This is the last step in your journey to Canada. Citizenship is the ultimate status that a person can obtain. Canada has a total of almost thirty-eight million people in the beginning of 2020. Its population is comprised by individuals who were born in Canada, as well as individuals who immigrated to Canada.

Rights of a Canadian Citizen

Canadian citizens have rights that go beyond the rights that permanent residents can access. Those rights include voting in elections for Members of Parliament, who are members of the Federal House of Commons. Canadian citizens also vote in elections for provincial premiers, mayors and city councils. Depending on your municipality, an election can also include other bodies, such as school boards and parks boards.

The rights also include holding a Canadian passport. This opens various possibilities for travelling to visit, study and work in many countries without the need to apply for a visa or permit for authorization to engage in these activities.

Applying for Canadian Citizenship

The requirements to qualify to apply for Canadian citizenship include being a permanent resident of Canada, living in Canada for three out of the last five years [spending 1,095 days or more in Canada], having filed taxes [if applicable], and proving your language skills [English or French – if applicable].

The process might also include writing and passing a citizenship test that will verify your knowledge of your rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen, as well as your knowledge of Canada. After the test, you will be interviewed by a citizenship official and they will provide the results of your exam, verify your documents and clarify any final questions related to your application for citizenship.

Once those steps are completed, you might be invited to participate in a  citizenship ceremony and take the oath. During the ceremony, which is presided over by a citizenship judge or official, you will take the oath of citizenship, get your citizenship certificate and sing the national anthem, “O Canada”.

As this step is completed, new opportunities will become available to you. Let us assist you in making this dream come true.