Help Center

Can I count any time I’ve spent outside of Canada toward the residence requirement?

Only in certain circumstances. You can count time spent outside Canada toward the residence requirement for a grant of citizenship if you spent the time with a spouse who is a Canadian citizen working at that time with the:

• federal public administration of Canada;
• public service of a province; or
• Canadian armed forces.

Answers others found useful

• What are the requirements for becoming a Canadian citizen?
• What is dual citizenship?
• Do I become a Canadian when I marry a Canadian?
• How much does it cost to apply for Canadian citizenship?
• I am a citizen of another country. Will I lose that citizenship if I become a Canadian?