Between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, Canada welcomed 393,500 new citizens, surpassing the almost 364,000 new citizens over the same time in the previous year.

This month’s other events in Toronto that cater to newcomers include the yearly Newcomer Day. Anyone in Toronto can attend Nathan Phillips Square on May 23 to learn more about employment opportunities, settlement services, Canadian history, and other topics. There will also be a naturalization ceremony that day.

What makes one a citizen of Canada?

Many rights and liberties are afforded to Canadian residents in a multicultural society that promotes tolerance for people of many backgrounds, including gender, race, and religion.

A Canadian passport, which is one of the best in the world and grants visa-free travel to more than 100 nations, is also available to citizens. They don’t need to bother about acquiring a visa or permit in order to enter or exit Canada.

In addition, citizens have access to additional government benefits and are promised free healthcare (as long as they have a provincial health card). They can also vote in federal, provincial, and local elections.

Last but not least, Canadian citizens pay a lot less for post-secondary education than do international students.

How to apply for citizenship in Canada

There are several steps involved in obtaining Canadian citizenship. First and foremost, all newly naturalized citizens must be long-term residents of Canada. You can do this by submitting an application via any of the more than 100 Canadian immigration routes.

A candidate for citizenship must then fulfill the requirements for physical residency after obtaining the status of permanent resident. In particular, candidates for citizenship need to have spent a minimum of three of the previous five years, or 1,095 days, in Canada.

Additionally, candidates must have at least a four-star Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score in either French or English, which are the country’s official languages. The following can be used to illustrate this:

• Outcomes of an authorized third-party examination; or
• Transcripts or a diploma from an English- or French-speaking school or post-secondary institution;
• Proof that the student completed some government language programs with a CLB 4 or higher.

After fulfilling these prerequisites, candidates need to ace a citizenship exam. The IRCC administers this test, which takes 20 to 30 minutes to finish and includes questions regarding geography, political process, Canadian history, and the rights and obligations of Canadian citizenship. A score of 15 out of 20 is required for passing.

Ceremony for citizenship

An applicant for citizenship in Canada is required to attend a citizenship ceremony upon approval. In the course of the event, candidates will

• Take the Oath of Citizenship;
• Get their citizenship certificate;
• Sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form; and
• Sing the national anthem.

The ceremony can take place in person in front of a judge or through a video link provided for those unable to attend in person.