Numerous success stories have happy endings about Canadian immigration. But you know what, who says these stories must end? There’s a way to stay at the source of your joy and happiness in Canada: applying for Canadian citizenship.
Don’t worry if you already have the citizenship status of your home country; Canadian citizenship doesn’t take it away from you. It is possible to own them both and enjoy double privileges. Before you apply, know the nook and cranium of a Canadian living and explore either its job market or learning facilities during your stay. Let it be something you want to do despite any odds.
This article covers the procedures you could use to apply for Canadian citizenship and its aftermath. If you don’t want to hear another once-upon-a-time story of Canadian immigration, here is a pen to write yours.
Eligibility Requirements to Apply for Canadian Citizenship
As the name implies, citizenship and the success of your application would make you a Canadian, thorough, and thorough. This means the Canadian government is responsible for you anywhere you are in the world and that you must fulfill some obligations or responsibilities to this effect. That is why the government ensures you are eligible for Canadian citizenship before granting you access to apply.
The eligibility requirements for Canadian citizenship include:
- Be a permanent resident
- Not be under an immigration or fraudulent act review
- Must have lived in Canada for at least three years
- Your application must be within five years of the three years you lived in Canada
- Have duly filed your income taxes
- Show English or French language skills
- Get a good score on the citizenship tests
- Pledge your allegiance to the country by taking the citizenship oath
How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship
Now you know the requirements to be eligible, let’s take you through the steps to apply without any challenges. Consider any of the two choices presented: applying online or on paper. To apply on paper:
1. Select an application passage
- 18 years and above
- A parent or guardian applying for a minor
- Applying after being adopted by a Canadian
- An adult who has served with the Canadian Armed Forces
- Minor applying alone
2. Payment of fees
Even though you are applying on paper, you’ll need to pay your processing and right to citizenship fees online. After you have paid, attach a copy of the receipt to your application.
3. Send your application
Carefully sign your application and date it with the day you sign it; don’t use a future date. Be sure that the date you signed it is the same as the application date. Remember to send your application form alongside the required documents in the application package you selected earlier.
Remember to send your application form alongside the required documents in the application package you selected earlier. Send them through a postal or courier service with a tracking number to confirm that your application has reached Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship and Canada (IRCC).
While your application for Canadian citizenship is being processed, you should know that processing times vary based on your application package, how easily your information can be verified, whether it is complete, and your response time to any requests, so it is important to check your emails and online accounts.
4. Take the citizenship test and interview
As a Canadian immigrant, the citizenship test can assess your knowledge of Canada’s ancestry, landscape, national symbols, and government. You must prove you know the responsibilities and rights you will carry out as a Canadian citizen. This is to make you enjoy national privileges and uphold the values and norms of a Canadian citizen.
You may want to get the basics if you don’t know your way around digital devices and software applications. This is because this test is mostly online, and so are the study materials: mp3s, PDFs, and so on. You may not take the test if you are a minor or an adult of 55 years and above.
5. Attend your citizenship oath ceremony
You can find the date of your citizenship oath ceremony by checking the application status. Do not skip this ceremony unless you have a good reason, which you can send to the office you received the notice from or through the web. The citizenship judge or official presides over this ceremony, and you should prepare for it seriously.
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At the ceremony, you’d take the oath of citizenship, sign the form, sing Canada’s national anthem in English and French, and receive your citizenship certificate. The citizenship oath ceremony can be conducted via video conference with a stable network or in person.
What to Expect After Immigration
This status doesn’t add Canadian rights and privileges to your status, but it takes away the stress and worry off your table. With your citizenship, you do not have to renew your permanent residency after every five years. There is no need to keep a tab on your last renewal date. You’re entitled to live in Canada.
Also, your adventure game would increase because you would confidently roll your bags through about 185 visa destinations. This means you don’t need a visa to go to most countries! Moreover, you can receive more job opportunities and social benefits from your new country.
Conclusion
There it is, applying to become a Canadian citizen and parting ways with the floppy immigration status. With the information you’ve gotten here, you can tell your immigration story differently. Waiting to hear the next person’s outcome wouldn’t help. Just go for it smartly and well-prepared.
Seek help where you need it, starting from this article, and you’ll be a qualified person in months. Remember, as a Canadian citizen, you must obey national authorities. Maximize your citizenship and build your next generation inside this global force.
