Canadian Citizenship

Being a Canadian citizen is a privilege.

As a Canadian citizen, you can run for political office, participate in policital elections

or have access to restricted jobs.

Canada permits multiple citizenships and a Canadian passport facilitates travel to many countries

around the world.

Unlike Canadian permanent residents, Canadian citizens have a right to enter and remain in Canada

and do not need to maintain residency obligations.

How to obtain citizenship

These are the pathways for obtaining Canadian citizenship:

BY NATURALIZATION

Naturalization is the legal process that transforms a permanent resident into a Canadian citizen. As a permanent resident, you can apply for grant of citizenship if you have fulfilled several requirements, such as having resided in Canada for at least 1,095 days within the past 5 years, paid taxes or show adequate knowledge of English or French.

BY BIRTH IN CANADA (JUS SOLI)

Jus soli is the principle that territory governs citizenship. Under jus soli, at birth, you are automatically granted citizenship of the country in which you were born, regardless of the citizenship or immigration status of your parents. This principle does not apply if your parent was a representative of a foreign government at the time of your birth.

BY BIRTH OUTSIDE OF CANADA TO A CANADIAN PARENT (JUS SANGUINIS)

Jus sanguinis is the principle that lineage (blood line) is governing citizenship. Under jus sanguinis, at birth you are automatically granted citizenship of the country of which one of your parents is a citizen. If your parents are citizens of separate or multiple countries, you are granted citizenship of both or all of those countries.

There are exceptions to this rule, for example if your Canadian parent has also received their citizenship by descent,

BY ADOPTION BY A CANADIAN CITIZEN

Children born outside of Canada adopted by Canadian citizens are treated the same as biological children born abroad to Canadian citizens.

Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility requirements depend on the pathway to citizenship.

In order to get naturalized and receive a grant of Canadian citizenship, you must

be admitted to Canada as a permanent resident
be at least 18 years old, or be included with the application of a parent who is over 18 years old
have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the past 5 years
have filed personal income taxes for at least 3 years of the past 5 years
not be under a removal order or declared to be a threat to security or a member of an organized crime group
pay applicable fees
submit an application for citizenship
show adequate knowledge of English or French (exceptions apply)
demonstrate an understanding of the responsibilities of a citizen and pass the citizenship test (exceptions apply)
take the citizenship oath.

How I can help you

For a successful application for Canadian citizenship, it is crucial to meet all eligibility requirements and address any concerns regarding inadmissibility. I personalize my services for you based on your personal circumstances by:

assessing your eligibility for Canadian citizenship.
providing you with advice on how to meet eligibility requirements if you do not qualify yet.
helping you identify potential inadmissibility issues.
supporting you gaterhing necessary supporting documentation for your application.
guiding you through the entire process and provide advice and instructions as needed.
helping you avoid mistakes that may cause delays or refusal.
completing, preparing, organizing and submitting your application on your behalf.
being your voice to Canadian immigration authorities.