GCMS Notes for Canadian Citizenship Application

Adult eligibility (18 and above)

According to IRCC, to become a Canadian citizen as an adult you must:^[1]

• be a permanent resident — you must have valid PR status (you must not have a removal order or unfulfilled conditions on your PR status); you can apply with a valid or expired PR card;
• have enough physical presence — you must have been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years before the date you sign your application, and that period must include at least 730 days as a permanent resident.

IRCC notes the eligibility period does not include time spent in prison, on parole, on probation, or time waiting for a decision on a refugee claim.^[1] When an application is refused or delayed, requesting your full records lets you see the information IRCC holds about how these requirements were assessed.

The status tracker vs. your full file

In the IRCC application status tracker you see only high-level statuses — for example, “Received” or “In progress” — together with review sections such as background verification.^[2] Your full personal records held by IRCC contain much more than these high-level statuses, which is why many applicants request a complete copy of their file.

How to request your citizenship records

Your own personal information held by IRCC can be requested under the Privacy Act — available to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals regardless of where they are located.^[3] Broader records are requested under the Access to Information Act ($5.00 fee),^[4] where an applicant who is not a citizen, permanent resident, or present in Canada must use a representative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, with written consent.^[5] Requests can be submitted through IRCC’s ATIP Online Request tool or in writing,^[6] and IRCC has 30 days to respond to a formal request.^[7]

If your application is refused

Under Canada’s immigration law, you can ask the Federal Court of Canada to review immigration decisions through a two-stage process: a leave stage, where you must show the Court that the decision was not fair or reasonable, or that there was an error; and a judicial review stage.^[8] There are deadlines to apply, so it is wise to get legal advice as soon as possible.^[8] Reviewing your full records first helps you understand the decision.

Frequently asked questions

How much time in Canada do I need for citizenship?
You must have been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years before you sign your application, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident.^[1]

Does time in prison count toward physical presence?
No. IRCC states the eligibility period does not include time in prison, on parole, on probation, or time waiting for a refugee claim decision.^[1]

How long does it take to get my records?
IRCC has 30 days to respond to a formal request, though this may be extended in certain circumstances.^[7]

Official sources

All information on this page is based on official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) information:

1. Canadian citizenship: Who can apply — Canada.ca
2. What does my status mean in the application status tracker? — IRCC
3. Who can make a request under the Privacy Act? — IRCC
4. What is the fee for an Access request? — IRCC
5. Who can make a request under the Access to Information Act? — IRCC
6. How and where do I submit an Access to Information or Privacy request? — IRCC
7. How long does the Department have to respond? — IRCC
8. Apply to the Federal Court of Canada for judicial review — Canada.ca