PR Card Renewal/ Canadian Citizenship

Canadian Citizenship

The Canadian passport is one of  the strongest in the world. Canadian Citizens are entitled to certain rights and privileges not generally available to temporary and permanent residents. Canadian citizens can travel to most countries without a visa. They have the right to vote and run for political office. There are more job opportunities with certain federal and provincial departments that require Canadian citizens for specific positions. Canadian citizens have no obligation to renew their immigration documents periodically.

The good thing is that Canada recognizes dual citizenship.

Requirements for applying Canadian Citizenship

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the federal department that manages Canadian citizenship, both for citizenship applicants as well as for current Canadian citizens. To apply for Canadian citizenship the following requirements must be met:

Applicants must have Canadian permanent resident status
Are 18 years of age
Have been physically present in Canada for at least three years (1,095 days) out of the past five years before applying (unless there are exceptional circumstances). Children under 18 must also have permanent resident status, but do not have to satisfy the three-year requirement
Have adequate knowledge of English or French. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 54 must submit proof of language proficiency
Have filed income tax return for 3 taxation years within the last 5 years , if required
Are not under a removal order or subject to other prohibitions under the Citizenship Act
Applicants must be aware of the rights and responsibilities of citizens and have a basic knowledge of Canada’s geography, political system, and history
Applicants must submit a formal application to IRCC and pay a government processing fee and a right of citizenship fee

Once approved, applicants are required to take a citizenship test (for applicants between 18 and 54 only). Successful applicants must then attend a citizenship ceremony where they receive a certificate of Canadian citizenship and officially become new Canadian citizens.

Permanent Resident Card

Permanent residents of Canada must have a valid permanent resident card (PR card) or permanent resident travel document (in absence of PR card) in order to travel to Canada by plane, bus, train, or boat. Without one, you will not be permitted to board the vehicle.

To be eligible for a PR card, you need to

be a permanent resident and
submit your application in Canada

To keep your permanent resident status, you must have been in Canada for at least 730  days during the last five years, preceding to the application

You should only apply for a PR card if:

your card has expired or will expire in less than 9 months
your card is lost, stolen, or destroyed
you didn’t receive your card within 180 days of immigrating to Canada
you need to update your card to:
legally change your name
change your citizenship
change your gender designation
correct your date of birth

Mostly, PR cards are valid for 5 years.The new card will have a new expiration date.

Royce Immigration’s trained and experienced staff assists you in understanding the potential concerns that may affect your application’s eligibility and outcome. Contact us for more information!

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