Applying for Canadian citizenship is the last step for most permanent residents, and the rules come down to valid PR status plus five checks: time in Canada, tax filing, language, a knowledge test and no prohibition. This page walks through each rule as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) states it, the fees for a whole family, the online application step by step and how long IRCC currently takes to decide.
This page is education, not legal or immigration advice. The official eligibility check, the physical presence calculator and the application itself are on IRCC’s website, and the application status tracker shows where a submitted file stands.
Canadian citizenship requirements: who can apply?
The requirements differ for adults and for minors, and minors split into two groups: those with a Canadian parent or a parent applying at the same time (IRCC calls this “minor 5(2)”) and those without (minor 5(1)). IRCC’s rules, side by side:
How to read this table: ages and the 5-year physical presence and tax window are set by the day the application is signed. Adults 18 to 54 can ask for a waiver of the language and test requirements, and any adult (or a minor aged 14 to 17) can ask for a waiver of the oath, when their situation, such as a disability, prevents them from meeting it.
| Requirement | Adults (18 and over) | Minor, no Canadian parent applying (5(1)) | Minor with a Canadian parent or parent applying (5(2)) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent resident status | Yes: valid PR status, no removal order, no unmet PR conditions (an expired PR card is fine) | Yes | Yes |
| Physical presence | At least 1,095 days in Canada in the 5 years before signing, with at least 730 days as a PR in that period | Same 1,095-day rule, counted from the date the parent or guardian signs | Not required |
| Income tax filing | Filed for at least 3 of the 5 years before applying, if required to file | Same rule, if the minor had to file | Not required |
| Language proof (CLB/NCLC 4, speaking and listening) | Ages 18 to 54 on the day of signing; 55 and over exempt | Not required | Not required |
| Citizenship test | Ages 18 to 54 on the day of signing; 55 and over exempt | Not required | Not required |
| Oath of citizenship | Yes, at the ceremony | Ages 14 to 17 only | Ages 14 to 17 only |
| No prohibition | Yes (criminal and security prohibitions; prison, parole and probation time does not count as time in Canada) | Yes | Yes |
Source: Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca; Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca (temporary resident time); Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca (eligibility period); Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca (taxes); Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca (language); Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca (exemptions); Citizenship test: Study for the test - Canada.ca; Citizenship test: Study for the test - Canada.ca (format); Citizenship test: Test results and next steps - Canada.ca; Citizenship test: How the test works - Canada.ca; Apply for Canadian citizenship: How to apply - Canada.ca (refunds); Apply for Canadian citizenship: How to apply - Canada.ca (paper applications); Apply for Canadian citizenship: How to apply - Canada.ca (minors online); Find out if you have the language proof for citizenship: Step 1 - Canada.ca; Find out if you have the language proof for citizenship: Step 2 - Canada.ca; Apply for Canadian citizenship: After you apply - Canada.ca; Citizenship ceremony: Who has to take the oath - Canada.ca. In effect from April 21, 2026; checked September 30, 2026.
Three points trip people up before they start:
- Permanent resident status must still be valid. An expired PR card is fine; lost PR status is not. Someone with a removal order or unmet PR conditions (such as a medical requirement) cannot apply.
- Marriage does not confer citizenship. IRCC is direct about it: the spouse of a Canadian citizen meets exactly the same rules as any other adult.
- Most prohibitions are about criminal and security matters. Time spent serving a prison sentence, on parole or on probation does not count as time in Canada, so it also shrinks the physical presence count.
How do you count the 1,095 days of physical presence?
The core rule: an adult must have been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years before the day the application is signed. That 5-year window must include at least 730 days as a permanent resident. The window moves with the signing date, so the count is only valid for the day it is done; IRCC also requires the signature date and the “application date” in the physical presence calculation to be the same.
Time before PR helps, at a discount:
- Temporary residents and protected persons. Each day in Canada as a visitor, student, worker, temporary resident permit holder or protected person inside the window counts as half a day. The credit stops at 365 days, which takes 730 calendar days of pre-PR time to reach.
- Protected persons can count only from the day the refugee claim or PRRA was approved until the day before becoming a permanent resident. Time waiting for a decision on a refugee claim does not count at all.
- Crown servants and their families posted outside Canada count each day abroad as a full day, but have to apply on paper.
Because the credit is capped, at least 730 days always have to come from time in Canada as a permanent resident.
Two worked examples, using hypothetical day counts inside the 5-year window (trips abroad already removed):
| Example | Days in Canada before PR | Pre-PR credit | Days in Canada as PR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Former work permit holder | 600 | 300 | 820 | 1,120 | Eligible, 25 days to spare |
| Former international student | 1,000 | 365 | 700 | 1,065 | Not yet: 30 days short |
The second person needs roughly 30 more days in Canada as a permanent resident. Waiting works here because the pre-PR credit stays at the cap even as the oldest days drop out of the moving window, but that is not true for everyone: when early days drop out, the total can fall. IRCC encourages applying with more than 1,095 days so a small counting error does not sink the application.
For the official count, IRCC’s calculator sits inside the online citizenship account (a paper version and form CIT 0407 exist for paper applicants). The citizenship physical presence calculator is a quick way to check the window before opening an account. The separate rule for keeping PR status is a different calculation, covered in the PR card renewal guide.
Which tax years count for a citizenship application?
IRCC’s wording: an applicant “may need to file taxes in Canada for at least 3 years during the 5 years right before the date you apply.” The rule applies in the years the Income Tax Act required a return, and the application asks, year by year, whether a return was required and whether it was filed.
A return filed in a low-income year matters beyond citizenship too, because a return is what keeps benefits such as the Canada child benefit and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit flowing. A required return that was missed can still be filed late with the CRA; what counts is the filing record on the day the citizenship application is signed. The first tax return guide for newcomers covers the first-year rules, the Canadian tax deadline guide lists the filing dates, and anyone unsure whether they were a resident for tax purposes in a given year can start with the NR74 tax residency guide.
What language proof does IRCC accept for citizenship?
Adults who are 18 to 54 on the day they sign must show speaking and listening at Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) level 4 in English, or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 4 in French. Reading and writing are not assessed for citizenship. IRCC also notes how well an applicant speaks during any contact with a citizenship official.
The cheapest route for many people is proof they already have. IRCC accepts results from the language test taken for permanent residence, even if expired, as long as the scores meet these minimums:
How to read this table: only listening and speaking count. Include a copy of the results with the application; results in a language other than English or French need a certified translation.
| Test | Test date | Minimum result for citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| CELPIP-General | On or after April 1, 2014 | 4 or higher in listening and speaking |
| CELPIP-General | On or before March 31, 2014 | 2H or higher in listening and speaking |
| IELTS General Training | On or after November 28, 2008 | Listening 4.5 or higher, speaking 4.0 or higher |
| IELTS General Training | On or before November 27, 2008 | 4.0 or higher in listening and speaking |
| IELTS Academic | Any date | Not accepted for citizenship |
| PTE Core | Any date | 28 or higher in listening, 42 or higher in speaking |
| TEF Canada | On or after July 1, 2012 | B1 or higher in listening and speaking |
| TEF Canada | On or before June 30, 2012 | Level 3 or higher in listening and speaking |
| TCF Canada | Any date | B1 or higher |
Source: Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca; Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca (temporary resident time); Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca (eligibility period); Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca (taxes); Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca (language); Canadian citizenship for adults and minor children: Who can apply - Canada.ca (exemptions); Citizenship test: Study for the test - Canada.ca; Citizenship test: Study for the test - Canada.ca (format); Citizenship test: Test results and next steps - Canada.ca; Citizenship test: How the test works - Canada.ca; Apply for Canadian citizenship: How to apply - Canada.ca (refunds); Apply for Canadian citizenship: How to apply - Canada.ca (paper applications); Apply for Canadian citizenship: How to apply - Canada.ca (minors online); Find out if you have the language proof for citizenship: Step 1 - Canada.ca; Find out if you have the language proof for citizenship: Step 2 - Canada.ca; Apply for Canadian citizenship: After you apply - Canada.ca; Citizenship ceremony: Who has to take the oath - Canada.ca. In effect from April 21, 2026; checked September 30, 2026.
Other accepted proof includes a diploma, transcript or certificate from a secondary or post-secondary program taught in English or French, in or outside Canada. An application sent without readable language proof is returned whole, not processed. The IELTS to CLB conversion guide shows how the scores map to CLB levels for other programs.
What is on the citizenship test and what score do you need?
Adults aged 18 to 54 on the signing date take the test; people under 18 and those 55 and over do not. IRCC’s format:
- 20 questions, multiple choice or true or false, in English or French.
- 45 minutes.
- Pass mark: at least 15 correct answers, or 75%.
- Up to 3 attempts within the 30-day window in the invitation.
Every question is based on the official study guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, which is free online, as a PDF or eBook, in audio and on paper. The test covers the rights and responsibilities of citizens and Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols. It does not test language.
The invitation arrives by email a few weeks or months after the application is submitted. Most people take it online, from anywhere, monitored by webcam; an accommodation (Braille, large print, oral, extra time, in person or on Microsoft Teams) can be requested. After an online test, an officer reviews the result, which can take a few days or weeks. Failing all 3 attempts leads to a hearing with a citizenship official, where the oral knowledge test also has 20 questions with 15 needed to pass. A failed hearing means a refusal, and a new application with a new fee.
How much does it cost to apply for Canadian citizenship?
IRCC’s fee list, current since the right of citizenship fee rose from $119.75 on March 31, 2026:
| Applicant | IRCC fee | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 18 and over | $653 | Processing fee plus the $123 right of citizenship fee |
| Minor, under 18 | $100 | Processing fee only |
The adult processing part alone is $530. Family totals, paid together or separately:
- one adult: $653
- couple: $1,306
- single parent with one child: $753
- couple with two children under 18: $1,506
Fees are paid online and the receipt is uploaded to the account (or printed and mailed with a paper application). A partial payment gets the application returned. The refund rules matter if something goes wrong:
- Before processing starts (before the acknowledgement of receipt, or AOR), a withdrawal gets the full amount back.
- After processing starts, a refusal, withdrawal or closure refunds only the $123 right of citizenship fee on an adult application, and nothing on a minor’s. An adult refused at that stage has spent $530.
- Overpayments above the required fee are refunded automatically.
Costs outside IRCC’s fee (a language test if no older result qualifies, certified translations, courier fees, fingerprints if IRCC asks for them) vary by provider. Every IRCC fee, including PR and PR card fees, is collected in the IRCC fees table.
How to apply for Canadian citizenship online, step by step
- Check eligibility on the day you plan to sign. Count physical presence for that exact date, confirm the tax years, and gather language proof if 18 to 54.
- Create an IRCC citizenship account. One adult per account. Adults can apply as a group (family or not), each with a linked account, and one adult can add applications for up to 20 minors.
- Complete the physical presence calculator in the account and fill in the application: addresses, work and study history, trips, tax years and any prohibitions.
- Upload documents. Typically identity documents, the PR proof, language proof and photos, following the list the account generates.
- Pay the fee online ($653 per adult, $100 per minor) and upload the receipt.
- Sign, date and submit. Every adult signs their own application; minors aged 14 to 17 sign too. In a group, one adult submits everyone’s applications together.
- Watch for the confirmation email, then the AOR. The confirmation only says the file arrived. The AOR, with the application number and unique client identifier (UCI), confirms it was complete and that processing has started.
Paper applications sent by regular mail go to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia; courier deliveries go to IRCC’s citizenship digitization centre in New Waterford, Nova Scotia. IRCC returns a paper application that arrives more than 90 days after the date on the form, and one incomplete application in a group sends all of them back.
Citizenship processing time: how long does an application take?
IRCC publishes a forward-looking estimate for new applications and updates it monthly:
How to read this table: IRCC's processing-times data was last updated September 3, 2026. For a citizenship grant, the estimate runs from the day IRCC receives a complete application (online: the day it is submitted; paper: the day it reaches IRCC's mailroom) until the applicant takes the oath, or until the certificate is mailed for a child under 14.
| Application | Estimated time for a new application | Applications in the queue |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship grant (adults and minors applying to become citizens) | About 12 months | About 327,100 people waiting |
| Citizenship proof (citizenship certificate) | About 33 months | About 136,000 people waiting |
Source: Check processing times - IRCC forward-looking processing time data (flpt-en.json); Check processing times - IRCC forward-looking processing time data (citizenship proofs); Check processing times - IRCC forward-looking processing time data (people waiting); Check processing times - IRCC forward-looking processing time data (update date); Check current IRCC processing times: Citizenship grant - Canada.ca; Check processing times - IRCC (when processing times start). In effect from September 3, 2026; checked September 30, 2026.
The usual sequence after submitting:
| Stage | What happens | IRCC’s timing |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmation and completeness check | Email confirming receipt, then the AOR if nothing is missing | Varies; an incomplete file is returned and the clock restarts |
| Test invitation | Email invitation for adults 18 to 54 | A few weeks or months after submitting |
| Test | Online, webcam-monitored | Within the 30-day window in the invitation |
| Official result | An officer reviews the online result | A few days or weeks |
| Interview (some applicants) | Identity, original documents, passports used in the 5 years before applying | When IRCC invites |
| Oath ceremony | Oath of citizenship for everyone 14 and over; citizenship starts here | Invitation after approval |
IRCC lists the reasons a file can take longer than the estimate: an incomplete application, a complex case, or extra security checks; a request for documents or fingerprints, or a failed test, also adds steps. IRCC says calling does not get an application processed faster.
Can you leave Canada while your citizenship application is in process?
Yes, with conditions. IRCC’s list: keep PR status, be able to receive and answer mail and email within the stated time (usually 30 days), and be available in person in Canada for the test (18 to 54), any interview and the ceremony. IRCC asks applicants to tell it about trips longer than two weeks in a row.
Travel after signing does not change the physical presence count already submitted, because the window ends on the signing date. Missing a test, interview, hearing or ceremony can get the application closed, with only the partial refund described above.
What should you do if your application is delayed, incomplete or refused?
- Check status first. IRCC’s application status tracker works only after the AOR arrives, and it shows invitations to an interview, retest or hearing and the decision; after the test, IRCC does not send email updates.
- Answer requests on time. Missing a document deadline or a required event is one of the reasons IRCC closes files.
- Fingerprints, only when asked. IRCC accepts them from a local police service, the RCMP or an RCMP-accredited company, not from a Service Canada Centre.
- Contact IRCC through its web form for changes of address or contact details, trips of more than two weeks or anything the tracker does not answer, and include the UCI and application number from the AOR. IRCC asks people not to contact it about status before they have an AOR.
- After a refusal, a new application with a new fee is the usual route once the problem (days, taxes, language proof) is fixed. Some applicants with prohibitions or complex residence questions use an authorized representative, such as a lawyer or licensed consultant; IRCC says using one is optional and does not guarantee approval.
What changes next for citizenship applications?
- Processing times are updated every month, so the 12-month estimate on this page will move; it is re-checked against IRCC’s data each month.
- Fees changed most recently on March 31, 2026, when the right of citizenship fee rose to $123. IRCC publishes fee changes on its fee-changes page before they take effect.
- Online applications are expanding: IRCC says it is working to let everyone, including representatives, apply online in the future.
Common mistakes on a citizenship application
- Counting to the day you plan to submit instead of the day you sign. The window ends on the signature date, and the physical presence calculation must use that same date.
- Applying with exactly 1,095 days. One forgotten day trip abroad makes the applicant ineligible; IRCC encourages a buffer.
- Counting pre-PR time at full value. It counts at half a day, up to 365 days of credit.
- Leaving a tax year unfiled. At least 3 of the 5 years need a filed return, in the years one was required.
- Sending IELTS Academic results. Only IELTS General Training is accepted for citizenship.
- Signing and then waiting. A paper application that arrives more than 90 days after the signature date is returned.
- Travelling through the test window. Missing the 30-day window or a ceremony can close the file.
Related guides and tools
The citizenship physical presence calculator counts days before an application is signed. Families who are still sponsoring a partner can check the spousal sponsorship guide, since a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident can sponsor. For every IRCC fee on one page, see the IRCC fees table.