parallax background

Canada Citizenship Visa

Eligibility and requirements

To become a Canadian citizen, most applicants must

  • be a permanent resident
  • have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the last 5 years (1,095 days)
  • have filed their taxes
  • pass a citizenship test
  • prove their language skills in English or French
  • Other requirements may apply.
Canada Citizenship Visa
Prohibitions

Prohibitions

If you committed a crime in or outside Canada

  • you may not be eligible to become a Canadian citizen for a period of time
  • time spent serving a term of imprisonment, on parole, or on probation doesn’t count as time you’ve lived in Canada

Find out about situations that may prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen

  • If you’re not sure whether the situations apply to you, contact your lawyer or arresting police officer.
  • Wait until the situation no longer applies before you apply for citizenship.
  • Case officers review your application on a case-by-case basis.