How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship in 2026

Key summary: As a permanent resident (PR), you can apply for Canadian citizenship once you have 1,095 credited days of physical presence in the 5 years before you apply, with at least 730 of those days as a PR ^[1][2]. The adult fee is $653 and the wait is about 12 months as of mid-2026 ^[6][7][10]. Applicants aged 18 through 54 take a 20-question, 45-minute citizenship test and prove basic English or French ^[11][13]. Canada allows dual citizenship, but whether you keep your original passport depends on your home country's law ^[19][20].

Becoming a Canadian citizen is the final step of a journey that often starts years earlier with a study permit, a work permit, or an Express Entry invitation. It changes your legal status, your travel documents, and your democratic rights. This guide walks through eligibility, the day-count math, fees and timelines, the test, the ceremony, and what changes afterward, and it explains the dual-citizenship rules for 14 common countries of origin. If you are still on the PR pathway, our PR status guide and Express Entry guide cover the earlier stages.

Who can apply for Canadian citizenship?

To apply for an ordinary adult grant of citizenship, you must meet all of the following ^[1][3]:

• Hold permanent-resident status. You must still be a PR, have no unfulfilled conditions on that status, and not be under a removal order. You can apply with a valid or expired PR card as evidence; a current card is not required merely to keep your status ^[1].
• Meet the physical-presence rule. You need at least 1,095 credited days in the 5 years immediately before you sign the application, including at least 730 days as a PR ^[1][2].
• Meet the tax-filing rule. If the Income Tax Act required you to file, you must have filed returns for at least 3 taxation years that fall within the 5-year eligibility period ^[1][3].
• Meet the age-based language and test rules. Applicants aged 18 through 54 when they sign generally need language proof and must pass the citizenship test ^[1][13].
• Not be prohibited. Certain criminal, security, removal, misrepresentation, or revocation circumstances can prevent approval ^[4].

You do not have to promise to keep living in Canada. The former "intent to reside" requirement was repealed in 2017 and is not a current condition of the grant ^[3].

Minors (under 18) apply on a separate track. A PR child with a Canadian parent, or one applying together with a parent, uses the subsection 5(2) route with no physical-presence, tax, language, or test requirement ^[5]. A minor without that connection generally uses the adult 5(1) route and must meet the presence and tax rules, so the idea that "minors never need presence" is too broad ^[5].

How do you count the 1,095 days?

The eligibility window is the 5 years immediately before your application date ^[1][2]. Within that window:

• Each eligible day after becoming a PR counts as 1 full day ^[2].
• Each eligible day in Canada before PR (as a valid visitor, student, worker, temporary resident permit holder, or approved protected person) counts as 0.5 day ^[1][2].
• Pre-PR credit is capped at 365 credited days, which requires 730 eligible calendar days at the half-day rate ^[1][2].
• Because you need 1,095 credited days and can get at most 365 from pre-PR time, at least 730 credited days must be as a PR ^[1][2].

Here is a clean example that hits both limits:

Time in the 5-year window	Calendar days	Credit rate	Credited days
Eligible pre-PR time (study/work)	730	0.5 day	365 (cap reached)
Time as a permanent resident	730	1 day	730
Total credited			1,095

Time in prison, on parole, or on probation does not count, and time spent waiting for a refugee-claim decision does not count as protected-person time ^[1][4]. IRCC recommends applying with more than exactly 1,095 days so a corrected travel date or a non-creditable day cannot push you below the minimum ^[1][2]. Do the math with the calculator built into the online citizenship account, and keep a spreadsheet of every entry and exit ^[2].

How much does it cost, and how long does it take?

All amounts are in Canadian dollars.

Applicant type	Processing fee	Right of Citizenship fee	Total
Adult grant (age 18+)	$530	$123	$653 [6][7]
Minor grant (under 18)	$100	$0	$100 [6]

The Right of Citizenship fee rose from $119.75 to $123 for applications received on or after March 31, 2026, so the older $630 adult total is obsolete ^[7]. If an adult application is refused after processing starts, IRCC generally keeps the $530 processing component and refunds the $123 Right of Citizenship component ^[6].

For timing, the safe 2026 answer is about 12 months as of mid-2026 ^[10]. That estimate is based on live IRCC data and changes month to month, so always check IRCC's live processing-time tool rather than relying on a fixed number ^[10]. The clock for someone who must take the oath runs from receipt of the complete application to the oath itself, and complexity, completeness, and volume can all move an individual timeline ^[9][10].

How do you apply, step by step?

Most applicants use IRCC's dedicated online citizenship application account ^[8]. Families can apply as a linked group: each adult has an individual account, one adult submits the linked applications, and a parent can create a minor's application inside the adult account ^[8]. A paper application is still required in narrow cases, such as relying on Crown-servant time abroad, or when a representative will submit on your behalf ^[8].

1. Confirm your route and eligibility. Check PR status, presence, tax filing, age-based rules, and possible prohibitions ^[1][3][4].
2. Calculate physical presence with a buffer above 1,095 days ^[1][2].
3. Gather documents from your personalized checklist ^[8].
4. Complete every question, including travel history and tax declarations ^[8].
5. Pay the fee ($653 per adult or $100 per minor) and keep the receipt; underpayment can get the application returned ^[6][8].
6. Submit. Online applicants get an immediate submission confirmation, which is not the Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) ^[8][9].
7. Wait for the completeness check and AOR, which carries your application number and UCI ^[9].
8. Respond to verification requests, such as documents, fingerprints, an interview, or a hearing. Citizenship fingerprints must come from a police service, the RCMP, or an RCMP-accredited company, not Service Canada ^[9].
9. Take the test if required (ages 18 through 54) ^[11].
10. Attend any interview or hearing ^[11].
11. Receive a decision and a ceremony invitation ^[9][15].
12. Take the oath if you must; citizenship takes effect when the oath is taken ^[14][15].

Typical documents include a copy of the online or paper application, colour copies of passport and travel-document pages covering the eligibility period, two pieces of ID, language evidence (ages 18 to 54), the presence calculation, citizenship photos, the fee receipt, and tax declarations ^[8][12][13]. A police certificate is generally required for any country outside Canada where an adult spent 183 or more consecutive days in the past 4 years ^[8]. While your file is in progress you must keep your PR status, and IRCC asks you to report plans to leave Canada for more than 2 consecutive weeks ^[9].

What is on the citizenship test?

Applicants aged 18 through 54 on the day they sign generally must pass the citizenship test ^[11]. Age at signing controls, even if you are older when invited. People under 18 and aged 55 or older are normally exempt from both the test and the language requirement ^[11].

Feature	Detail
Number of questions	20 [12]
Pass mark	15 out of 20, or 75% [12]
Time limit	45 minutes [12]
Languages	English or French [12]
Usual format	Online (in-person or Microsoft Teams also possible) [11]
Attempts	Up to 3, then a hearing [11]
Who takes it	Ages 18-54 at signing [11]
Study material	Discover Canada [12]

Every question comes from the free official guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, which covers rights and responsibilities, history, geography, the economy, government, laws, symbols, elections, and voting ^[12]. In the online test the timer cannot be paused, a warning appears with 5 minutes left, and the system submits automatically when time runs out ^[11][12]. An online invitation usually opens a 30-day access period with up to 3 attempts, and random webcam photos are used for identity checks ^[11].

If you fail all 3 attempts, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official ^[11]. An oral knowledge test at a hearing has 20 questions and requires 15 correct, a language check can have up to 9 questions requiring 6 successful answers, and the hearing runs roughly 30 to 90 minutes ^[11]. Failing the hearing leads to refusal, after which you would need to submit and pay for a new application ^[11].

📝 Ready to practice? Try our free Canadian Citizenship Test practice tool – 20 questions in English or French with instant scoring and answer explanations.

How do you prove your language ability?

Applicants aged 18 through 54 must show speaking and listening ability at CLB 4 in English or NCLC 4 in French or higher ^[13]. Reading and writing are not the standard citizenship language-proof skills ^[13]. Accepted evidence falls into a few categories ^[13]:

• English- or French-language education - a diploma, transcript, or certificate from a secondary or post-secondary program taught in English or French, inside or outside Canada (a record in another language needs a certified translation of the language of instruction).
• Approved language-test results - listed families include CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada, TCF Canada, DELF, and DALF, with results at CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in speaking and listening; use IRCC's live questionnaire because score conversions and validity dates change.
• LINC or CLIC evidence - a certificate showing CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in speaking and listening from qualifying government-funded language training.
• Specified provincial program records - designated programs in several provinces, each with its own conditions.

Missing, illegible, or untranslated required evidence can make your application incomplete, so include acceptable proof up front ^[13].

What happens at the ceremony?

After approval, IRCC schedules a citizenship ceremony, and the oath is the moment citizenship takes effect ^[14][15]. Everyone aged 14 or older must take the Oath of Citizenship unless IRCC grants a waiver; a child under 14 does not take it but may attend ^[14]. You may swear or affirm the oath ^[15].

There are only two current formats:

Format	What happens
In person	You attend the assigned location, register, take the oath before the presiding official, sign the Oath or Affirmation form, and get certificate instructions [15].
Live video	You join a scheduled video conference, complete identity registration, take the oath during the live group ceremony, and sign and return the form the same day [15].

There is currently no self-administered e-oath ^[15]. A virtual ceremony is a live event, and an electronic certificate is proof of citizenship, but neither turns the oath into a solo online task ^[15][16]. The current oath pledges allegiance to the Sovereign, promises to observe Canada's laws and Constitution, and, under wording enacted in 2021, recognizes the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples ^[15].

Your citizenship certificate is valid proof of citizenship but is not an identity or travel document ^[16]. Current certificates are issued as an electronic certificate (number starting with X) that you can download and print, or an 8.5-by-11-inch paper certificate (number starting with K) ^[16]. The old wallet-sized citizenship card has not been issued since February 2012, and you should not laminate a paper or printed certificate ^[16].

What changes after you become a citizen?

• Passport. You become eligible to apply for a Canadian passport, but it is not automatic; you use the new-adult passport process and supply proof of citizenship, identity support, photos, a guarantor, references, and payment ^[16][17]. Get access to your certificate first, then apply, because the certificate alone is not a travel document ^[16][17].
• Voting and office. A citizen aged 18 or older can register to vote federally and is eligible to run for the House of Commons or a provincial legislature, subject to election rules ^[18]. The Charter also protects a citizen's right to enter, remain in, and leave Canada ^[18].
• PR status ends. Becoming a citizen ends your permanent-resident status, so the 730-day residency obligation and PR-card renewal no longer apply ^[18]. See our PR card renewal guide for what mattered while you were still a PR. Citizenship is not lost merely because you later live abroad.
• Tax. Canadian tax duties do not turn on citizenship alone; the CRA looks mainly at tax residence and residential ties ^[18]. Becoming a citizen does not remove Canadian tax duties for someone who remains a Canadian tax resident, and it does not create them for a genuine non-resident. Our tax brackets guide explains how Canadian income tax works.

Can you keep your original citizenship? (dual citizenship by country)

Canada permits dual and multiple citizenship and does not require you to renounce another nationality ^[19]. But Canada cannot decide whether your other country still recognizes you as its citizen. Each country's own law decides whether voluntary Canadian naturalization causes retention, loss, a declaration, or another procedure ^[19][20]. Confirm your status with the responsible embassy or nationality authority before you naturalize or travel.

Country	Dual with Canada allowed?	What happens when you naturalize	Note
China (PRC)	No	A Chinese national settled abroad who voluntarily acquires Canadian citizenship automatically loses Chinese nationality under article 9 [21].	Hong Kong and Macau have separate declaration procedures; a Canadian passport is not conclusive proof of status there [21].
India	No	Indian citizenship terminates on voluntary acquisition of another citizenship [22].	Eligible former citizens can apply for OCI, but OCI is not citizenship or dual citizenship [23].
Japan	Generally no (voluntary)	Voluntary acquisition of Canadian citizenship causes loss under article 11 [24].	Separate selection rules apply to people who held both from birth [24].
South Korea	Generally no	A Korean national who voluntarily naturalizes loses Korean nationality at that time and must report the loss [25].	Limited retention or restoration routes exist for defined groups, including some returnees aged 65+ [25].
Philippines	Yes (via RA 9225)	An eligible former natural-born Filipino can retain or reacquire citizenship through the prescribed application and oath [26].	Not automatic; the "natural-born" requirement is essential [26].
Germany	Yes (since June 27, 2024)	You can naturalize in Canada and keep German citizenship under the reformed Act [27].	The former section 25 loss rule was repealed; historic losses need separate analysis [27].
United States	Yes	U.S. law generally permits keeping U.S. citizenship after naturalizing in Canada [28].	U.S. passport, allegiance, and worldwide-income reporting duties can continue [28].
United Kingdom	Yes	British citizens may acquire Canadian citizenship and keep British citizenship [29].	-
Australia	Yes	Australia recognizes dual nationals [30].	Country-specific passport and travel rules still apply [30].
Ukraine	Limited framework	Law 4502-IX (in force January 16, 2026) recognizes specified multiple-citizenship cases [31].	Ukraine can still treat you only as Ukrainian domestically, with passport and exit implications [31].
Russia	Held, not always recognized	You may hold another citizenship, but Russia generally treats you only as Russian while there [32].	Reporting, Russian-passport, military, and exit rules can apply [32].
Iran	Not recognized domestically	Iran may treat a Canadian-Iranian only as Iranian [33].	Iranian passport may be required; military or exit limits and no Canadian consular access can apply [33].
Vietnam	Limited, fact-specific	Vietnamese law and approvals determine retention or loss [34].	Vietnam may treat you only as Vietnamese and limit Canadian consular access [34].
Brazil	Yes	Constitutional Amendment 131 of 2023 removed nationality loss merely for acquiring another nationality [35].	Voluntary renunciation remains a separate process [35].

Even where dual citizenship is allowed, practical rules still matter. A Canadian dual citizen generally needs a valid Canadian passport to board a flight to Canada, while the other country may require its own passport to enter or leave, so carrying both can be necessary ^[20]. The other country can also impose registration, exit permission, or military service, and Canada cannot guarantee consular help when a country treats you only as its own national ^[20].

What can go wrong, or who is ineligible?

IRCC lists circumstances that may prevent approval, including ^[4]:

• serving a sentence in prison, on parole, or on probation, in or outside Canada;
• being charged with, on trial for, or appealing certain offences;
• being under a removal order;
• specified war-crime or crime-against-humanity proceedings;
• a citizenship refusal for misrepresentation in the past 5 years;
• citizenship revocation for fraud in the past 10 years;
• specified convictions in the 4 years before applying; and
• specified terrorism, treason, spying, or armed-conflict conduct.

This is not a complete legal screen, so seek case-specific legal advice if a prohibition might apply, and disclose relevant changes while your file is in progress ^[3][4]. Separately, if you may already be Canadian through a parent under the citizenship-by-descent rules, you should investigate proof of citizenship instead of filing an ordinary adult grant ^[1][3].

Key Takeaways

• You need 1,095 credited days of presence in the 5 years before applying, with at least 730 as a PR, and pre-PR time counts at half-value up to a 365-day cap ^[1][2].
• Apply with a buffer above 1,095 days, not at exactly the minimum, and keep a travel log ^[1][2].
• The adult fee is $653 ($530 processing + $123 Right of Citizenship) and the minor fee is $100 ^[6][7].
• Expect about 12 months as of mid-2026, but check IRCC's live processing tool ^[10].
• The test is 20 questions, 45 minutes, 15/20 to pass, for ages 18 through 54 ^[11][12].
• The oath is required at 14+, only in person or by live video, with no self-administered e-oath ^[14][15].
• Canada allows dual citizenship, but your home country's law decides whether you keep your original nationality ^[19][20].

FAQ

Q: How many days must I be in Canada before I can apply?

A: At least 1,095 credited days during the 5 years immediately before you apply, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident ^[1][2].

Q: Does time in Canada before I became a PR count?

A: Yes. Eligible temporary-resident or approved protected-person time counts at 0.5 day per day, up to a 365 credited-day cap, and only for days inside the 5-year window ^[1][2].

Q: Should I apply as soon as I hit exactly 1,095 days?

A: IRCC recommends applying with more than 1,095 days so a corrected travel date or a non-creditable day cannot drop you below the minimum ^[1][2].

Q: Do I have to promise to keep living in Canada?

A: No. The "intent to reside" requirement was repealed in 2017 and is not a current condition of the grant ^[3].

Q: What is the adult citizenship fee in 2026?

A: $653, made up of a $530 processing fee and a $123 Right of Citizenship fee. The minor grant fee is $100 ^[6][7].

Q: How long does citizenship processing take?

A: About 12 months as of mid-2026. The estimate changes, so check IRCC's live processing-time tool rather than relying on a fixed figure ^[10].

Q: Is my submission confirmation the same as the AOR?

A: No. Online submission confirmation is immediate, while the Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR), with your application number and UCI, comes after IRCC checks that your application is complete ^[9].

Q: Who has to take the citizenship test?

A: Most applicants aged 18 through 54 on the day they sign. People under 18 or aged 55 and older are normally exempt, and individual waivers can apply ^[11].

Q: What are the current test rules?

A: 20 questions, 45 minutes, and 15 correct answers (75%) to pass, in English or French ^[12].

Q: What happens if I fail the test?

A: You get up to 3 attempts. If you fail all 3, IRCC schedules a hearing; failing the hearing leads to refusal and a new application and fee if you try again ^[11].

Q: What language level do I need?

A: Speaking and listening at CLB 4 in English or NCLC 4 in French or higher, for applicants aged 18 through 54, proven with an accepted evidence route ^[13].

Q: Can I take the oath by myself online?

A: No. The only options are an in-person ceremony and a scheduled live video ceremony. An electronic certificate is proof of citizenship, not a self-administered oath ^[15][16].

Q: Who has to take the oath?

A: Everyone aged 14 or older, unless IRCC grants a waiver. Children under 14 do not take it ^[14].

Q: Does Canada allow dual citizenship?

A: Yes, but your other country decides whether you keep its citizenship. China, India, Japan, and South Korea generally impose loss after voluntary Canadian naturalization, while the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Brazil generally allow retention ^{[19][20][21][22][24][25][27][28][29][30][35]}.

Q: Do I need a Canadian passport once I am a citizen?

A: To fly to Canada, a Canadian dual citizen generally needs a valid Canadian passport. You apply for it separately after you can access your citizenship certificate ^[16][17][20].

Q: Do minors have to meet the presence and test rules?

A: A PR child applying with a Canadian parent, or together with a parent, has no presence, tax, language, or test requirement. A minor without that connection generally uses the adult route and must meet the presence and tax rules ^[5].

Q: Does becoming a citizen change my Canadian taxes?

A: Not by itself. The CRA determines tax duties mainly from residence and residential ties, not citizenship, so a Canadian tax resident keeps Canadian tax duties and a genuine non-resident is not taxed on worldwide income merely for being a citizen ^[18].

Q: Could I already be a Canadian citizen without applying?

A: Possibly, through a parent under the citizenship-by-descent rules. If that might apply, investigate proof of citizenship instead of filing an ordinary adult grant ^[1][3].