting Canadian citizenship involves several things. First, you must be a permanent resident of Canada already, and you need to be over the age of 18. If you are interested in applying for citizenship in Canada on behalf of a child, please contact us. Secondly, you will have to meet a residency requirement in order to qualify for Canadian citizenship. You must be physically present in Canada for three of the four years before your application, or 1,095 days. If you are not a permanent resident for some of this time, those days are considered half days.
You must also be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient knowledge of Canada, including geography, symbols, government and history. This will be assessed on a citizenship test, which could be written or oral.
Lastly, you must be able to prove that you are basically proficient in English or French, and you could have to undergo a language test.
We are here to help you achieve your Canadian immigration goals, including becoming a Canadian citizen. If you want to apply for Canadian citizenship, please just give us a call! We are here to help you, and can also be reached using the e-mail contact form on the right.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
