Eligibility

To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must:

  • be a permanent resident
  • have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years
  • have filed your taxes, if you need to
  • pass a citizenship test
  • prove your language skills

There are situations that can prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen.

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.
  • We’ll review your application on a case-by-case basis.
  • There are additional or different requirements if you are:
  • applying for a minor (under age 18)
  • a Canadian applying for your adopted child born outside Canada
  • a current or former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member applying under the fast-track process
  • a past Canadian citizen who want your Canadian citizenship back (including current and former CAF members)
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