When does the 2 years before applying start counting ?

[hellokady]

Hi everyone,

I heard you have to do 2 years in Canada after you get your permanent residence confirmation before applying for citizenship (when you’ve studied in Canada).

But a friend of mine told me that because I’ve been living in Canada before getting the PR, I can apply now as I’ve already spent 2 years in Canada during the past 5 years.

I’m quite hesitant because it would be too easy lol.

Can someone clarify this?

Thanks!

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone,

I heard you have to do 2 years in Canada after you get your permanent residence confirmation before applying for citizenship (when you’ve studied in Canada).

But a friend of mine told me that because I’ve been living in Canada before getting the PR, I can apply now as I’ve already spent 2 years in Canada during the past 5 years.

I’m quite hesitant because it would be too easy lol.

Can someone clarify this?

Thanks!

To qualify for citizenship, you need to have lived in Canada for 3 out of the past 5 year.

Two of those years must be AFTER you become a PR.

If you lived in Canada before becoming a PR, then you can get credit for up to 1 year of pre-PR time towards the 3 year residency requirement. However you only get a 1/2 day credit pre-PR for each day you lived in Canada.

So if you have been a PR for two years and have lived in Canada that whole time, AND you also lived in Canada for at least 730 days in the 3 years before you became a PR, you qualify to apply for citizenship.

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone,

I heard you have to do 2 years in Canada after you get your permanent residence confirmation before applying for citizenship (when you’ve studied in Canada).

But a friend of mine told me that because I’ve been living in Canada before getting the PR, I can apply now as I’ve already spent 2 years in Canada during the past 5 years.

I’m quite hesitant because it would be too easy lol.

Can someone clarify this?

Thanks!

So long story short, you will need to wait another two years because you just became a PR.

 

[hellokady]

Perfect, thank you so much for your responses!!