How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship: Eligibility, Fees and Steps

To apply as an adult (18 or older), you generally must:

• Be a permanent resident of Canada, with no unresolved issues about your status (for example, no removal order and no review of your residency obligation)
• Have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the 5 years right before the date you sign your application
• Have filed income taxes in Canada for at least 3 years within those 5 years, if you were required to file
• If you are 18 to 54, show English or French skills at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in speaking and listening
• If you are 18 to 54, pass the citizenship test
• Not be under a prohibition, such as being in prison, on parole or probation, or charged with certain crimes

At least 730 of your 1,095 days must be days as a permanent resident, because the credit for time before you became a PR is capped (see below).

Your eligibility period is the 5 years before the date you sign your application. Within it:

Use our citizenship calculator to count your days, then check again with the official physical presence calculator from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) before you apply. Your count must be exact; IRCC compares it with your travel records.

Tip: Apply with a buffer of extra days. If you are a few days short because of a counting mistake, your application can be returned or refused.

If you are 18 to 54, you must show CLB 4 or higher in speaking and listening. Accepted proof includes:

• Results from an approved third-party test, such as CELPIP (including the listening and speaking version), IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada
• A diploma or degree from a secondary or post-secondary program completed in English or French, in Canada or abroad
• Certain government-funded language training certificates showing CLB 4 in speaking and listening

See our language tests guide and convert scores with the CLB converter.

Fees as of September 2026, from the IRCC fee list:

The adult fee includes the right of citizenship fee. Budget also for photos, language tests if needed, and police certificates if IRCC asks for them. Citizenship applicants generally don't need to give biometrics.

1. Acknowledgment of receipt. IRCC confirms your application is complete.
2. Background checks. IRCC checks your physical presence, taxes, and criminal and security records. You may be asked for more documents, such as travel records or fingerprints.
3. Citizenship test. Applicants aged 18 to 54 get an invitation to take the test, usually online. You have 20 multiple-choice or true-or-false questions and 45 minutes, and you need 15 correct answers to pass. See our citizenship test guide.
4. Interview, if needed. An official may meet you to check documents or your language skills.
5. Decision.
6. Citizenship ceremony. You take the Oath of Citizenship and become a Canadian citizen. You receive a citizenship certificate.

Keep your PR card valid and your address current while you wait. Check processing times with our processing times tool.

• Too few days. A miscount of even one day below 1,095 can lead to a return or refusal. Apply with a buffer.
• Travel history gaps. Every absence must be listed. IRCC can compare your answers with border and airline records.
• Missing language proof. If you are 18 to 54, include proof of CLB 4 with your application.
• Tax filings not done. Check your filings with the Canada Revenue Agency before you apply.
• Criminal charges or a residency issue. A pending charge, probation, or a question about your PR status can pause or stop your application. If this applies to you, talk to a lawyer or a licensed consultant (RCIC) first.
• Unclear photos or documents. Follow IRCC's photo and document instructions exactly.

A parent or legal guardian can apply for a child under 18. Minors don't take the test or prove language skills. In most cases the child must be a permanent resident, and a parent must already be a Canadian citizen or be applying at the same time.

If you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, you may already be a citizen. Rules on citizenship by descent changed recently; see citizenship by descent before you apply for a grant.

Canada allows dual and multiple citizenship. Whether you keep your first citizenship depends on your home country's laws. Some countries end your citizenship when you become Canadian. See our dual citizenship guide.