There are several benefits to holding Canadian citizenship that are not
available to permanent residents, which include:
The right to vote
The right to live outside Canada with no time
limit
The right to be a candidate in federal,
provincial and territorial elections
Preference for jobs in the federal government
The right to pass Canadian citizenship on to
your children born outside Canada(to the first generation only)
Easily travel to more than 150 countries
(including the united states)
To become a Canadian citizen, most applicants must
Be a permanent resident - Regardless of
your age, if you’re applying for citizenship, you must have permanent resident
(PR) status in Canada and should not be under review for immigration or fraud
reasons or be asked by Canadian officials to leave Canada (removal order) or
have unfulfilled conditions related to your PR status.
Have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of
the last 5 years - You (and some minors, if applicable) must have been
physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years before
the date you sign your application.
Have filed their taxes - You may need to
file taxes in Canada for at least 3 years during the 5 years right before the
date you apply.
Pass a citizenship test - If you’re 18 to
54 years of age on the day you sign your application, you need to take the
citizenship test. You’ll need to answer questions about the rights and
responsibilities of Canadians and Canada’s history, geography, economy,
government, laws and symbols
Prove their language skills - If you’re 18 to
54 years of age on the day you sign your application, you must show that you can
speak and listen at a specific level in English or French
Other requirements may apply.