Requirements To Get Canadian Citizenship In 2024

Have you gained permanent residency and becoming a Canadian citizen is your next milestone? This is the post for you! Individuals who have applied for Canada Express Entry and have been in the country for a significant amount of time are eligible for Canadian citizenship in 2024.

However, to become a citizen of the Great White North, specific eligibility criteria are set by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If you qualify for each one of them, you become eligible to obtain Canadian citizenship.

Note that if you are applying for Canada PR in 2024, it will take you three years more to gain citizenship.

Eligibility Criteria to become a Canadian Citizen

Meet the following listed criteria to gain citizenship in Canada:

Permanent Resident

To become a citizen, you need to maintain your permanent residency status in Canada – no matter your age. You do not need a valid PR card to apply, an expired PR card will work just fine.

To qualify, you must:

• NOT be under review for immigration or any fraud
• NOT be deported back to your home country
  NOT have any unfulfilled requests related to your permanent residency like medical screening

Before going ahead with the application process, double-check all the documents you got when you became a PR in Canada to ensure your eligibility.

Physically Presence in Canada

The second most crucial requirement set by the IRCC for PR holders to become citizens is the time they have lived in Canada.

You need to be physically present in Canada for at least 3 years (=1,065 days) during the 5 years before the date of signing your application. It is advisable to apply for Canadian Citizenship with more days than 1,065 – in case the days are less in calculation for some reason.

The calculation for citizenship also includes:

Your time spent in Canada as a temporary resident or a protected person.
Your time spent outside Canada if you are a “Crown servant” or a family member of a Crown servant.

Income Tax Filing

All the PR holders in Canada are required to file their taxes. This has to be done for at least 3 years during the 5 years before you apply for Canadian citizenship.

Meet Language Requirements

One of the top requirements of Canada PR visa eligibility is language proficiency. This is also required for Canada’s citizenship application. All the PR holders between 18 and 54 years of age have to show their proficiency in English or French – on the day of signing the application.
Your speaking and listening skills should be equivalent to level 4 of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for English, or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for FrenchThis test will demonstrate your skills in various fields like -
Everyday conversations
Understanding simple instructions, questions, and directions
Usage of basic grammar like tenses
Showing your knowledge of common words to respond to questions effectively

Canadian Citizenship Test

All permanent residents between the years of 18 and 54 (on the application signing day) have to take a mandatory citizenship test. This test is conducted by IRCC to ensure that you understand:

Your rights and responsibilities as a citizen of Canada
Canada’s history, economy, government, geography, laws, and symbols

The Canadian authorities will invite you for this test after you submit the application.

Oath of Citizenship

The last step to gaining your Canadian Citizenship in 2024 is to take an oath of citizenship.

To take this oath, you must:

• Be 14 years old when you sign the official application
• Have your application approved by the Canadian government

You cannot apply for Canadian citizenship If –

• You are criminally involved in or outside of Canada
• You have spent time in jail, on parole, or on probation – this time will not be counted as the time you have lived in Canada

Benefits of Gaining Canadian Citizenship

As a PR in Canada, you have access to many benefits same as the citizens. However, citizenship comes with its benefits, listed below:

1. Gain voting rights in municipal, provincial, and federal elections
2. Gain eligibility for a Canadian passport, convenient to travel internationally.
3. Gain more work opportunities, especially in government positions.
4. Gain protection under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
5. Gain access to comprehensive healthcare.
6. Gain participation in social and economic benefits, including retirement benefits.
7. Gain the ability to sponsor family members for immigration.
8. Gain an enhanced sense of belonging and community involvement.

To ensure a smooth transition from PR to Citizenship, talk to the best Canada Visa Consultants in Bangalore, Nationwide Visas. With a highly qualified team of immigration consultants, Nationwide Visas has helped thousands of aspiring individuals gain PR in Canada and eventually become Canadian citizens. If you are one of them, connect today to get assistance for the entire process and be on your path to becoming a Canadian citizen.