How to obtain Canadian citizenship and what is needed for this?
Canadian citizenship can be obtained by foreigners who have lived in the country for at least 5 years: 2 years as temporary residents and 3 years on the basis of a permanent residence card. The rules for obtaining Canadian citizenship are regulated by the RSC Act, 1985, c-29.
For those applicants who do not have a higher education, do not speak English or French, or do not have enough money to invest, it will be extremely difficult to obtain a Canadian passport. One should also take into account numerous bureaucratic difficulties, for the solution of which foreigners often turn to migration lawyers for help. Despite the complexity of the procedure for obtaining status, Canadian authorities are interested in attracting immigrants for the development of their country.
What does Canadian citizenship provide?
Canada is one of the most economically developed countries, and its passport is ranked 9th in the Henley Passport Index. In addition to the standard rights to freedom and security, a citizen’s passport provides its owners with a number of unique advantages:
- free visit to more than 180 countries under a visa-free regime;
- dual citizenship is permitted at the legislative level;
- the right to vote and hold public office;
- access to one of the best healthcare systems in the world, where 95% of all hospitals operate as non-profit private organizations, and medical care itself is mostly free;
- the opportunity to receive education at renowned universities such as the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo. These educational institutions are included in the ranking of the 25 best universities in the world, based on the likelihood of employment (Graduate Employability Rankings study);
- social guarantees, insurance and payments to residents. For example, the Income Support program was created to reduce extreme poverty by providing monthly payments to low-income citizens and residents of Canada.
How can you become a Canadian citizen?
According to Canadian law, there are several ways to become a citizen of the country:
- on repatriation;
- on naturalization;
- through investing;
- by right of soil.
Most often, candidates use the first two methods, but giving birth in Canada for the purpose of immigration is also becoming increasingly popular. A child born on the territory of the state, regardless of the status of the parents, receives citizenship, which makes it possible for his immediate relatives to also obtain Canadian passports.
Repatriation
According to Canada’s Citizenship Act , a person born outside Canada after February 14, 1977 is entitled to citizenship if at least one parent was granted this status. The repatriation process also includes reunification with family – blood relatives, at least one of whom has a Canadian passport or permanent resident card, and also acts as a sponsor (provides housing and means of subsistence) for the applicant.
To acquire citizenship through repatriation, it is necessary to prepare documents that confirm the applicant’s grounds (for example, the mother’s birth certificate, if she is a Canadian citizen). The generated dossier is submitted to the Canadian consulate, where, on its basis, the applicant is issued a visa to travel to the country. Upon arrival at the Canada Border Services Agency, the foreign applicant is interviewed by an immigration officer, who decides whether to grant entry based on the alien’s record and responses.
Investments
Canada’s investment programs provide an opportunity for wealthy foreigners, as well as experienced businessmen, to make investments in the country’s economy in exchange for providing a long-term resident card, which is the basis for further acquisition of citizenship. In total, there are 4 programs for obtaining a permanent residence card through investment:
- “Investor Visa”
- “Entrepreneur”
- “Startup Visa”.
- “Self-employed persons”.
The application process for Canadian citizenship by investment may vary depending on the program chosen, but common steps include:
- Registration on the website of the Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship.
- Applying for a long-term resident visa and arriving in the country.
- Making an investment and submitting documents for permanent residence.
- Payment of commission fees, which is 630 CAD, where 530 CAD is the data processing fee and 100 CAD for the right to obtain citizenship.
- Completing all required questionnaires and submission forms.
- Confirmation of language level according to program requirements.
- Obtaining a certificate of citizenship.
- Preparation of internal documents.
Naturalization
Long-term legal stay in Canada gives the right to naturalization. The grounds in this case are studying at a university, employment or business activity in the state. can obtain Canadian passports subject to the following legal requirements:
- be of legal age;
- have a stable source of income;
- speak French or English at a level of at least intermediate (B1);
- know your civic responsibilities;
- legally reside in the country for 3 out of the last 5 years.
When submitting a dossier for citizenship, the applicant is required to provide all necessary documentation confirming the legality of the grounds.
Stages of obtaining citizenship
The sequence of actions when obtaining Canadian citizenship will vary depending on the chosen method of legalization in the country. Thus, naturalization can be divided into 4 stages:
- Opening a visa.
- Obtaining a residence permit card.
- Registration of long-term residence (permanent residence).
- Purchasing a Canadian passport.
Visa to Canada
The first step towards obtaining Canadian citizenship is obtaining permission to enter the country. Visas are divided into two types: immigrant and non-immigrant. Temporary resident visa (TRV, temporary resident visa) is an official document allowing entry into Canada for foreigners planning a short-term visit to the country. TRV is a non-immigrant visa – it does not grant its holder temporary resident status, but serves as the basis for obtaining a residence permit card.
In turn, a Permanent resident visa is issued to foreign applicants whose purpose is to immigrate to the country. This type of document is also the basis for obtaining a long-term resident card.
The type of visa depends on the purpose for which the foreigner intends to enter Canada.
Residence permit in Canada
Registration of temporary residence in Canada is the second important step towards obtaining a Canadian passport. Residence permit card is a document issued by the Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship to foreigners to legalize their stay on the territory of the state. Temporary residents have the right to move freely around the country, work and study, and receive free medical care. The grounds for obtaining a temporary resident card include:
- obtaining education at one of the higher educational institutions in Canada;
- employment in a position that does not require special knowledge and skills;
- refugee.
Permanent residence in Canada
After 2 years of residence permit status, the immigrant can proceed to the next stage on the path to obtaining a Canadian passport—purchasing a Permanent Residence. Permanent residents have all the same rights as citizens, with the exception of the ability to vote in elections and the right to hold public office. You can obtain long-term resident status in 2 ways: based on a residence permit card and through the Express Entry system. In the first case, after two years, the foreigner has the right to submit an application to the Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship for the assignment of permanent residence.
Express Entry is a system that governs the granting of permanent residence status to foreign skilled workers. It helps applicants choose a suitable program and evaluate their chances of participation using various tests, and then makes a drawing among the successful candidates.
Express Entry was created to select participants in 4 programs:
- Federal Skilled Workers – for specialists with higher education and a high level of English proficiency (B2);
- Federal Skilled Trades – for specialists in technical professions;
- Canadian Experience Class – for foreigners with existing work experience in Canada;
- Provincial Nominee Program – for nominees of provincial programs.
Obtaining a Canadian passport
A foreign applicant who has lived in the country for 3 years as a permanent resident, has a stable source of income and has not violated the law can apply for Canadian citizenship. To obtain a certificate of citizenship, you must undergo an interview with an immigration officer and take an oath of allegiance to the country.
The next and final stage is the preparation of internal documents in Canada based on a certificate of citizenship. To do this, you must submit a package of the documents listed below to the Passport Office and pay a state fee of 160 CAD (about 120 USD). It is also mandatory that two adult witnesses be present during the application process and who can confirm the identity of the applicant.
Necessary documents for obtaining a passport
- completed Form CIT 0407 or proof of physical presence in the country (for example, receipts for utility bills);
- photocopies of all pages of identity cards (foreign and internal passports) owned by the foreign applicant over the past 5 years;
- a certificate confirming the level of English language proficiency at least B2 (for applicants aged 18–54 years);
- 2 photographs 35×45 mm, taken no earlier than 6 months before filing an application for citizenship.
Application for citizenship
Filling out an application for granting Canadian citizenship to a foreign person occurs in a personal account on the website of the Government of Canada . You should prepare the documents for submission above in advance and digitize them – make photocopies or scan them. On the page of the Canadian official website in the “Immigration and Citizenship” section there are brief instructions for filling out the form.
Payment of duties
The processing fee for adults is CAD 530 (there is a separate citizenship fee of CAD 100), and for minors it is CAD 100. The commission is non-refundable even if the status is refused. If the applicant is denied citizenship or withdraws the application, only the citizenship fee is refunded.
If more than one family member is applying for Canadian citizenship, the fees will be shared. After paying the total amount of state fees, you must print the receipt and attach it to the package of submitted documents.
Passing the test
All immigrants applying for Canadian citizenship are required to take a test on their knowledge of Canadian history. Applicants aged 18–54 may be invited to take the exam within a few weeks of submitting the application and paying the fees. Minors and applicants over 54 years of age are exempt from taking the language exam. The test includes 20 questions; to pass, you must answer at least 15 correctly. There is a study guide on the Canadian government website that will help you prepare. If the candidate does not pass the test the first time, then you can do it again after approximately 4-8 weeks.
Interview
The Immigration Officer may schedule an interview with the applicant at the Department of Citizenship to verify the authenticity of documents, legality of stay or to clarify other issues that have arisen during the consideration of the case. An immigration officer may test an applicant’s knowledge of English or French, as well as history, geography and the legal responsibilities of a Canadian citizen. If a decision is made about the need for an interview, the foreigner will be notified about this through the contacts specified in the application.
Oath
If the foreign applicant meets all the requirements for citizenship, he will receive a “Notice to Appear for Oath of Oath” in his account on the country’s government website. This is the final step towards obtaining a Canadian passport.
All foreigners over the age of 14 (candidates under 14 may attend if they wish) must pledge their allegiance to the country by taking an oath. This can be done in both English and French. At the official ceremony, candidates are given a certificate of conferment of status, and after this they must sign an oath of office form.
Dual citizenship in Canada
Canadian law officially allows dual citizenship. This means that when applying for a Canadian passport, a foreign applicant does not need to renounce his affiliation with the people of his native country. In world practice, it is accepted that a bipatrid – a person who has the status of a citizen in two states – must be guided by the laws of the country in whose territory he is currently located.
The procedure for obtaining Canadian citizenship is a long and labor-intensive process, where any non-compliance with legal requirements may result in refusal. The process of immigration and obtaining a Canadian passport requires careful preparation of documents with due care, which is why many foreign applicants turn to immigration specialists who are more likely to complete the process of successfully obtaining a Canadian passport.