Is long legal stay can grant citizenship?

[kamalpc]

Hi

I have a simple question.... If any one stayed in Canada for long term. Lets say for 6 or 7 years on student permit visa or through work visa

Is that long stay will grant him automatically the Canadian nationality and he will be a Canadian citizen? and if yes after how many years he may take the citizenship?


Thanks

 

[fhj1203]

as far as I know,no..you have to be a PR before you can apply to be a citizen.

 

[CanV]

No. I believe you are getting this idea from the UK immigration system as you can apply for citizenship if you legally stay in the UK for 10 years regardless of the visa type, am I correct? Canada doesnt have anything similar to this.

 

[kamalpc]

You are right CanV I thought it is same UK immigration system. ^_^

So, Now I have another question. If I am staying in Canada on study permit and also I am planing to make PHD after finishing. what should I do in this case to apply for Canadian citizenship? I mean if it is not possible to apply for it when I am on study permit is it possible if I changed my case to work permit?
my vision honestly is to complete my master degree then apply for a PHD and work in the same time to cover my financial needs.

 

[CanV]

You will have to become a permanent resident for 2 to 3 years before you can apply for citizenship. Depending on the regulations at the time you are applying for PR, you may qualify to apply under the federal and/or provincial programs, of the province you are residing in at the time of application.

Yes you can switch from student to worker status, you will have to apply for that.

 

[Aquib]

No. I believe you are getting this idea from the UK immigration system as you can apply for citizenship if you legally stay in the UK for 10 years regardless of the visa type, am I correct? Canada doesnt have anything similar to this.

Who say you get UK citizen ship after 5 year work permit or 10 year of legal stay including mix of any visa or 14 year of stay (legal plus illegal) .

It's PR what you get and to be citizen you need to stay as PR for some time first.

Not sure we can get Canada PR on long stay basis

 

[user828]

Once you get PR then you get 50% towards the time you spent before getting the PR, upto 1 year ( if I am not mistaken ). I got PR and applied for citizenship after 2 years of stay as I was here for 2 years on student visa. But it took good 8 months to get citizenship as well