How Long Does It Take for Canadian Citizenship to Process?

Getting Canadian nationality is almost every person’s dream because of its strong economy, peaceful life, free citizen’s healthcare, and cooperative government. That’s why millions of people from all across the globe apply for Canadian immigration either for a work permit, student, or business visa.

Well, the citizen application procedure is quite simple which requires a few essential documents, reliable immigration services in Edmonton, and your dedication. Once you have applied, you will be issued a reference number. You can use this number to check your application’s status on Canadian Citizenship Application Portal online. But the most common question is how long does it take for Canadian citizenship to process?

This is one of the most common questions asked by potential applicants of Canadian immigration. Well, the simplest answer to this question is, it depends on the strength of your case and other factors. Therefore, I have put all the information together to let you know how much time it takes to complete your immigration process.

Nevertheless, before applying for Canadian immigration, you must identify whether you are eligible or not.

Eligibility Criteria for Canadian Citizenship

To successfully apply for Canadian nationality, you must meet several eligibility requirements. However, these criteria include:

• You must be a permanent resident of the country from where you are about to apply.
• You must have lived for three years in the last five years in Canada.
• The language proficiency must be excellent. You must have a grip on speaking and listening skills in English or French.
• You must have paid your taxes regularly.
• You must intend to live in Canada once you get permanent residency.
• You must be a strict follower of Canadian rules and principles.

Factor Affecting Process Time

Once you understand that you can fulfill all the eligibility criteria to apply for Canadian immigration and apply your case, it can take up to 12 months to finalize your process. But this time may vary or get affected due to some external or internal factors:

• Well, it is recommended to apply for a permanent residency in Canada. In this manner, you can check your application status online once your documents get approved.
• Applying physically for citizenship takes a longer time to process application.
• Delayed payments can also become an obstacle in the late procedure.
• Verifying your document can also take time in the overall application process. But it completely depends upon the authority about what they make a final decision.

Application Process Steps

Although the time for processing your application is probably one year, the process doesn’t include massive steps. Your Canadian immigration process follows only three steps to complete, which are mentioned below:

Step I: Get Application Package

The application package comprises a detailed guide and required forms that need to be filled up. Amongst multiple application forms, you need to choose the most suitable as per the case you are going to apply. This package must satisfy your citizenship type and the status of the application. Besides, you must choose a new version.

Step II: Pay Application Dues

You need to pay two types of payments which include the processing fee and citizenship fee. This payment must be paid online through your credit or debit card. Further, the fee should only be paid when you’re about to submit your application.

Step III: Submit the Application

Now, it’s time to submit your application. Make sure to recheck the whole application, information, dates, and your signatures. Since these, all data will be used for your further process.

What Happens After Submitting Application?

Typically, you would get one of the two responses after applying; accept or reject. If your Canadian citizenship application is accepted, you should get ready to be called for a test and an interview. The citizenship test is allocated to people between 18 to 54 years old. Once you’ve executed the test, your interview will be conducted.

This test includes a few general-knowledge questions about the country. However, the topics may include economy, geography, history, government, symbols, and law. You are given 30 minutes to perform this test. Once you are done, you will be called for an interview. While conducting tests and interviews, you must take your ID or PR card with you.

On the other hand, if your application is rejected, you will receive a letter along with other submitted documents from the immigration office. This letter clearly mentions the reason for application rejection and from where your application lacked. You may fulfill those gaps and reapply. Keep in mind, when you apply again, you need to pay the fees again.

Final Words

People usually prefer moving to Canada because of better living circumstances, more chances for an uplifting career, and better educational institutes. Their eventual objective is to obtain a permanent residency in Canada. Anyhow, if you are one of them and desiring Canadian citizenship, you must determine the basic requirements to fulfill. You should make a complete file, submit it, and pay your fee on time if you don’t want to delay your case. However, if you are unaware of how to apply for Canadian immigration, you should seek and hire a reliable immigration lawyer/consultant for a stronger case.

• Next, you can read about: How Many Types of Green Cards are There?