Who can apply

To become a Canadian citizen, most applicants must

  • be a permanent resident
  • have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the last 5 years (1,095 days)
  • have filed their taxes, if they need to
  • pass a citizenship test
  • prove their language skills in English or French
  • take the oath of citizenship

Regardless of your age, if you’re applying for citizenship, you must have permanent resident (PR) status in Canada.

This means you must not:

  • be under review for immigration or fraud reasons
  • be asked by Canadian officials to leave Canada (removal order)
  • have unfulfilled conditions related to your PR status, for example: medical screening

Before applying for citizenship, you should review the documents you received when you became a permanent resident to make sure you’re eligible.

You don’t need a valid PR card to apply for citizenship. You can apply with an expired PR card.

You may need to file taxes in Canada for at least 3 years during the 5 years right before the date you apply.

Language requirement

If you’re between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your application, you must show that you have an adequate knowledge of English or French. This means you can

  • take part in short, everyday conversations about common topics
  • understand simple instructions, questions and directions
  • use basic grammar, including simple structures and tenses
  • show you know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express yourself

These speaking and listening skills are equivalent to level 4 of the

We measure your language skills by

  • reviewing the language proof you send with your application
  • noting how well you speak when talking to a citizenship official anytime during the application process
  • assessing your language level during a citizenship test with a our official, if necessary

We accept various certificates, diplomas and tests as proof of your language skills.

Pass a citizenship test

If you’re between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your application, you must take the citizenship test.

The test will ask questions about

  • the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens
  • Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols

We’ll invite you to the test after you submit your application.

Take the oath of citizenship

You must take the oath of citizenship if

  • you’re at least 14 years old when you sign your application and
  • we approve your application