If you live in Canada as PR for 3 years but without a job, can you apply for citizenship?
- Thread starter candadream
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I have not found forums or articles people talking about this... but do you mind giving me more details about where does your info coming from to say yes!
thanks
There is no official requirement to have a job to be eligible for citizenship. You can see the check list for the citizenship application. As long as you meet these requirements, including filing tax returns even if you didn't have a job, theoretically you can apply.
How many more people do you need? Now, there's 3.
Of course you can apply… holding a job is NOT a requirement for citizenship
Have you filed taxes for 3 years? That's the only real requirement I can see.
Not one of being employed.
Someone better versed with the tax requirements can correct me if I’m wrong… the citizenship eligibility states the tax filings *if* required to do so, implying it’s not required in certain cases.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility.html#income-taxes and then over to the CRA link of who is required to pay taxes
However, even if one had zero income those 3 years, I would say it’s still best to file those taxes, even retroactively, for fewer complications with the citizenship application.
Yeah, you should file for your taxes even if you had 0 income. That actually helps with various types of assistances.
GuyanaGirl
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Think about this logically. Do you think every single immigrant Canadian is working or has worked since coming to Canada ? Think about homemakers, people with disabilities that don’t allow them to work, students, elderly folks, etc.
There is a requirement that you need to file your taxes, speak English or French and meet the Physical presence requirement, but there is no requirement that you must be working. Take a look at the citizenship requirements available on the governments website.
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Here's the applicable section from the Citizenship law
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-29/section-5.html
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-29/section-5.html
yes. I was a student when I applied for citizenship. I for sure didn't have a job for 3 years.
Just out of curiosity - how do you survive 3 years without working? Lol.
The person needs to have some kind of income like a gift from relatives, or disability support, or EI or whatever it maybe and that will force you to file taxes.
The only weird scenario I can think of is if you are a high roller gambler or if you hit the lottery. Those windfall incomes are 100% tax exempt in Canada but you are still obligated to file taxes I would say. Lol.
Either ways, unemployment does not stop a person from becoming a citizen.