There is no denying that Canadian citizenship is one of the most desirable citizenships in the world. As a Canadian citizen, you have the opportunity to make a better life for yourself and advance your professions and have a better quality of life in one of the most prosperous countries in the world. It is accepting, flourishing, and provides immigrants with an opportunity to restart their life as they wish to.
This is why immigrating to Canada is a dream come true for many people. After you have successfully done that, you want to achieve more to make life better for yourself and your future generations. So for many people who have immigrated to Canada, getting citizenship is an important process.
If you or a loved one has been looking to apply for citizenship or are in the process of preparing your application, this blog will give you a detailed rundown of everything you need to know.
Canadian Citizenship
After successfully navigating the immigration process to Canada, many permanent residents eagerly anticipate the day when they will be sworn in as official citizens of Canada. It is necessary to complete a few last steps before Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) approves your application for Canadian citizenship.
Eligibility Requirements
To become a Canadian citizen, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be able to speak and write fluently in either French or English (Canada’s official languages)
- Have permanent residence status
- Have lived in the country for at least three years out of the last five years
- Have filed your taxes if required under the Income Tax Act
- Pass the citizenship test
An expedited application procedure may be available to those who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces.
If you’ve ever been incarcerated, are on parole or probation, are serving a conditional sentence, or have been charged with or convicted of an indictable offence, you cannot apply to become a Canadian citizen. A deportation order also prevents you from applying.
Following changes to the Citizen Act that took effect in 2017, Canadian permanent residents can now anticipate a faster and smoother application process for citizenship. Eligible applicants must take the Canadian citizenship test and may be required to appear before a citizenship judge if IRCC so requests. After being approved, candidates will join a Citizenship Ceremony to take an Oath of Citizenship, at which point they will become Canadian citizens.
Application Process:
There are three distinct Canadian citizenship applications: adults, minors, and the Canadian Armed Forces. Be sure to utilize the most recent version and complete the application completely and precisely to prevent the application being rejected or returned.
The application fee can be paid online or at a Canadian financial institution (in Canadian dollars). Sign and date the application, which should not be more than three months old or include a future date—this will result in the application being returned. To sign the application form, you must have the eligibility to apply for citizenship no later than the day before you want to do so. Everything you need to submit a completed application, including all of your supporting documents.
The processing time will vary depending on where your application is heading and whether or not it is a routine or non-routine application. Non-routine applications typically take 36 months to process, whereas routine applications take 24 months.
Canadian Citizenship vs Permanent Residency
Although the distinction between Canadian PR and Canadian citizenship might seem inconsequential, these highly sought-after statuses are quite distinct.
Being a citizen of Canada entitles you to all of Canada’s benefits. Citizens of Canada have the right to vote and run for public office. You can apply for a Canadian passport and obtain diplomatic assistance from Canadian embassies and consulates if necessary. As long as you wish, you can leave Canada at any time and re-enter the country without restriction, no matter how much time you’ve been away.
Canada’s citizens enjoy a wide range of benefits, regardless of whether they were born in Canada or became citizens later in life.Â
Those who have moved to Canada but have not yet become citizens are known as permanent residents. Canada’s permanent residents enjoy many of the same rights and privileges as citizens, including access to publicly-funded healthcare and education.
In addition, permanent residents are entitled to many of the same rights and privileges as Canadian citizens but with fewer advantages. Although Canadian permanent residents can work and live anywhere in the country, some top governmental professions, such as Prime Minister and others in the government service, such as intelligence, are exclusively open to Canadians.
Benefits of Canadian Citizenship
Having Canadian citizenship has various advantages. You get the right to run for office and to vote, you get to travel with the Canadian passport (having which has its benefits), and getting access to restricted occupations are just some of the advantages of becoming a Canadian citizen. Having a status that is difficult to lose or renounce is another benefit of becoming a Canadian citizen.
Hire a Canadian Immigration Consultant
You must get your citizenship application assessed by a Canadian immigration lawyer with extensive competence in this area. These lawyers can help you identify problems with your application and provide suggestions on fixing them. Also, they can tell you if the evidence you’re giving as proof is sufficient or if you’re missing a vital document.
Nanda and Associate Lawyers is a good place to start if you need someone to check over your citizenship application.We are rated as one of the best immigration lawyers in Mississauga and have helped many clients apply for and receive Canadian citizenship, and we can help you too.
Apart from permanent residency and citizenship applications, we can also assist you with your Canadian spouse visa, Canada entrepreneur visa, Canada startup visa with the help of our Canadian immigration consultants.
Make an appointment for a free consultation to get proper help for your citizenship application and make it a success.
Disclaimer: This article is only intended for educational purposes and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for legal advice.
