Help Center

Screening of the Application

• Once your application is determined eligible your application will be assessed by a CIC officer.
• An application may be returned or refused if
  • you are ineligible to apply;
  • the application is incomplete; or
  • the answer to a question is not detailed enough.
• To avoid your application being returned, please refer to How do I fill out an application?.

Medical Exam

• If a medical exam is necessary, CIC will send you instructions on doing the medical examination.

Security Screening

• If you have a criminal record you may not be allowed to enter Canada. People who pose a risk to Canada’s security are not allowed to come to Canada either. As part of the application process to come to Canada, CIC checks to ensure that applicants do not pose a risk to the safety and security of Canadians.
• You can expect CIC to ask you to provide a police certificate.

Selection Interview or Waiver Decision

• If an interview is necessary, CIC will contact you with an interview date.
• If an interview is not necessary, the application moves to the next step.

Decision

• If CIC approves your application, it will issue the immigration document for which you applied.
• If your application is refused you will be sent a decision letter indicating the reason for the refusal either by mail or e-mail.

There are several ways to track the progress of your application. It depends on what type of application you have sent. See How can I check the status of my application? for details.

Screening of the Application

• Once your application is received, it will be checked upfront by the CPC-Sydney staff to determine if your application is complete.

Application is incomplete

• If your application is considered incomplete or you are not eligible to apply, it will be returned to you, including the fees;
• To avoid your application being returned, please refer to How to I fill out an application?.

Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR)

If your application is considered complete:

• The fees will be taken;
• You will receive an acknowledgement letter, along with a copy of the citizenship study guide entitled Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, to prepare for the citizenship test;
• Your application will be transferred to the citizenship local office responsible for your area for the processing.

Application assessment

You applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not you meet all the requirements for Canadian citizenship:

• Age. You must be at least 18 years old to apply for Canadian citizenship.
• Permanent resident status. To become a Canadian citizen, you must have permanent resident status in Canada, and that status must not be in doubt.
• Residence in Canada. To become Canadian citizens, adults must have resided in Canada for at least three years (1,095 days) in the past four years before applying.
• Language abilities. Canada has two official languages – English and French. To become a citizen, you must show that you have adequate knowledge of one of these languages.
• People with a criminal history may be barred from applying for citizenship.
• Knowledge of Canada. To become a citizen, you must understand the rights, responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, such as the right and responsibility to vote in elections. You must also demonstrate an understanding of Canada’s history, values, institutions and symbols.

Citizenship test/interview

• Applicants between 18 and 54 years must pass the citizenship test and meet the language requirements;
• All adult applicants must be seen by a CIC official during an interview, including applicants of 55 years old and over.

Hearing before a citizenship judge

• If a hearing is required, you will be advised in writing.

Decision

• If your application is approved, you will receive a notice to take the oath of citizenship;
• If your application is refused, you will be sent a letter by registered mail indicating the reason for the refusal. When a citizenship application is refused, the applicant remains a permanent resident.

If your application is refused you have two options:

• You may appeal the decision within 60 days from the date of the letter stating that your application was refused; or
• You may send a new application at any time when you meet all the citizenship requirements.

Ceremony

• All applicants of 14 years and older must repeat and take the oath of citizenship in person during a citizenship ceremony.

There are several ways to track the progress of your application. It depends on what type of application you have sent. See How can I check the status of my application? for details.