Top 5 Benefits of Becoming a Canadian Citizen
Becoming a Canadian Citizen is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. It is a great way to secure your future in Canada for you and your family. If you are lucky enough to immigrate to Canada, you will face a simple and straightforward process as long as you understand the basic steps.
But before we jump into that, we’ve provided the Top 5 Benefits of Becoming a Canadian Citizen to help you decide whether Canada is the right place for you.
Acquiring the privilege to participate in Canadian political affairs allows a person with Canadian citizenship the right to vote at all elections, including federal, municipal, and municipal-provincial elections. Furthermore, a Canadian citizen has the right to compete for election and participate in administering the different levels of government affairs within Canada.
Choosing to become a Canadian citizen is a great way to get you more options. You can live wherever you want in Canada without being required to obtain a work visa. Becoming a citizen of Canada opens many doors. It makes it easier to get a job, a great way to give you more opportunities. For foreigners who wish to work in Canada, becoming a citizen first may also significantly speed up the job search.
As a dual citizen, you can enjoy all of the benefits of living in Canada while gaining access to the many other perks offered by your home country. In short, you get to keep your birthplace, but you get the added benefits of living in Canada, such as generous employee benefits and an affordable healthcare system.
As a Canadian citizen, or future one, you have many privileges that other countries may not give to its citizens. In fact, nearly 60% of the world’s population does not have citizenship with their passport. If you choose to become a Canadian citizen, you’ll have the right to enter more than 165 countries without a visa and enjoy a smooth, hassle-free travel experience.
Permanent resident cards are only valid for five years after they are issued. However, when traveling internationally, the cards are needed, and they may also be sought as evidence of permanent resident status by employers or other government organizations. Therefore, permanent residents are placed in the costly and time-consuming situation of submitting a new application for a Permanent Resident Card and paying a new fee every five years. As for Canadian Citizens who wish to apply for immigration, there is no need for updating their immigration documentation.
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Who is Eligible for Canadian Citizenship?
Many people are interested in Canadian citizenship, but often wonder what the process is and who is eligible. If you’re one of them who aspires to become a Canadian citizen? You might be eligible to apply for citizenship if you fit into one of the following categories:
- Must have Canadian permanent resident status.
- Have lived in Canada for at least three years (or for at least 1,095 days) out of the previous five years before applying.
- Must be able to communicate in either one or both of Canada’s two official languages (English or French); and the applicant must not have a criminal record that is considered prohibitive to entry into Canada.
- Pass a citizenship exam as well as a citizenship interview, which are both often conducted after an application has been submitted.
How to Become a Canadian Citizen After Permanent Residency
Applying for a Canadian Citizenship is an exciting process. The first step is to determine if you are eligible to apply and whether you want to become a Canadian Citizen. While applying for citizenship can be a challenging process, it doesn’t have to be. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get your Canadian citizenship as a permanent resident.
- Check if your eligible to apply online.
- Download and complete the Canadian Citizen Application Package paperwork.
- Ensure that you include all supporting documentation.
- Pay all fees online.
- Your application should then be mailed to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO), which is located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Citizen Tip
If you’re submitting more than one application at the same time, you can pay all the fees together.
Commonly Asked Questions
It’s surprisingly easy to become a Canadian citizen. Canada wants to attract skilled immigrants who are eager to contribute to the country’s economy, so they’ve made the process simple, transparent, and fast.
To become a Canadian citizen, you first need to be a permanent resident, and have lived in Canada for three out of the last five years. Do take note that this is just one of the requirements. Average processing time: 12 months.
Canada allows dual citizenship. However, this may not be allowed in other countries where you’re a citizen. Therefore, you would need to research the laws of other countries that have issued you citizenship and double-check if they allow it.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship
Becoming a Canadian citizen is a big moment that you should celebrate. To help welcome you into the Canadian family, we’ve created a list of the things you’ll need to do after becoming a citizen. This useful guide will outline what to expect after your citizenship ceremony and how you can get more involved in your community.
👍🏻 Step 1: Confirm that you are eligible to participate.
🧮 Step 2: Calculate how long you have been a resident of Canada
📄 Step 3: Gather all of your documentation and complete the form
💵 Step 4: Pay the application costs
📩 Step 5: Submit your application
📝 Step 6: Get ready for your examination
👔 Step 7: Attend your interview, examination, or hearing
☕ Step 8: Sit back and wait for a decision
🍁 Step 9: Attend the ceremony and take oath of citizenship
What to Do After Becoming a Canadian Citizen
Becoming a Canadian citizen is a big moment that you should celebrate. To help welcome you into the Canadian family, we’ve created a list of the things you’ll need to do after becoming a citizen. This useful guide will outline what to expect after your citizenship ceremony and how you can get more involved in your community.
Click the list for more info.
A valid Canadian passport confirms your ability to enter Canada. Your certificate of citizenship is not a valid travel document. If you are a dual Canadian citizen, you may enter Canada only with a valid passport.
You now have the right and duty to vote as a Canadian citizen. For provincial or territorial elections, contact your province or city’s election administration.
Engage with your community to help in building a stronger, more inclusive Canadian economy.
For one full year, enjoy free entry to all Parks Canada attractions, which contains national parks, historic places, and marine conservation zones.
Receive one year of free entry to museums, scientific centers, art galleries, and parks across Canada courtesy of Canada.ca and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. As stated by Canada.ca, free entry is applicable for new citizens and up to four children during a single visit.
Note: Canoo was created in collaboration with Canada.ca and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. To commemorate your Canadian citizenship, download the Canoo app.
With the numerous worthwhile benefits Canada provides, thousands choose to become Canadian citizens every year, and you can make it too!
CanadaCIS offers various services to help people apply for permanent residency before eventually applying for citizenship. You can be sure that our team of top-rated immigration experts will help you get through the application process as quickly and painlessly as possible.
