Key facts
- Physical presence
- At least 1,095 days in the last five years
- Time before PR
- Counts as half a day each, up to 365 days
- Taxes
- Filed for at least three of the five years, if required
- Language and test
- Required for applicants aged 18 to 54
- Language level
- CLB/NCLC 4 in speaking and listening
- Official authority
- IRCC
Last verified against official sources: 2026-09-21
Who this applies to
- Permanent residents who have lived in Canada for about three years or more
- Parents applying for children under 18
Counting your days properly
This is where most applications go wrong. Every trip outside Canada — a weekend in Buffalo, a month visiting family — comes off your total. Before you apply, pull your travel history and run it through IRCC's physical presence calculator. It's free, and IRCC asks for the printout with your application anyway.
Hypothetical example
Maria spent two years in Canada on a work permit before getting PR. Those two years give her 365 days of credit (the maximum), so she needs 730 more days as a permanent resident — about two years — instead of three.
RCIC practical note
We suggest applying with a buffer of a few weeks above 1,095 days. If one trip was miscounted, a buffer saves you from a refusal and a fresh fee.
The citizenship test
If you're between 18 and 54, you'll take a test on Canada's history, geography, government and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. It's usually done online, in English or French. The questions come from IRCC's free study guide, Discover Canada — read it, and most people do fine.
After you apply
Acknowledgement
IRCC confirms your application is complete and gives you an application number.
Test and interview
You're invited to take the test; some applicants are also asked to an interview.
Ceremony
Once approved, you take the Oath of Citizenship at a ceremony — in person or online.
Common mistakes
- Estimating travel from memory instead of checking passport stamps and entry records.
- Applying on the exact day you reach 1,095, with no buffer.
- Forgetting to file taxes for a year when you had little or no income.
- Leaving the country during processing without keeping track of test and interview dates.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need to live in Canada before applying for citizenship?
You need at least 1,095 days of physical presence in the five years before you apply. Up to 365 days of time spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before PR can be counted at half value.
How many questions are on the citizenship test?
The test has 20 questions and you need 15 correct answers to pass, based on IRCC's current format. Check IRCC's page before your test in case the format changes.
Do I lose my PR status if I don't apply for citizenship?
No. You can stay a permanent resident as long as you meet the PR residency obligation. Citizenship is optional.
What to do next
- Download your travel history and run IRCC's physical presence calculator.
- Check your tax filings with CRA for the last five years.
- Start reading Discover Canada if you're between 18 and 54.
Your next steps
Continue in the order most people find useful, rather than a list of unrelated pages.