Canada has an incredible quality of life and Canadian citizenship offers important privileges for those who want to settle in the country once and for all.
However, if you do not have a Canadian parent, you were not born in Canada, nor do your parents work for the Canadian Government, you must first go through the permanent residency process and then become eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.
Continue reading the article and learn important information such as the differences between being a permanent resident and a Canadian citizen, how the process for obtaining citizenship works, what is necessary and the benefits of achieving it!
How to Get Permanent Residency?
There are many different processes for obtaining permanent residency. One of the most used is the Express Entry, which unified the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Worker Trades, Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee processes and, with that, made the process simpler and less bureaucratic.
Those who start the immigration journey studying in the country can also count on the help of the PGWP, as it helps to add points for the Express Entry.
What Are The Differences Between Permanent Residence And Canadian Citizenship?
When it comes to immigrating to Canada, many people confuse permanent residence with Canadian citizenship, but these are different status than permission.
Permanent residence is obtained through the immigration process. It allows the person to choose in which province and city to live, to work without limit of hours.
Besides, it also makes it possible to pay tuition (a kind of fee) cheaper at colleges and universities. Finally, it provides benefits such as provincial health insurance and more banking investment options.
Citizenship, on the other hand, is at the top of the immigration journey, above the permanent residence. That’s because, when you get it, you become a complete Canadian citizen, with the right to a Canadian passport, vote in elections and eligibility for political office.
How to Get Canadian Citizenship
Naturalizing yourself as a citizen of Canada is the last step in a long process for immigrants. Understand the requirements for obtaining Canadian citizenship.
- Have the status of PR (Permanent Resident)
Permanent resident status (and card) is not a visa and is not granted to any migrant profile. Students cannot ask for it.
To achieve this, it is necessary to apply through one of the possible immigration processes.
- Having lived in Canada for at least three of the last five years before applying for citizenship
There is a point in favour for those who entered the country as a student. Every two days you have lived in the country as a permanent resident count as one to add up to the 1,095 days (three years) required to apply for citizenship.
That is, if you study for two years in Canada, you will already have almost a third of the time needed to apply for Canadian citizenship.
Attention, as there is a limit of 365 days counting for the time that the applicant was with the permanent residence.
The Government of Canada provides a travel journal to help candidates count the days they have been within the country and the days they have had to travel (outside Canada).
There is also the official calculator from the Canadian immigration centre for counting the physical presence of candidates for citizenship.
- Have declared income tax in three of the five years immediately preceding the application
To apply for citizenship, permanent residents who are over 18 years old must have submitted three mandatory income tax returns.
However, not everyone is required to file income tax in Canada. So, it may not be necessary, depending on the situation.
- Prove that you speak one of Canada’s languages (English or French)
People aged 18 to 56 need to prove their level of fluency or proficiency in one of the country’s official languages.
However, the immigration authority in Canada has more than one criterion for assessing the candidate. See what they are:
- Evaluate the proof you send in your application
- Officials observe the applicant’s ability to communicate throughout the process (in conversations with employees)
- Check the language level in the audience with, when necessary
The level required to pass is equivalent to 4 (or higher) both in English in the Canadian Languages Benchmark (CBL), and French in the Niveaux de compétence Linguistique canadiens (NCLC)
Find out which tests are accepted;
English Tests
- CELIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
French Tests
- Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF)
- Test d’Évaluation du Français adapted to Québec (TEFAQ)
- Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) for naturalization
- Pass the citizenship test (general knowledge of Canada)
Applicants aged 18 to 54 have to take a knowledge test on Canadians’ rights and responsibilities, as well as other topics about Canada:
- History
- Geography
- Economy
- Government
- Laws
The test can be taken in English or French and has only 20 multiple-choice and true or false questions.
To be approved, you need to get 15 questions right and the duration is half an hour. The government of Canada provides an online study manual with all the information needed to take the test.
- Citizenship ceremony
After about three months after the delivery of the knowledge test about Canada and citizenship is passed, the government notifies the new Canadian citizen of the date of the citizenship ceremony. This notice may be one to two weeks before the event.
The citizenship ceremony can be in one language or bilingual. It is where “new Canadians” over the age of 14 take an oath, sign a proof of oath and receive a citizenship certificate. Citizens also sing Canada’s national anthem.
Advantages of Canadian Citizenship
Permanent residents are allowed to live and work anywhere in Canada without having to report immigration.
They also have access to the health system and other social services and can sponsor their family members to go to the country.
In addition to these benefits, Canadian citizenship gives the following:
- Political rights: to vote and run for government office
- Canadian passport, one of the ten most powerful in the world (visa-free for about 183 countries and territories)
- A Canadian citizen does not lose his nationality even if he lives elsewhere in the world
Conclusion
At this point, you must have learnt a lot about Canadian citizenship. So you should share this with your colleagues online who might be interested. Thanks
