Canada is one of those few countries where anyone would want to immigrate and why not? There are many reasons to do so. After achieving a Canadian passport, you get to travel to 68 countries visa-free and a right to vote in the elections.
If you become a Canadian citizen, this special occasion is celebrated with a virtual ceremony where you take the Oath of Citizenship and get your citizenship certificate.
FAQ 1. What are the requisites to become a Canadian Citizen in 2021?
You may be excited to know that applying for citizenship in Canada is quite an easy job compared to getting permanent residency. For starters, there is a need for much less documentation and it’s quite easier to qualify.
Here are the main requisites to apply for Canadian citizenship in 2021:
| Requisites | Details |
|---|---|
| It is essential for you to be a permanent resident of Canada | A lot of immigration programs are available for you to apply to becoming a permanent resident of Canada |
| You must have resided in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years | You can use Physical Presence Calculator to calculate your physical presence in Canada |
| You must file your income tax | It is mandatory to file your annual tax returns even if you have zero income for the year |
| Proof of language skills (English or French) | You have to meet the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level 4 or higher |
| You need to pass a citizenship test | Download the citizenship study guide here
|
Of course, the Citizenship department of Canada is still actively processing the applications. However due to the pandemic, the in-person citizenship tests are canceled and there may be slight delays. As per the IRCC, processing citizenship applications take approximately 12 months.
Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, citizenship tests are taken online. You can apply for citizenship by just putting forward an application online and then keep a track of your email inbox for an invitation from the IRCC. After receiving your invitation, you have a time period of 21 days to complete the test online.
Requirements for the test:
NOTE: Prepare yourself to take your citizenship test in a room with good lighting with webcam for taking a photo of your face and observe you while taking the test to make sure you complete the test by yourself
Basically, questions asked in the Canadian Citizenship Test are used to determine how well you know Canada, obviously because this will be your new home. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice and true or false questions. Questions asked during the test are about the rights and responsibilities of people of Canada, Canada’s history, economic situation in the country, geographical dimensions, government, and laws. The duration of the test is 30 minutes, and you have to answer 15 questions correctly to pass the test.
NOTE: The Canadian Citizenship Test can be either written or it may be oral. It will be decided on the day by a citizenship official.
It’s quite surprising but there is certainly an escape clause which will help you to become a Canadian citizen, after only two years of being a permanent Canadian resident. If before receiving permanent residency, you have already lived in Canada as a temporary resident, then the time you have spent in Canada can be counted under the required three years of living in Canada to apply for Canadian citizenship in 2021.
Yes, definitely. As per the rules, when you will calculate your physical existence in Canada, each one day that you have spent as a temporary resident or protected person will be counted as half a day. You will get to use a maximum of 365 days spent as a temporary resident or protected person in Canada.
A temporary resident is one who is authorized to enter or stay in Canada as a visitor, student, worker, or temporary resident permit holder.
A protected person is one who has a reason to fear persecution in his or her country by the Immigration and Refugee Board. He is the one who has received a positive decision on a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
For candidates aged 18 or above, the current fee is $630 out of which processing fee is $530 and the Right of citizenship fee is $100. For minors under the age of 18, the right of a permanent resident fee is $100.
Yes, of course. It is legal to have dual or multiple citizenships in Canada. However, it may not be legal to have dual or multiple citizenships in other countries around the world.
It is to be noted that more than 80 per cent of Canadian permanent residents apply for citizenship after becoming eligible. So, there must be something exciting about Canada that attracts them. After becoming a permanent resident, you not only get to live and work but also enjoy many benefits like free healthcare and other social services in Canada.
Canadian citizens are given preference in jobs, particularly sensitive positions in the government or security. These jobs include legislative aide, policy analyst and pollster among others. You will get access to more employment opportunities if you are a Canadian citizen.
The Canadian Constitution guarantees only Canadian citizens the right to vote or run for the federal Parliament. It is always a great initiative to let your voice be heard for the quality of life you want and other issues also. Canadian citizens can also hold political office and raise issues one wants.
According to the Passport Index, Canadian passport is one of the 20 most powerful in the world because Canada enjoys an excellent global reputation, Canadian citizens can visit 68 countries without a visa and their and passports remain valid for longer than permanent resident cards.
One of biggest benefit for becoming a Canadian citizen is that Canadian citizens can remain outside Canada for as much time as they want without immigration consequences.
Another huge benefit is that once your permanent resident card expires after 5 years, you won’t have to submit another application if you are a Canadian citizen.
There are many more benefits which you can avail in this beautiful country once you become a Canadian citizen. So, gear up yourself for this joyful journey to Canada. With a lot of immigration programs, Canada has a combined target to welcome 401,000 new residents in 2021 alone.
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