Canadian Citizenship Law

A child (under 18 years of age) must be a permanent resident of Canada to apply for Canadian citizenship. To apply on behalf of your child you must either:
already be a citizen; or apply for citizenship together as a family.

APPLYING FOR CHILDREN

Children do not need to have lived in Canada for three years. If you are the parent of a child who is under 18 years of age, you may apply for your child as soon as the child receives permanent resident status. To apply for your child, you must already be a Canadian citizen or be applying to become a citizen.

Children do not write the citizenship test.

CITIZENSHIP TEST

If you are between the ages of 18 and 59 you must pass a citizenship test.

WHO CANNOT BECOME A CANADIAN CITIZEN

You cannot become a Canadian citizen if you:
are under a removal order;
are now charged with an indictable criminal offence;
have been convicted of an indictable criminal offence in the past three years;
are now in prison, on parole, or on probation;
are being investigated for or have been convicted of war crimes;
had your citizenship revoked in the last five years.
Please note that time spent in prison, on parole or on probation may not be counted towards becoming a citizen.

APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP

All applications for Canadian Citizenship are processed by mail at Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. To apply to become a Canadian citizen you must follow these six steps:
Make sure you have the right application form.

There are many kinds of citizenship and immigration forms. To apply for citizenship, you must have the "Application for Citizenship" form. If you are applying for children, you need a separate form for each child. The child's form is not the same as an adult's form.

If you do not have the form you need, you can get it by calling the Call Centre. Please be ready to tell us the name, age, date of permanent resident status for everyone you are applying for, full address with postal code and how many adult and children forms you need.

See below for the Call Centre nation-wide toll-free number.
Read the "Application for Citizenship" form before you fill it out.
Applying for citizenship costs money. The cost for processing your form and your children's forms is not refundable. Please make sure you are ready to become a citizen before applying.

Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
The application form comes with instructions. Complete the form and attach photocopies of your documents. You may have to show the original documents at the time of your test, and so remember to bring them with you.

These are the documents you need to include with your adult application:
A photocopy of your immigration landing record (IMM 1000).
A photocopy of two pieces of identification, such as a driver's license, a bank card or a medical card.

Two colour or black-and-white photographs of you that were taken in the past year. The application form for citizenship comes with instructions about the pictures you need. Take the photograph instructions to the photographer and tell the photographer that you want "citizenship photos". The photographs must be stamped on the back with the photographer's name and address and the date the photographs were taken. You cannot wear a head covering when this photograph is taken unless you wear one because of your religion. You must sign the bottom of the photographs on the white strip under the picture. Make sure you sign your usual signature. Check the application form for more important information about the photographs. Children who are 14 or older must also sign their pictures.
A non-refundable processing fee and a refundable Right of Citizenship Fee must be paid at the time of application. The fees can be paid at most financial institutions in Canada and the receipt form (IMM 5401) must be submitted with the application.

If you are applying for a child, you must include a copy of a legal document (for example, the child's birth certificate or legal adoption papers) which shows the names of the parents, or passport listing the children. You will also need to submit the child's immigration paper, passport, two pieces of identification, photos and the fee. Mail the form in the envelope that is provided.

After you have completed the application form, you must mail it in the pre-addressed envelope to:

Case Processing Centre
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
P.O. Box 7000
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6V6

Remember to:
sign and date the form and sign your photos;
include the receipt of payment (form IMM 5401);
include your application;
include your photographs; and
include photocopies of all documents.

If you are applying for more than one person, you should submit all the forms and documents in the same envelope. You may also make payment for the whole family.

Get ready.
Your application may take several months to process. You will receive the book A Look at Canada after your application form is received. You should begin to study A Look at Canada as soon as you receive it to prepare for your citizenship test. You may also want to go to a citizenship class if one is being held near you.

If you meet the basic requirements for citizenship, and are between the ages of 18 and 59, you will be scheduled for the test. We will send you a "Notice to Appear for a Citizenship Test" telling you the date and time when you will be given your test. If you are 60 or older, you do not have to write the test. You may be given a written test or, in some circumstances, an interview. Your answers to the test questions will show whether you know enough English or French and whether you know the information in A Look at Canada.

Take the Oath of Citizenship.
If you meet all the requirements to become a Canadian citizen, you will be sent a "Notice to Appear to Take the Oath of Citizenship" telling you when and where your citizenship ceremony will take place. If you wish to swear the oath of citizenship on your holy book, please bring it with you to the ceremony.