Right of Citizenship

• be 18 years of age or older;
• be a permanent resident of Canada;
• have lived in Canada for at least three of the four years before applying;
• be able to communicate in either English or French;
• know about Canada; and
• know about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship;

• already be a citizen; or
• apply for citizenship together with your child.

• You may vote in or run for federal and provincial elections
• You will not lose your Canadian citizenship regardless of the fact how much time you decide to spend outside Canada

• We will assess your case and advise you on the fastest possible route to obtain you Canadian Citizenship – we offer our extensive experience gained throughout the years and based on thousands of clients that we have represented.
• Name change or date of birth issues
• Lack of sufficient documents to apply for your Canadian Citizenship
• You have already filed a Citizenship application which was returned back to you by the processing center
• You need to check the status of your Canadian Citizenship application

Applicants who hold any of the following status(es) are not eligible to become a Canadian citizen :

• You are currently in prison, on parole or probation
• Within the past 4 years have been in prison
• Are on parole or probation for a year or greater
• You were convicted of a criminal offence within the three years before applying for Canadian citizenship
• You were convicted of a crime under the Citizenship Act within the three years before applying for Canadian citizenship
• Are currently under investigation for war crimes or crimes against humanity
• Your Canadian citizenship has already been revoked within the past 5 years.

What Do I Need to Apply?

Along with the CIT 0002 form, applicants must also send in the following documents to apply to become a Canadian citizen :

• A copy of your Canadian Immigration record. This can consist of either your  Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292)
• A copy of your Permanent Resident Card
• Two photographs of yourself, taken within the last 12 months. These photographs must adhere to the specifications stated below.
• Two forms of official identification. This can include a valid driver’s license, passport, or health insurance card.
• A fee must also be paid before an application can be submitted. This fee can be paid either online, or at a financial institution. Please be sure to obtain a receipt of the payment, and include it in your application package.

Do I have to send the original document with my application?

Original documents may not be returned to you if send it attached to your application. For that reason, you should send a clear and certified photocopy of the document.

What if my documents are not in English?

If the documents you are sending with your application are not in English, you must provide a translation and an official declaration from the person who translated the document. Translations provided by family members are not sufficient.

What kind of Photograph do I need to send?

Two photos of the applicant, taken within the last 12 months, must also be provided with the application. Applicants can use the form CIT 0021 to show to the photographer to ensure that the correct size of photo is issued. Also make sure that the photo is dated and identified by the photographer. Additionally, please be advised not to wear a head covering in the photo, unless you wear them for your religion.

Please remember to sign the back of your photographs before you mail them with your application. All applicants must sign the back of the photo, in blue or black ink, if they are over the age of 14. Children under this age group must leave the signature strip blank, however the parents of the child must print the child’s name on the back.

Please do not attach the photos to the application in any way, rather place the photos in a small envelope with the application separately.

Why Can’t I Use Certain Certificates from Quebec as proof of Canadian Citizenship?

Government of Quebec issued certificates (baptismal, birth, and marriage) prior to January 1, 1994 are no longer valid proof of Canadian citizenship. This rule applies to any applications for a replacement of Canadian citizenship certificates or cards, as well as applications for Canadian citizenship. New documentation from the Government of Quebec will be required for yourself, and applicable family members (spouse and/or children) to certify your citizenship.

What Do I Need to Know to Pass the Final Examination?

All adult applicants, etween the ages of 18 and 55, are required to take either a written or oral examination. This examination will require the applicant to possess some knowledge of Canada. Questions can include information on the following topics :

• Canadian Government
• The rights and responsibility of Canadian citizens
• The Election process
• The voting procedure
• The history of Canada
• Canadian geography

The written examination usually takes about 30 minutes, whereas the oral interview with a citizenship judge will take between 15 to 30 minutes. If applicable, an interpreter may be present at your interview. However, an interpreter is not allowed for written exams.