Applying for Canadian citizenship involves a formal application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a citizenship test, and sometimes, a citizenship interview.
Canadian Citizenship Application Process
The following is an overview of the steps to take to apply for Canadian citizenship after you confirm you meet the eligibility criteria:
Submit Your Application
An application must be completed and sent to the appropriate IRCC office for review. When the application has been verified, the applicant will be sent a notice requesting that a citizenship test be taken.
Citizenship Test
Applicants between 18 and 54 years of age are required to write a citizenship test, which tests the applicant's knowledge of Canadian history, geography, political process, and the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. IRCC provides all citizenship applicants with a study guide entitled A Look at Canada. There are 20 questions on the test. The pass mark is 15 out of 20. The test generally takes 30 minutes to complete.
On the day of the test, applicants are required to bring all original documents, including immigration documents, passport, photo identification, and any other documents relevant to the applicant's permanent residence in Canada. In compliance with regulations, some applicants are also asked to appear before a citizenship judge for an interview. Interviews are generally 15 to 30 minutes in length.
Minors (under 18 years of age) are not required to sit the test.
Language Proficiency
Applicants between the age of 18 and 54 are also required to demonstrate proficiency in English or French. In order to prove language proficiency, applicants must submit one of the following documents:
Results from an approved third party test; or
Transcripts or a diploma from a secondary or post-secondary education in English or French; or
Evidence of achieving Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 4 or higher in certain government language programs.
Citizenship Ceremony
Successful applicants must then attend a citizenship ceremony where they receive a certificate of Canadian citizenship and officially become new Canadian citizens.
Canadian Citizenship Ineligibility
It is important to review the documents provided to you when you first became a permanent resident in order to verify that all Terms and Conditions have been met. If any of these Terms and Conditions are still outstanding, you may not be eligible for Canadian citizenship.
Additionally, you may be ineligible for Canadian citizenship if you:
have a criminal record or are facing criminal charges in Canada or outside Canada;
have been ordered to leave Canada;
have been refused Canadian citizenship as a result of misrepresentation; or
have had your Canadian citizenship revoked.
Contact Cohen Immigration Law for Canadian Citizenship Assistance
Do you need Canadian citizenship assistance? Cohen Immigration Law is here to help. We can assess your eligibility and submit your Canadian citizenship application to the Canadian government. Cohen Immigration Law offers over 45 years of expertise helping clients become Canadians.
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