Naturalization is the process by which a permanent resident of Canada becomes a Canadian citizen.
Basic Requirements
In order to obtain Canadian citizenship once you meet the PR residency requirment of 1,095 days, you must also:
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Have filed Canadian taxes for at least 3 years within that time period.
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Pass a Canadian citizenship test.
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Prove your language ability in English or French.
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Take your citizenship oath.
Who Does not Qualify
You cannot become a Candian citizen by naturalization if any of the following apply to you:
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You are in prison, on parole, or on probation.
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You have been convicted of a serious crime in or outside Canada within the past few years.
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You are under a removal order.
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You have misrepresented information on your immigration or citizenship applications.
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Citizenship by descent is a pathway for individuals who were born outside of Canada to a Canadian parent. This process is different from naturalization as it's a confirmation of Canadian citizenship as opposed to an application for Canadian citizenship. This is called Proof of Citizenship.
Eligibility Requirements
You may be a Canadian citizen by descent if the following apply to you:
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You were born outside of Canada on or after April 17, 2009, and
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At the time of your birth at least one of your parents was born in Canada or naturalized as a Canadian citizen before you were born.
If you were born before April 17, 2009, you may still be a Canadian citizen by descent if your parent or grandparent was a Canadian citizen, depending on the laws in place at the time of your birth.
New Legislation (2025)
On December 15, 2025, Bill C-3, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act, came into force. Under this new legislation, individuals who have at least one Canadian grandparent may now be eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent, if they were born or adopted abroad before December 15, 2025.
If you are a Canadian who was born or adopted abroad, you may now be eligible to pass Canadian citizenship down to your own children born or adopted abroad, provided you have lived in Canada for a minimum of 3 cumulative years (1,095 days) before your child's birth or adoption.
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There are two main pathways through which an adopted child can become a Canadian citizen:
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Grant of Citizenship for Adopted Children (Direct Citizenship)
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Permanent Residence and Naturalization
Direct Grant of Citizenship
This pathway allows a child adopted outside Canada by a Canadian citizen to become a citizen directly, without first becoming a permanent resident.
The child must:
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Have been adopted after birth by a Canadian citizen (biological or adoptive), and
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The adoption must:
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Be legal and complete under the laws of both the country where it took place and the child’s place of residence;
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Create a genuine parent–child relationship;
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Not be primarily for immigration or citizenship purposes; and
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Be in the best interests of the child.
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At least one adoptive parent must be a Canadian citizen at the time of the adoption and they must be eligible to pass on citizenship. The child may be adopted individually or as part of an intercountry adoption program.
Permanent Residence and Nautralization
In some cases a family may choose (or must use) the immigration route before applying for citizenship for their adopted child. This would include 2 steps:
1. The adoptive parent sponsors their child for permanent residence through the family class adoption program, which requires the following:
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A completed adoption (or intent to adopt once in Canada),
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Home study and approval from both countries’ adoption authorities, and
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Proof of the adoptive parent’s eligibility to sponsor under immigration rules.
Once the child lands in Canada as a permanent resident, they receive a PR card.
2. After meeting the basic citizenship eligibility criteria (e.g., physical presence of 1,095 days if applicable), the child can apply for citizenship by naturalization using the regular application process.
The permanent residence and naturalization route is usually chosen when the child's adoption is not yet finalized or the adoptive parent is not eligible to pass on citizenship by descent.
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Renunciation is when a Canadian citizen voluntarily gives up their citizenship. Once approved, the person ceases to be a Canadian citizen and loses all rights and privileges of citizenship (e.g., voting, passport, entry without authorization).
What's Required
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You must be a Canadian citizen,
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You must be at least 18 years old,
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You must have or intend to obtain another citizenship (so you do not become stateless),
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You must not be a security risk or under certain criminal prohibitions, and
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You must understand the consequences of giving up citizenship.
Individuals under 18 years of age can only renounce their Canadian citizenship in limited cases, typically with parental consent and when it is in the child’s best interest.
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Resumption of citizenship is the process that allows a former Canadian citizen (someone who voluntarily renounced or lost their citizenship under an earlier law) to regain Canadian citizenship.
What is Required
To apply for reinstatement of Canadian citizenship, you must:
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Have been a Canadian citizen in the past,
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Have renounced or lost your citizenship under a former version of the Citizenship Act,
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Be a permanent resident of Canada at the time of application,
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Have lived in Canada for at least one year (365 days) as a permanent resident before applying, and
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Not be under a removal order or convicted of certain criminal offences.
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Unlike a PR card, your PR status in Canada does not expire. However, you can lose or confirm your status if it’s reviewed — for example, when renewing your PR card, applying for a travel document, or facing an immigration investigation.
There is no formal renewal process for PR status itself, but you may need to prove you still meet the residency obligation to keep it. Renewing your PR card does not renew your PR status — it simply updates your proof of it.
Maintaining Your PR Status
To maintain your permanent resident status, you must:
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Be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) within the past 5 years.
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The 730 days do not need to be continuous.
You can count:
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Time spent in Canada,
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Time abroad with a Canadian citizen spouse or parent,
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Time working full-time for a Canadian business or public service abroad, or
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Time accompanying a Canadian permanent resident employed abroad by a Canadian business.
Your Permanent Resident Status does not expire; however, you must renew your PR card every 5 years and ensure you meet the 2-year residency requirement every 5 years in order to be able to renew your PR card and maintain your PR status.
Losing Your PR Status
ou may lose your PR status if:
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You fail to meet the 730-day residency requirement,
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You voluntarily renounce your PR status, or
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An immigration officer or tribunal determines you no longer qualify.
Loss of PR status only occurs after a formal decision is made by an immigration officer or immigration tribunal — your PR status remains valid until then.
If your PR card has expired while you're outside of Canada, you can apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) to prove your status and return to Canada. During this process, IRCC may review whether you still meet the residency obligation.
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Gain Coveted Canadian
Citizenship
Canadian citizenship is highly valued worldwide for the opportunities, rights, and stability it offers. Citizens enjoy one of the world’s strongest passports, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries. Canada is known for its high standard of living, universal healthcare, excellent education system, and commitment to diversity and human rights.
Contact us to find out how we can guide you through the steps of getting your Canadian citizenship so that the process is stress-free for you.