Do I automatically get citizenship?
Dear Miss Powell,
I recently married a Canadian citizen. Will I now automatically get citizenship? How do I apply? Do we just submit our marriage certificate to the high commission here? Is there a guarantee that my application will be approved? How long will that application take to come through?
LD
Dear LD,
You will not automatically get Canadian citizenship just by marrying a citizen. There are several steps that you will be required to take before you can be authorised to live permanently in Canada. The first step is for your spouse to apply to sponsor you to become a permanent resident. Then after residing in Canada, you may qualify to apply for citizenship.
SPONSORSHIP APPLICATION
You and your spouse will be evaluated to see if your spouse qualify as a sponsor or if you are admissible to Canada. Your spouse can be male or female and must be at least 18 years old and be a permanent resident or citizen of Canada. Additionally, your spouse must be residing in Canada or intends to return to Canada when you become a permanent resident. Some of the other requirements are that your sponsor must prove that he or she is not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability, not be bankrupt, and able to prove that he can provide for your basic needs, so that you will not need government assistance.
You must download the required forms and complete them accurately. Some of the essential documents are passport, marriage certificate, birth certificate, police report, biometrics and medical report. You will also be required to provide proof of your relationship beyond just your marriage certificate. For your sponsor, he will need to provide proof of status in Canada, such as permanent residence card, passport, birth certificate or citizenship certificate. Your sponsor will also need to provide tax returns, letter of employment, or any other document to show his ability to support you.
The application should be made online via the government of Canada’s permanent resident application portal. You will be required to create a profile, answer the relevant questions, upload the required forms and documents, then pay the application and right of permanent residence fees.
The processing time depends on your country of residence. The processing time is updated regularly and can be found at
www.canada.ca.
If your application is approved, you will receive a document from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) called a Confirmation of Permanent Residence and a permanent resident visa, if required. You must travel to Canada before the expiry of your documents and meet with an immigration officer, who will make a final decision on whether to allow you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. You should note this date, as you will be required to provide this information when you are applying for other documents, such as your health card and social insurance number.
There is no guarantee that your application will be approved. Each case is assessed based on their own merits. Common reasons for refusal are misrepresentation, or an inadmissibility finding. If your application is refused, then IRCC will provide you with the reason for the refusal and information on how you can appeal the decision.
CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION
Once your application has been approved and you have your permanent residence card, you must meet several requirements to apply for citizenship. You must be a permanent resident of Canada, maintained your status, and have lived in Canada a minimum of three out of the last five years, or be physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the five years right before you apply. Other requirements are that your tax returns must be up to date, you must be able to prove your language skills, pass a citizenship test (unless exempted), and take the oath of citizenship.
If you require additional information or assistance with your application, you may contact to request a Zoom or telephone meeting to assist your further.