One of the most important eligibility criteria to become a Canadian citizen is that one needs to be living in Canada for three out of five years. Among other eligibility criteria, if you are 18 or older, you need to be living in Canada for at least 1095 days out of the five years immediately before you apply for citizenship. Before you start calculating your citizenship eligibility, make sure that you have been a permanent resident for at least two years in a manner to meet the physical presence requirement. After you become a PR, every day will be counted as one full day towards your citizenship application.

If a person is physically present in the country as a temporary resident before becoming a permanent resident then it will be counted as half-day, up to a maximum of 365 days. So, if a temporary resident did not leave Canada for three years, it would only be counted for 1 year. IRCC only considers five years the one spends immediately before the application for the physical presence requirement.

If you have been living in Canada as a permanent resident for five years, for instance then the total time spent in the country as a temporary resident does not count. If you were not a temporary resident before you got PR, then one is required to spend at least 1095 days or three years in Canada.

Always remember, if you are applying with more than the minimum required a number of days will lead to miscalculations. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada suggest applying with more days than you need to be on the safer side.

Qualifying Criteria For Canadian Citizenship

In addition to the physical presence requirement, here are the eligibility criteria for Canadian citizenship:

• You need to be fluent in either English or French language to communicate in Canadian society. If you are between the age of 18 and 54, you have to submit proof of language proficiency.
• One cannot have a criminal history. This can prohibit your chance of getting citizenship from IRCC.
• One must have aware of the rights and responsibilities of citizens, the political system, history, and Canada’s geography.
• You are required to file taxes in Canada for at least three years during your five-year tenure.
• You must also pay a formal application to IRCC and pay a government processing fee, and right of citizenship fee.

Once you’re done meeting the eligibility criteria, you can apply for Canadian citizenship. Approved candidates between the age of 18 and 54 will have to take a citizenship test. After this, one attends a citizenship ceremony and receives a certificate of Canadian citizenship.