Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has urged prospective citizenship applicants to confirm their eligibility before submitting an application, warning that errors during the process often lead to avoidable delays. The immigration body, posting via its official X account @CitImmCanada, said one of the most frequent mistakes applicants make is miscalculating the number of days they have physically spent in Canada, particularly when counting time on a work permit.
Physical Presence and Residency Requirements
To be eligible, an adult applicant must have been a permanent resident and physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days, which is roughly three out of the last five years. IRCC also asks whether the applicant has been outside Canada for more than 730 days in total during that same five-year window, since extended absences can affect eligibility.
Applicants are also asked whether Canadian officials have ever advised them to leave the country or whether they have any unfulfilled conditions tied to their permanent resident status.
Criminal History and Other Disqualifying Factors
A separate section of the eligibility check covers a broad range of legal circumstances that could bar someone from applying. These include serving a prison sentence, being on parole or probation, facing charges under the Citizenship Act, being under investigation for war crimes or crimes against humanity, or having previously had a citizenship application rejected due to misrepresentation within the past five years.
Those who have had their Canadian citizenship revoked because of fraud within the last ten years are also ineligible, as are permanent residents who have been convicted of terrorism, high treason, or spying offences, or who served in an armed group that was in conflict with Canada.
Language and Tax Requirements
Applicants aged 18 to 54 must show proof of proficiency in either English or French. Accepted evidence includes results from an approved third-party language test, a diploma or transcript from a secondary or post-secondary programme taught in either language, or results from a government-funded language training programme at a minimum CLB or NCLC level.
Those who are 17 or younger, or 55 and older, are exempt from the language proof requirement. A waiver is also available for applicants who cannot provide evidence due to a disability.
On taxes, IRCC asks whether the applicant was required to file personal income taxes in Canada under the Income Tax Act during the past five years. Failure to meet tax obligations where required can affect the outcome of a citizenship application.
IRCC advised applicants who believe they meet all the requirements to use the Physical Presence Calculator to confirm their 1,095-day total before downloading and submitting the official application package for adults.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Canada has rolled out far-reaching changes to its immigration and asylum framework that will affect Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking protection, study, or work opportunities in the country. The reforms follow the passage of Bill C-12, officially titled the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, which received royal assent on March 26, 2026.
