Preparation for Canadian Citizenship Application- Permanent Resident Edition
Let’s explore how to prepare your Canadian citizenship application after becoming a permanent resident of Canada. Being born in a free, democratic, and advanced country and obtaining citizenship is a great fortune. If you cannot obtain citizenship by birth, there is a second option: first becoming a permanent resident and then, after a certain period of effort and further proving your adaptability, applying for citizenship according to the nationality laws of the country. As one of the G7 industrialized nations, Canada is a free, democratic, and economically advanced country, attracting millions of immigration and visa applications from around the world each year. It is evident how desirable it is to become a Canadian citizen.
First, the two most common pre-citizenship questions are:
- Does Canada require you to renounce other nationalities before applying for citizenship?
- What are the fundamental differences between a Canadian permanent resident and a Canadian citizen?
Canada is a nation of immigrants. More precisely, immigrants from around the world have built the Canada we know today. Canada currently recognizes and accepts dual citizenship, so no one needs to give up their original or other nationality to become a Canadian citizen. Even if you join the military or enter politics, you do not need to renounce other nationalities. This is in stark contrast to our neighbour—the United States—where the law mandates single citizenship. The U.S. policy is a soft or inclusive form of single citizenship, but since the U.S. is also a nation built by immigrants, it allows naturalized citizens to retain their original nationality. We will discuss these differences in a separate article.
As for the fundamental differences between Canadian permanent residents and Canadian citizens, we mentioned them in our previous publication on July 12, 2024, titled ” Examining Common Factors for Deportation from the Humboldt Traffic Accident Case.” Here, we reiterate the most common differences:
- The right to vote (with few exceptions)
- The right to run for office
- The right to hold public office (permanent residents are restricted)
- The right to serve in the military (though open, it is still heavily restricted)
- Citizens have no residency obligation
- Consular protection and assistance abroad
- The right to apply for a Canadian passport
- The benefits of various reciprocal agreements and welfare Canada has signed with other countries
If these are the benefits and rights you desire, or if you hope your descendants can enjoy them, planning to apply for citizenship and become a Canadian citizen is one of the best decisions of your life.
Canadian citizenship application reviews are divided into six key areas:
- Language requirements
- Background checks and verification
- Actual residency days
- Other disqualifications
- Citizenship test
- Citizenship ceremony
Currently, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers most applications either in paper format or through online electronic submission. According to the average processing times published on the official IRCC website over the past six months, over 80% of cases are completed within 7 to 12 months. Completion is defined as the time from when the case enters AOR (Acknowledgment of Receipt—when the case data is fully and officially entered into the system) to the completion of the citizenship oath ceremony (including the return or submission of the oath confirmation document) and the issuance of the citizenship certificate. Otherwise, a rejection letter will be issued.
Finally, please note that the content of this article cannot replace the consultation services of any specialized immigration lawyer or licensed immigration consultant. If you have questions about your application preparation or encounter difficulties during the application process, directly consulting a specialized immigration lawyer or licensed immigration consultant is the only way to get the most professional services and the most fundamental solutions to your problems.
