Gaining full Canadian citizenship is not an easy task to do. Before you can fill an application for citizenship in Canada, it is very compulsory that you are eligible in the required standard and your application can be completed.
The criteria for eligibility
Before you can be able to apply to become a citizen of Canada, you must do the following:
- You must be able to speak fluently and also write one of the official languages being spoken in Canada i.e. English, French. Proof must be provided
- You must have gained permanent residence in Canada (PR)
- As a permanent resident of Canada, you must have lived there for close to three years out of five before you can be able to apply.
- Your taxes must have been filed for close to three years inside the previous five years and you must not owe any tax. If you owe, then you will be required to pay up on time.
If the proof that you can speak either English or French is not provided, your application will be regarded as incomplete and it will be returned to you by IRCC.
If it turns out to be that you are one of the Armed Forces of Canada, there is every possibility that you will gain eligibility for a quick application process.
There is what is called “Residence Calculator”. The work of this calculator is to help you know if the number of years which you have stayed in Canada is enough for you to be called a permanent residence (PR). The calculator will let you know the moment you will be qualified to apply if you have not stayed so long in Canada.
The individual who is planning to apply must have gained Canadian citizenship or is applying to be a citizen of Canada. The requirements for residency are not compulsory to be met by minors.
In some cases, were citizens of Canada before you were born, you can be regarded also as a citizen of Canada. But, you still need to provide proof that you are a citizen by applying for it.
Reasons why you may be denied Canadian citizenship
There are some things which can prevent you from gaining Canadian citizenship. Some of the reasons why you may be denied Canadian citizenship are:
- If you are on probation
- If you have any recent record of serving in the prison
- If you have been on trial because of a crime
- You will not be able to apply if you have been given an order of deportation
If you have successfully submitted your application and it has been accepted, you will be required to take a written citizenship test. The test is not compulsory for people under the age of 18 and also people who are above 53 years of age.
To be sure that an individual is not under citizenship act prohibition, he may be required to provide his court documents and also fingerprints.