Canada is one of the most desired immigration destinations for candidates from the Indian subcontinent. And it is because the immigration rules of Canada are a bit less stringent as compared to the US, UK, and Australia. But even then there are a few eligibility criteria that an immigrant must fulfill to get Canadian citizenship.
Eligibility Criteria For Getting Canadian Citizenship
The 7 eligibility criteria for getting Canadian citizenship include:
- Age
- Time of your residence in Canada
- Permanent residence status
- Language skills
- Income Tax filing
- Your Knowledge about Canada
- Prohibitions
Applying for Canadian citizenship For Children Below 18 Years
To apply for citizenship in Canada you must be at least 18 years of age. However, a parent, legal guardian, or adoptive parent can apply for the citizenship of a child if he is below 18 years old albeit on two conditions.
Either of the parents must have Canadian citizenship or have applied for getting it. Also, the child already must be a permanent resident of the country.
You Do Not Need PR Card To Apply For Canadian Citizenship
For getting permanent resident status in Canada it is of utmost importance that your PR status is not under review or in question. It means that your PR status should not be under review for fraud or immigration reasons. It also means that you are not facing a removal order which is an order from the Canadian immigration authorities that officially gives the department a right to remove you from Canada.
However, you don’t need to have a PR card for applying for getting citizenship. A person with an expired PR card can also apply for it. Albeit if you have applied for a PR card then you mustn’t have any conditions unfulfilled related to the permanent resident status.
Also for applying for citizenship a person must be physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for a minimum of 1,095 days before applying for citizenship. The condition is not applicable, however, to children who are below 18 years of age. As is mandatory in most countries the applicant needs to fulfill his personal income tax filing obligations in the last three financial years out of the five years of his stay.
Do You Know Canada Well Enough? Can You Understand/Speak French or English?
To be a Canadian citizen you must be proficient in either English or French. That is a very basic criterion that has to be fulfilled. And to establish your proficiency in either of these languages you need to pass IELTS or CELPIP conducted by the authorized institutions of the country. Similarly, you must also be well aware of the culture, symbols, values, institutions of the country. If you are a person between 14 and 55 years of age, you must qualify the adequate knowledge as well as the responsibilities and privileges of the citizenship test.
Lastly, if you have a criminal past in Canada or outside then you may not be able to get Canadian citizenship at least till you prove your innocence or complete the punishment/sentence.