Citizenship
Canadians are proud to hold one of the most prized citizenships in the world. Every year about 170,000 people become new citizens of Canada.
To become a Canadian citizen, you must:
- be 18 years of age or older;
- be a permanent resident of Canada;
- have lived in Canada for at least 3 of 4 years before applying; Time spent in prison, on parole, or on probation may not be counted towards becoming a citizen.
- be able to communicate in either English or French;
- know about Canada and rights and responsibilities of citizenship
A child under 18 years of age must be a permanent resident of Canada to apply for Canadian citizenship. To apply on behalf of your child, you must either:
- already be citizen; or
- apply for citizenship at the same time.
Children do no need to have lived in Canada for 3 years before applying.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 54, you must pass a citizenship test. You may be asked to attend an interview with a citizenship judge.
Citizenship Ceremony
The final step to becoming a Canadian citizen is the citizenship ceremony. At the ceremony, you will take the oath of citizenship and receive a certificate of Canadian citizenship.
Rights and Responsibilities of Canadian Citizens
Once you obtain your Canadian citizenship, you will be entitled to all of the Rights and Freedoms afforded to Canadian citizens.
These rights include:
- Legal rights
- Equality rights
- Mobility rights
- Freedom to practice religion
- The right to peaceful assembly
- The right to vote
- Freedom of thought
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom to practice religion
It is important to recognize that these rights and freedoms come with responsibility. These responsibilities include:
- To obey Canadian law
- To express ones opinions freely while respecting the rights and freedoms of others
- To help those in your community, for example, through volunteering
- To take responsibility to protect our environment and preserve our heritage
- To eliminate discrimination and injustice
Contact us i f you need more information regarding Citizenship or want to apply for Citizenship. |
