How to apply for Canadian citizenship after becoming a permanent resident
Learn how permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship in 2026, including the 1,095-day physical presence rule, tax filing, language proof, citizenship test, documents, $653 adult fee, online application and citizenship ceremony.
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An adult permanent resident can generally apply for Canadian citizenship after being physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the 5 years before signing the application, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident. Eligible pre-PR time as a temporary resident or protected person can count as half a day per day, up to 365 days of credit. You must also meet applicable tax filing requirements, not be under a citizenship prohibition and, if you are 18 to 54 when you sign the application, provide proof of English or French at CLB or NCLC level 4 or higher and pass the citizenship test. Most applicants can apply online through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The adult application fee is $653 as of March 31, 2026.
What you need
- Have valid Canadian permanent resident status and no unfulfilled conditions that prevent citizenship eligibility.
- Be physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the 5 years immediately before the date you sign the application.
- The 5-year eligibility period must include at least 730 days when you were a permanent resident.
- File Canadian income taxes, if required under Canadian tax law, for at least 3 years within the 5-year eligibility period.
- If you are 18 to 54 years old when you sign the application, provide acceptable proof of speaking and listening ability in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmarks level 4 or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien level 4 or higher.
- If you are 18 to 54 years old when you sign the application, take and pass the citizenship test unless an approved waiver applies.
- Not be under a prohibition that prevents a grant of Canadian citizenship.
- Provide the documents required for your application, including identity documents, passport or travel-document information for the eligibility period and citizenship photographs where applicable.
- Provide police certificates when required based on time spent in another country.
- Pay the applicable citizenship application fee.
- Take the oath of citizenship if your application is approved and you are required to take the oath.
Eligibility
This procedure is for an adult permanent resident applying for a grant of Canadian citizenship. You must have permanent resident status and meet the physical presence, tax, language, knowledge and prohibition requirements that apply to your circumstances.
You must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the 5 years immediately before signing your application. That eligibility period must include at least 730 days as a permanent resident. Some time in Canada before becoming a permanent resident can count toward the 1,095-day total.
If you are 18 to 54 years old on the day you sign your application, you must normally prove adequate English or French speaking and listening ability and take the citizenship test. Applicants aged 55 or older do not have to meet the language-proof or citizenship-test requirements. Waivers may also be available in qualifying circumstances.
How to do it
- Confirm that you still have permanent resident status. Make sure your PR status has not been lost and that there are no unresolved conditions that affect your citizenship eligibility. You may apply with either a valid or expired PR card as long as you remain a permanent resident.
- Calculate your physical presence. Use IRCC's official Physical Presence Calculator. You need at least 1,095 qualifying days in Canada during the 5 years immediately before signing the application, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident.
- Check whether pre-PR time can be credited. Eligible days physically present in Canada as an authorized temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident count as one half day each, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.
- Confirm your tax filing history. If Canadian tax law required you to file income taxes, you generally need to have filed for at least 3 years during the 5 years immediately before applying.
- Prepare your language evidence if you are 18 to 54. Submit acceptable proof that you can speak and listen in English or French at CLB or NCLC level 4 or higher.
- Gather your supporting documents. Prepare the documents requested by IRCC, including identification, passport and travel-document information for your eligibility period and any required police certificates. Online applicants receive a personalized document checklist.
- Complete the citizenship application. Most adult applicants can apply online through the IRCC citizenship application system. Applicants in specified situations must use a paper application.
- Pay the application fee. Pay the current adult citizenship fee of $653 online.
- Submit the complete application. Review all information carefully before submitting. IRCC can return an incomplete application or request additional information during processing.
- Wait for the acknowledgement of receipt. IRCC issues an acknowledgement of receipt after checking that the application is complete enough to begin processing. An immediate online submission confirmation is not the acknowledgement of receipt.
- Take the citizenship test if required. Applicants aged 18 to 54 are normally invited to take the test. Most applicants take it online and receive a 30-day window in which to complete it.
- Respond to any IRCC requests. IRCC may ask for additional documents, an interview, updated information or other evidence before deciding the application.
- Attend your citizenship ceremony and take the oath. If your application is approved and you are required to take the oath, IRCC will invite you to a citizenship ceremony. You become a Canadian citizen after taking the oath as required.
When can a permanent resident apply for Canadian citizenship?
A permanent resident does not become eligible for Canadian citizenship simply by holding PR status for a fixed number of calendar years. The main residence requirement is physical presence in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the 5 years immediately before the date you sign your citizenship application.
Your 5-year eligibility period must include at least 730 days during which you were a permanent resident. IRCC encourages applicants to apply with more than exactly 1,095 days in case an absence or calculation error reduces the final eligible total.
Canadian citizenship physical presence requirement
You need at least 1,095 days of qualifying physical presence in Canada within the 5 years immediately before applying. Every eligible day physically present in Canada as a permanent resident counts as one full day.
IRCC provides an official Physical Presence Calculator. Online applicants calculate their physical presence within their citizenship application account. Applicants preparing a paper application can use IRCC's online calculator and include the required calculation with their application.
Can time in Canada before permanent residence count?
Yes. Some time spent physically in Canada before you became a permanent resident can count toward citizenship eligibility.
Each eligible day you were physically present in Canada as an authorized temporary resident or protected person during the relevant 5-year period counts as one half day. The maximum pre-PR credit is 365 days, which means 730 eligible pre-PR days are needed to obtain the full 365-day credit.
Temporary resident status for this purpose can include authorized status as a visitor, student, worker or temporary resident permit holder. Protected-person time generally starts when you receive the qualifying positive protection decision and continues until the day before you become a permanent resident.
Time while waiting for a refugee claim decision does not itself count as protected-person time. IRCC also states that work or study permits issued while a refugee claim or Pre-Removal Risk Assessment was being assessed do not by themselves create temporary resident status for this calculation.
Do you need to file taxes before applying for citizenship?
You may need to have filed Canadian income taxes for at least 3 years during the 5 years immediately before the date you apply if you were required to file under Canadian tax law.
The citizenship application asks whether you were required to file taxes and whether you actually filed them. Citizenship eligibility does not create a separate tax filing obligation for a year in which Canadian tax law did not require you to file.
Language requirement for Canadian citizenship
If you are between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your citizenship application, you must normally prove that you have adequate speaking and listening ability in either English or French.
The required level is Canadian Language Benchmarks level 4 or higher for English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien level 4 or higher for French.
At this level, IRCC expects applicants to be able to participate in short everyday conversations, understand simple instructions, questions and directions, use basic grammar and use enough common vocabulary to answer questions and express themselves.
What can you use as language proof?
IRCC accepts several types of language evidence. Depending on your circumstances, acceptable proof can include evidence of secondary or post-secondary study completed or attended in English or French, or an accepted third-party language test result.
Educational evidence can include a diploma, transcript, certificate or other accepted school record. If the supporting document is not in English or French, additional certified translation and language-of-instruction evidence may be required.
Applicants aged 55 or older do not need to submit language proof. Applicants who meet the requirements for a compassionate waiver may request an exemption using the applicable IRCC process.
Canadian citizenship test requirements
If you are 18 to 54 years old on the day you sign the application, you normally have to take the citizenship test unless you receive an applicable waiver.
The test contains 20 multiple-choice or true-or-false questions and is available in English or French. You have 45 minutes to complete it and need at least 15 correct answers to pass. IRCC allows up to 3 attempts.
The questions cover the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens and Canada's history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols. IRCC bases the questions on the official study guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.
Most applicants are invited to take the citizenship test online. The invitation normally provides a 30-day period in which to complete it. Alternative formats and accommodations are available where appropriate.
Documents needed to apply for Canadian citizenship
The exact document list depends on your circumstances and whether you apply online or on paper. Online applicants receive a personalized checklist in their account.
For an adult paper application, IRCC's current document requirements include the adult citizenship application, the physical presence calculation, identity documents, information from passports and travel documents covering the eligibility period, citizenship photographs, applicable language proof and the fee receipt.
Passport and travel documents
For a paper adult application, IRCC requires colour photocopies of the identity pages of passports and travel documents covering the 5-year eligibility period. If a passport or travel document was not available for part or all of that period, the application asks you to explain why.
Personal identification
For a paper application, adult applicants provide photocopies of 2 pieces of personal identification showing the required identifying information. Examples listed by IRCC include a PR card, driver's licence, provincial or territorial health card, government-issued foreign identification and the identity page of a passport or travel document.
A valid or expired PR card can be used. If the PR card is one of the identification documents, IRCC requires the second piece of identification to be issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government.
Citizenship photographs
Paper adult applications require 2 identical printed colour citizenship photographs that meet IRCC's current citizenship photo specifications. Online applicants follow the photograph instructions provided in the online application.
Do you need a police certificate for Canadian citizenship?
You may need a police certificate depending on your travel and residence history. The current adult citizenship form requires a police certificate from a country other than Canada if, during the past 4 years and since turning 18, you were present in that country for 183 days or more in a row, subject to the exceptions and instructions in the application.
If you cannot obtain a required police certificate, explain the reason in the citizenship application. IRCC may also request police certificates or updated documentation during processing.
Can you apply for Canadian citizenship online?
Yes. Most applicants can apply online, and IRCC recommends the online application because it is faster to submit, includes built-in checks and gives immediate electronic confirmation that the application was submitted.
An online submission confirmation is not the same as an acknowledgement of receipt. IRCC sends an acknowledgement of receipt after reviewing the application for completeness and starting processing.
Who may need to apply on paper?
Some applicants must still submit a paper application. IRCC currently requires paper applications in specified situations, including when the physical presence calculation includes qualifying time outside Canada as a Crown servant or an eligible family member of a Crown servant, or when a representative will complete and submit the application on the applicant's behalf.
How much does Canadian citizenship cost in 2026?
As of March 31, 2026, the adult citizenship grant fee is CAD $653. This consists of a $530 application processing fee and a $123 right of citizenship fee.
The right of citizenship fee increased from $119.75 to $123 on March 31, 2026. Citizenship fees are paid online. Applicants should use IRCC's current fee list before submitting because government fees can change.
How long does a Canadian citizenship application take?
IRCC publishes current forward-looking processing-time estimates for citizenship grants through its official processing-times tool. These estimates can change and are not a maximum or guarantee for an individual application.
IRCC's formal service standard for citizenship grants for adults and minors is 12 months. Individual applications can take longer depending on completeness, verification requirements, requests for additional information, testing, interviews or other circumstances.
IRCC's published service standard also aims to invite applicants to a citizenship ceremony within 4 months after their citizenship application is approved.
What happens after you submit the citizenship application?
For an online application, you first receive an email confirming that the application was successfully submitted. IRCC then checks whether the application is complete. If it passes the completeness check, IRCC sends an acknowledgement of receipt.
After the acknowledgement of receipt, eligible applicants can use the citizenship application tracker to follow progress. IRCC may verify physical presence, tax information, identity, language evidence and whether any citizenship prohibition applies.
If you are required to take the citizenship test, IRCC will send an invitation. You may also be asked to attend an interview or provide additional documents or information.
What can prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen?
You cannot be granted citizenship while certain prohibitions apply. These can involve criminal, security or other circumstances specified under Canadian citizenship law.
For example, restrictions can apply to a person serving a term of imprisonment, on parole or on probation, or to a person facing certain criminal proceedings. Time spent serving a sentence, on probation or on parole generally does not count toward the physical presence requirement.
If your permanent resident status is under review for immigration or fraud reasons, IRCC may suspend processing while that review continues. A person who has lost permanent resident status cannot obtain citizenship through the standard permanent-resident citizenship grant process.
Does marrying a Canadian citizen make you eligible sooner?
No. A permanent resident does not automatically become a Canadian citizen by marrying a Canadian citizen. A spouse of a Canadian citizen generally has to meet the same citizenship requirements as other adult applicants, including physical presence and the applicable tax, language and knowledge requirements.
Do you need a valid PR card to apply for citizenship?
No. Your PR card does not have to be valid for you to submit a citizenship application. IRCC states that you can apply using a valid or expired PR card, provided you still have permanent resident status and meet all citizenship requirements.
Citizenship ceremony and oath
If IRCC approves your application and you are required to take the oath, you will receive an invitation to a citizenship ceremony.
Adults must take the oath of citizenship unless an approved waiver applies. The ceremony is the final stage of the citizenship grant process. After completing the oath requirement, you become a Canadian citizen and receive proof of citizenship according to IRCC's current ceremony process.
Before submitting your citizenship application
Use the official physical presence calculator, check that you have more than the minimum number of qualifying days where possible, confirm your tax filing history, gather your identity and travel records and review the current IRCC document checklist.
Applicants aged 18 to 54 should also make sure their language evidence meets the official requirements and can begin studying the official Discover Canada guide before receiving a citizenship test invitation.
Frequently asked questions
How many years do I need to be a permanent resident before applying for Canadian citizenship?
Citizenship eligibility is based on physical presence rather than simply holding PR status for a fixed number of years. You need at least 1,095 qualifying days in Canada during the 5 years immediately before applying, and that period must include at least 730 days as a permanent resident.
How many days do I need in Canada to apply for citizenship?
You need at least 1,095 days of qualifying physical presence during the 5 years immediately before the date you sign your citizenship application.
Can time before becoming a permanent resident count toward Canadian citizenship?
Yes. Eligible days physically present in Canada as an authorized temporary resident or protected person within the 5-year eligibility period can count as one half day each, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.
How many permanent resident days must be included in the citizenship calculation?
Your 5-year eligibility period must include at least 730 days during which you were a permanent resident.
Do I need to file taxes before applying for Canadian citizenship?
If Canadian tax law required you to file income taxes, you may need to have filed for at least 3 years during the 5-year period before applying.
What English or French level is required for Canadian citizenship?
Applicants aged 18 to 54 when they sign the application normally need speaking and listening ability at Canadian Language Benchmarks level 4 or higher in English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien level 4 or higher in French.
Do people over 55 need a language test for Canadian citizenship?
Applicants aged 55 or older when they sign the application do not need to provide citizenship language proof and do not have to take the citizenship test.
Who has to take the Canadian citizenship test?
In most cases, applicants who are 18 to 54 years old on the day they sign their application must take the citizenship test unless an approved waiver applies.
How many questions are on the Canadian citizenship test?
The citizenship test has 20 multiple-choice or true-or-false questions. You have 45 minutes and need at least 15 correct answers to pass.
How many attempts do I get to pass the Canadian citizenship test?
IRCC provides up to 3 chances to pass the citizenship test.
Can I apply for Canadian citizenship online?
Yes. Most citizenship applicants can apply online, and IRCC recommends the online process. Some applicants in specified circumstances must still submit a paper application.
How much is the Canadian citizenship application fee in 2026?
The adult citizenship application fee is CAD $653 as of March 31, 2026. It includes a $530 processing fee and a $123 right of citizenship fee.
How long does Canadian citizenship take to process?
IRCC's current processing estimate changes over time and should be checked in the official processing-times tool. IRCC's formal service standard for citizenship grants is 12 months, but this is a service standard rather than a guaranteed maximum processing time.
Do I need a police certificate when applying for citizenship?
You may need one. For an adult citizenship application, IRCC requires a police certificate for an applicable country other than Canada if you were there for 183 days or more in a row during the past 4 years and since turning 18, subject to the exceptions in the application instructions.
Can I apply for citizenship with an expired PR card?
Yes. IRCC states that you can apply with a valid or expired PR card as long as you still have permanent resident status and meet the citizenship requirements.
Does marrying a Canadian citizen make me a Canadian citizen?
No. Marriage to a Canadian citizen does not automatically grant citizenship. A permanent resident spouse generally must meet the same citizenship requirements as other adult applicants.
What happens after I submit my Canadian citizenship application online?
You receive an immediate submission confirmation, then IRCC checks the application for completeness. If accepted for processing, IRCC sends an acknowledgement of receipt. The application then proceeds through eligibility checks and, where applicable, the citizenship test, additional document requests, an interview and the citizenship ceremony.
When do I officially become a Canadian citizen?
If your application is approved and you are required to take the oath, you become a Canadian citizen after completing the oath of citizenship at the citizenship ceremony.