Applying for citizenship
Canadian citizenship: which route is yours?
Pick the situation that matches yours: the route, the IRCC form, the fee per person and the condition that decides it appear right away.
Which citizenship route is mine?
Route
Grant of citizenship (adult)
| Form | CIT 0002 |
| Fee per person | $653 |
| Key condition | 1,095 days, taxes, language and test at 18 to 54 |
Canadian citizenship is not one procedure but several, and the right one depends on where you start. A permanent resident aged 18 or over asks for a grant: 1,095 days of physical presence in the 5 years before signing the application, at least 730 of them as a permanent resident, tax returns for 3 of those 5 years when the law required them, CLB/NCLC 4 in English or French and a 20-question test between 18 and 54, and no prohibition. The adult fee is $653. A child who is a permanent resident applies for $100, with no test and no language proof. Someone born abroad to a Canadian parent is often a citizen already and confirms it with a certificate at $75. A former citizen who became a permanent resident again can resume citizenship for $530 after 365 days in Canada within 2 years, and a citizen living abroad with another nationality can renounce for $100 in most cases.
How many days am I short?
Days short
45
| Days credited | 1,050 |
| Credit before PR (half, max 365) | 150 |
| At least 730 days as a PR | met |
Questions, counts and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How questions and dates are built
Five routes, five forms
| Route | For whom | IRCC form | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant, adult | permanent resident aged 18 or over | CIT 0002 | $653 |
| Grant, minor | child under 18 with permanent resident status | CIT 0003 or CIT 0403 | $100 |
| Proof of citizenship | person who may already be a citizen | CIT 0001 | $75 |
| Resumption | former citizen who is a permanent resident again | CIT 0301 | $530 |
| Renunciation | citizen with another nationality, living abroad | CIT 0302 | $100 |
Most visitors of this site follow the first line: they came as immigrants, hold permanent resident status and want to become citizens. The other four routes matter for families, for people born outside the country and for those whose link with Canada was broken or is about to be. The calculator at the top of the page sorts them in one click.
The grant step by step
- Count your days. 1,095 days present in the 5 years before the day you sign, of which 730 as a permanent resident; time spent here before permanent residence counts half, up to 365 days. Our day-by-day calculator finds the first date that works with your trips.
- Check the other conditions. Tax filing, language level, absence of prohibitions: the eligibility page goes through each one.
- Prepare and send the application. Most people apply online; paper stays mandatory in a few cases. The application page lists the documents.
- Pay. $653 per adult and $100 per child; the fee calculator adds them up for a household.
- Pass the test. 20 questions, 15 correct answers to pass, for applicants aged 18 to 54. Our timed mock test follows the same format.
- Take the oath. The citizenship ceremony closes the process, and new citizens receive their certificate there.
When you may already be a citizen
Birth in Canada generally settles the question, and a provincial birth certificate is the usual proof. Birth abroad is less simple. Since Bill C-3 came into force on December 15, 2025, most people born outside Canada to a Canadian parent before that date are citizens automatically, and later births depend on the parent's own time in Canada. IRCC's advice is direct: apply for a certificate to find out for sure. The page on citizenship by descent explains the rule and the certificate page covers the application.
What does not make you a citizen
Marriage does not. IRCC states that marrying a Canadian does not make you a citizen automatically, and a spouse meets exactly the same conditions as any other applicant; see the page for spouses. Years spent in Canada on a permit are not enough on their own either: you need permanent resident status first, and that earlier time only counts at half value.
Leaving or coming back
Citizenship can be given up and, in some cases, taken back. Renunciation requires another nationality and residence outside Canada for adults in the general case. Resumption is for former citizens who returned as permanent residents and spent 365 days in Canada in the 2 years before applying. The conditions and fees are on IRCC’s eligibility page and the IRCC fee list.