About Applying for Canadian Citizenship
Once you’ve held permanent resident status long enough and meet the requirements below, you can apply for a grant of Canadian citizenship — the final step in the immigration journey for most permanent residents.
Core Requirements for Adults
- Valid permanent resident status — not lost or under review, with no unfulfilled conditions
- Physical presence — at least 1,095 days (3 years) in Canada within the 5 years before you apply, verified using IRCC’s Physical Presence Calculator
- Income tax filing — filed taxes for at least 3 years within that same 5-year period, if required to do so under the Income Tax Act
- Language ability — if you’re 18–54 years old, adequate knowledge of English or French (equivalent to CLB/NCLC Level 4 in speaking and listening)
- Knowledge of Canada — a citizenship test on Canada’s history, geography, political system, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship (required for applicants 18–54)
- Not be prohibited under the Citizenship Act (e.g. for certain criminal or immigration-related reasons)
Recent Change: Citizenship by Descent
On December 15, 2025, Bill C-3 changed the “first-generation limit” on citizenship by descent, following a 2023 Ontario Superior Court ruling that the previous limit was unconstitutional for many people. If you were affected by the first-generation limit, IRCC is now processing applications under the new rules — this is a recent and evolving area, worth a direct conversation if it applies to your family.
How We Help
We help calculate your physical presence accurately, prepare your application package and language/knowledge evidence, and advise on the citizenship-by-descent changes if they affect your family.