Many people delay applying for Canadian citizenship, but it’s this very blue passport that gives you a number of advantages. Let’s take a look at the main ones:
- You don’t need to renew it the way you have to renew your PR (permanent resident) cards.
- Canadian citizenship opens up more job opportunities. For example, government positions, jobs in federal or provincial services, including working for the Canadian government abroad (like at embassies).
- Greater confidence and security in your status as a Canadian citizen. While permanent residents can face deportation and have their PR status revoked for many reasons, it’s nearly impossible to revoke Canadian citizenship. And it’s COMPLETELY impossible if you’re solely a Canadian citizen, because Canada cannot make you STATELESS.
- You gain the right to vote in elections at all levels — from municipal to voting for the Prime Minister.
- High global mobility. With a Canadian passport, you can travel visa-free to most countries.
- Citizenship is automatically passed on to your children, regardless of the country they are born in.
- Canadian citizens can live outside of Canada in any country without fear of losing their citizenship due to prolonged absence.
To apply for Canadian citizenship, you must have lived in Canada for three of the past five years, have no criminal record, and of course, pay your taxes on time.
Fun fact: As soon as you apply for citizenship, you are no longer required to stay in Canada while your application is being processed.
The only requirement is that you must be in Canada at the time of taking the Oath of Citizenship.
Oleksandra Melnykova, Immigration and Refugee Consultant in Canada.
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