Becoming a Canadian Citizen: What You Need to Know

Importance of obtaining citizenship

Coming to Canada and becoming a permanent resident is your first step to Canadian citizenship. Getting your citizenship will open doors and unlock opportunities to help you build your new life in Canada and realize your dreams. Benefits of Canadian citizenship include the right to vote and eligibility for more jobs.

For a brief overview of the process of becoming a Canadian citizen, see How to Become A Canadian Citizen - CitizenshipCounts.ca.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must

• Be a permanent resident

• Have lived in Canada for 3 years out of the last 5 years before the day you apply

• Have filed your taxes and have paid any income tax you may owe

• Prove your language skills (English or French)

  • For example, proof that you’re attending (or that you attended) uOttawa in English or French counts

• Pass a citizenship test

For details, see Apply for citizenship: Who can apply - Canada.ca. To check if you’re eligible, use this tool.

How to apply

Learn how to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Citizenship test and interview

You must pass a multiple-choice test about Canada that covers the rights and responsibilities of Canadians and information about Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws, and national symbols. For details, see ​​Prepare for the citizenship test and interview - Canada.ca and watch this video about the citizenship test.

Oath of citizenship and ceremony

Your last step to becoming a Canadian citizen is to take the Oath of Citizenship at a citizenship ceremony. Learn how to prepare for the citizenship ceremony.

Resources for preparing for the citizenship test

• The official study guide

  • This is the only official guide for the citizenship test. Everything you need to know for the test is in this guide, so you should prioritize studying this guide.

• Flashcards and practice tests

• YMCA workshops to help you prepare for the test

• Citizenship test prep class from the Somali Centre for Family Services

• Look for more community resources using the government of Canada’s newcomer services search tool.

Situations that may prevent someone from becoming a citizen

Learn about the situations that may prevent someone from becoming a Canadian citizen.

After you become a citizen

• Get your passport.

• Register to vote.

• And more! See After the citizenship ceremony - Canada.ca.