Canadian citizenship is the last step for most immigrants: the right to vote, to hold a Canadian passport and to stay without renewing a card. The application is based on days of physical presence, tax filing, language and knowledge of Canada. Law Wise, based in Mississauga, helps permanent residents check that they qualify before they apply, and helps people born abroad to Canadian parents confirm whether they are already citizens.
Who can apply for Canadian citizenship
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), an adult applicant must:
- be a permanent resident who is not under review for immigration or fraud reasons, is not under a removal order and has no unfulfilled conditions attached to permanent resident status
- have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the five years before signing the application
- have filed income tax returns, if required to, for at least three of those five years
- show adequate English or French, if aged 18 to 54 on the day of signing: speaking and listening at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher
- pass the citizenship test, if aged 18 to 54 on the day of signing
- take the oath of citizenship, if aged 14 or older
You do not need a valid permanent resident card to apply. An expired card is acceptable.
Counting the 1,095 days
Physical presence is worth counting carefully before you apply:
- Only days when you were physically in Canada count. Days outside Canada do not, whatever the reason for the trip.
- Each day spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before you became a permanent resident counts as half a day, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.
- Time between making a refugee claim and receiving a positive decision does not count.
- Time spent serving a sentence, including imprisonment, parole and probation, does not count.
IRCC recommends applying with more than the minimum number of days. Its online physical presence calculator produces the calculation that is filed with the application, and your travel history has to match your passports and entry records.
Count the days to the date you apply
The 1,095 days must fall within the five years immediately before the date of your application. An application made even a few days short does not meet the requirement.
The requirement is in section 5(1)(c)(i) of the Citizenship Act, RSC 1985, c C-29, as it read on 10 October 2026.
The application, the test and the ceremony
- ApplicationYou file the application with the physical presence calculation, proof of language ability and identity documents.
- TestApplicants aged 18 to 54 take the citizenship test on Canada’s history, geography, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. IRCC provides the official study guide.
- Interview or hearingSome applicants are asked to attend an interview with a citizenship official or a hearing before a citizenship judge.
- CeremonySuccessful applicants aged 14 or older take the oath of citizenship at a ceremony and receive a citizenship certificate.
Proof of language ability can be the results of an approved third-party test, a diploma or transcript from secondary or post-secondary education in English or French, or proof of reaching CLB 4 in certain government-funded language programs.
Criminal charges and other prohibitions
Certain crimes, whether committed in Canada or abroad, can bar a person from becoming a citizen for a period of time. If you have ever been charged with or convicted of an offence, get advice before you apply. Our inadmissibility page covers how a criminal record affects immigration status more generally.
Citizenship by descent: children born outside Canada
The rules for people born abroad to Canadian parents changed on 15 December 2025, when Bill C-3 came into force. On IRCC’s page, last modified on 24 December 2025:
- A person born outside Canada before 15 December 2025 to a Canadian parent is automatically a citizen, including where the parent became a citizen because of these changes.
- For a child born or adopted outside Canada on or after 15 December 2025 to a parent who was also born or adopted abroad, the Canadian parent must have spent at least 1,095 days in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption.
A person who is a citizen by descent applies for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship), not for a grant of citizenship. These rules are new and detailed, so the facts of each family have to be checked against the Act.
How Law Wise helps with citizenship
- checking physical presence against your travel history before you sign
- reviewing tax filing, language proof and prohibitions
- preparing and filing the application
- responding to requests for more documents, such as a residence questionnaire
- preparing you for an interview or hearing
- proof of citizenship applications for people born abroad to a Canadian parent
You are not required to use a representative, IRCC’s forms and guides are free, and no representative can promise an invitation or an approval. Your file is handled by a Law Wise lawyer licensed by the Law Society of Ontario. Service is available in English, Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi, and, if you retain the firm, fees are explained and confirmed in writing before work starts.
Common questions about Canadian citizenship
How many days do I need to apply for citizenship?
At least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada in the five years before you sign the application. IRCC recommends applying with more than the minimum.
Does my time as a student or worker count?
Partly. Each day in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before you became a permanent resident counts as half a day, up to a maximum of 365 days.
Do I have to take the citizenship test?
Yes, if you are aged 18 to 54 on the day you sign the application. Applicants in that age group must also prove their English or French.
Can I apply if my PR card has expired?
Yes. You must be a permanent resident, but the card itself does not have to be valid.
My child was born outside Canada. Is my child a citizen?
It depends on when the child was born and on your own history. Since 15 December 2025, a parent who was also born or adopted abroad must have spent at least 1,095 days in Canada before the child’s birth for the child to be a citizen by descent.
How long does a citizenship application take?
IRCC publishes its current processing times, and they change. We do not promise a processing time.
Speak with an immigration lawyer about citizenship
Your first consultation is free for 15 minutes, by appointment. Call us or send a message, and have your passports and your travel dates for the past five years ready.
This page is general legal information, current as of 10 October 2026. Immigration programs and instructions change often, so confirm the current rules on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. This page is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. For advice about your situation, please speak with a lawyer.