How Long Must You Remain In Canada Getting Citizenship?

The clear answer that is straightforward at the least 36 months out of the last 5 years, but there’s more nuance than that.

In order to be a resident that is Canadian need to have already been physically present in Canada for at the very least 1,095 days out of the 5 years instantly before you make an application for citizenship. But keep in mind, when it comes to citizenship that is Canadian not all times are believed equal.

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) only counts times as “full days” if you were actually contained in Canada being a resident that is permanent. You will need to invest at least two years in Canada as a permanent resident so that you can meet up with the presence requirement that is physical.

Every day you may spend in Canada as a resident that is temporary as a half day up to optimum of 365 times. Since each only matters as half, it requires two years to reach this maximum time. It isn’t necessary to spend time in Canada being a resident that is temporary the purpose of citizenship, however it is essential to understand the period as a TR only count as half so that you know how to determine your physical existence requirement.

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Here are some hypothetical situations to give you an idea of how existence that is real work:

• Kinza worked in Canada for three years for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) before she got PR. 2 yrs after being a resident that is permanent sent applications for citizenship. IRCC counted two of her years in Canada regarding the PGWP as one year toward her residency that is physical requirement. Then two years she invested in Canada as being a resident that is permanent added for the total of 3 years toward her citizenship eligibility.

• Sandeep got approved for permanent residence from outside of Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). He lived in Canada for three years and made a decision to apply for citizenship. IRCC counted each and every day he spent physically contained in Canada as being a complete time since he had never lived in Canada being a resident that is temporary.

• Idara ended up being working in Detroit, USA whenever she got residence that is permanent Canada through the FSWP. She relocated to Windsor, Canada and commuted to work every to the US day. She did this for 5 years before trying to get Canadian citizenship. IRCC counted every day Idara went along to work with the US and came back home to Canada as being a day that is full. She had spent more than enough days in Canada to meet the physical existence requirement since she was in fact a permanent resident living in Canada for 5 years.

IRCC advises on its web site you truly meet the criteria you stay physically present in the country for over the minimal 1,095 days before applying for citizenship, merely to verify.

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Other eligibility criteria for Canadian citizenship

As well as the presence that is physical, here are some for the other eligibility criteria for Canadian citizenship:

• You need to be in a position to speak either English or French well enough to communicate in Canadian society. You need to submit proof of language proficiency if you should be between ages 18 and 54.

• You simply cannot have a history that is criminal forbids the granting of citizenship, as determined by IRCC.

• You really must be conscious of the rights and duties of residents and have now basic knowledge of Canada’s geography, political system, and history.

• You may want to register fees in Canada for at the least three years during the five years prior to the date you use.

• Additionally, you have to submit a application that is formal IRCC and pay a government processing fee, and right of citizenship fee.

After the eligibility is met by you criteria, you’ll submit an application for Canadian citizenship. Then once authorized, applicants between ages 18 and 54 will have to take a citizenship test. You then must attend a citizenship receive and ceremony a certificate of Canadian citizenship, and simply take the Oath of Citizenship. After that, you formally turn into a citizen that is Canadian.

Physical presence requirement for refugee claimants and Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) candidates

You short-term resident status if you received a work or study license while your refugee claim or PRRA had been evaluated, these papers did not grant. Consequently, you cannot utilize this period of time in your presence that is real calculation.

Before you became a permanent resident if you’re claiming time being a protected individual, truly the only time permitted could be the time from the time you received a confident choice on your claim or PRRA application before the day. The times you spend in Canada after approval and before permanent residency matters as half a toward your citizenship application day.

If you were in prison in Canada

Those days usually cannot be counted toward your physical existence in the event that you invested any time in Canada in prison, on probation, or parole. There are some exceptions. Time on probation as a result of a discharge that is conditional count towards physical presence if you would not breach parole or don’t adhere to the conditions of parole. Additionally, time invested in prison or on probation need not be declared if a youth ended up being gotten by you sentence and successfully competed that sentence. Then it does not need to be declared since it is outside of the duration that IRCC considers for the physical presence requirement should your time serving a sentence for the offence in Canada occurred more than five years ahead of the date of one’s application.

If you were in prison in Canada

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