Kanada · Antragsvoraussetzungen

Canada Citizenship Anforderungen 2026

Permanent residents aged 18 or older who have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years immediately before applying, have filed Canadian income taxes for any 3 of those 5 years (if required to under the Income Tax Act), can demonstrate adequate knowledge of English or French at Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level 4 or higher (applicants 18–54 only), and can pass the citizenship knowledge test on Canada's history, values, institutions, and symbols (also 18–54 only). Minor children (under 18) of a Canadian citizen or applying parent can be included via Form CIT 0003 and are exempt from the test, language proof, and oath (under 14 also skip the ceremony). Dual citizenship is permitted — Canada has allowed multiple citizenships since 1977, so you do not need to renounce your other nationality, though your other country may have its own restrictions.

Ausgestellt von IRCC · Zuletzt geprüft 28. Mai 2026 · Offizielle Quelle ↗

Auf einen Blick

Antragsgebühr

Adult — processing fee: CAD $530
Adult — right of citizenship fee: CAD $123
Adult — total: CAD $653
Minor (under 18): CAD $100
Citizenship certificate (proof): CAD $75
Search of citizenship records: CAD $75

Stand 28. Mai 2026 · Details

Bearbeitungszeit

IRCC service standard (80% of files): 12 months
Current published time (May 2026): 13 months
Complex / flagged files: 18–24+ months
Test invitation after AOR: ~6–9 months
Oath ceremony after test pass: 4–8 weeks

Details

Ausstellende Behörde

IRCC

Wer braucht einen Canada Citizenship?

Wo beantragen

Online via the IRCC Secure Account / online citizenship application portal (citapply-citdemande.apps.cic.gc.ca) — the standard channel for nearly all adult and minor grant applications. Sign in with GCKey or a Sign-In Partner (Canadian bank login), complete Form CIT 0002 (adults) or CIT 0003 (minors), upload supporting documents, pay the fee, and submit. Paper applications by mail to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia remain available but are processed more slowly and reserved for specific exempted categories.

Gebühren

Adult — processing fee: CAD $530
Adult — right of citizenship fee: CAD $123
Adult — total: CAD $653
Minor (under 18): CAD $100
Citizenship certificate (proof): CAD $75
Search of citizenship records: CAD $75

Adult applicants pay CAD $653 in total: CAD $530 processing fee plus a CAD $123 right of citizenship fee (the latter increased from $119.75 on 31 March 2026 under the annual Service Fees Act inflation adjustment — the $530 processing fee itself has been unchanged since the April 2024 reduction from $630). The right of citizenship fee is refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn before oath. Minor applicants (under 18) pay a flat CAD $100 with no right of citizenship fee. Payment is made online by credit card through the IRCC fee-payment portal at the moment of submission; the receipt must be uploaded with the application.

Gebühren mit Stand 28. Mai 2026. Bestätigen Sie die aktuellen Beträge vor der Zahlung an der offiziellen Quelle.

Was Sie mitbringen müssen

Dokumente und Unterlagen, die Sie zum Termin oder mit dem Antrag benötigen.

Form CIT 0002 (adult grant) or CIT 0003 (minor) — completed and signed
Copy of permanent resident card (both sides) or COPR / Record of Landing if no PR card
Two identical 50×70 mm photos taken within the last six months (or 35×45 mm digital ≥420 KB for online portal upload), with photographer name, address, and date on back of one
Copies of all passports and travel documents covering the past 5 years (every page with stamps)
Physical Presence Calculator printout (mandatory) plus supporting travel-history evidence
Language proof: IELTS/CELPIP/TEF/TCF results at CLB 4+, government-issued language certificate, or proof of secondary/post-secondary education in English or French (applicants 18–54)
Two pieces of personal identification (one with photo, e.g. driver's licence, provincial ID, foreign passport)
CAD $653 fee receipt (adult) or CAD $100 (minor) from the IRCC online payment portal

Fotovorgaben gesucht?

Exakte Größe, Kopfhöhe, Hintergrund und was abgelehnt wird.

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Wie lange dauert es?

IRCC service standard (80% of files): 12 months
Current published time (May 2026): 13 months
Complex / flagged files: 18–24+ months
Test invitation after AOR: ~6–9 months
Oath ceremony after test pass: 4–8 weeks

IRCC publishes a 12-month service standard for routine adult grant applications, meaning 80% of files are decided within that window. Actual May 2026 published processing time is 13 months end-to-end (up one month from 12 months in April 2026, with the active queue around 321,000 people). Online applications generally move faster than paper. Complex files — security flags, residency-calculation questions, missing documents, or RCMP/CSIS referrals — routinely take 18–24+ months. After approval, the oath ceremony invitation typically arrives within 4–8 weeks of the AOR (Acknowledgement of Receipt) of the test result.

Die Dauer hängt von Standort, Saison und Einzelfall ab. Prüfen Sie vor jeder Reisebuchung den aktuellen Rückstand an der offiziellen Quelle.

Offizielle Quelle

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/apply.html

Zuletzt geprüft 28. Mai 2026

Vor dem Antrag prüfen. Wir stellen diese Informationen aus offiziellen Behördenquellen zusammen und prüfen sie regelmäßig erneut. Gebühren, Bearbeitungszeiten und Regeln ändern sich ohne Vorankündigung — bestätigen Sie aktuelle Angaben immer auf der offiziellen Seite, bevor Sie einen Antrag stellen oder Gebühren zahlen.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Häufige Fragen rund um den Antrag auf einen canada citizenship.

How much does it cost to apply for Canadian citizenship in 2026? +

Adults pay CAD $653 total: a CAD $530 processing fee plus a CAD $123 right of citizenship fee. The right of citizenship fee increased from $119.75 to $123 on 31 March 2026 under the Service Fees Act. Minors under 18 pay a flat CAD $100 with no right of citizenship fee. The right of citizenship portion is refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn before oath.

How long does it take to get Canadian citizenship? +

IRCC's service standard is 12 months and the published current processing time in May 2026 is 13 months for routine adult grant applications. Complex cases (residency questions, security checks, missing documents) often run 18–24+ months. Online applications via the IRCC Secure Account move noticeably faster than paper submissions.

What is the 1,095-day rule? +

You must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years immediately before signing your application. Days as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a PR count as half-days (up to 365 max). The mandatory Physical Presence Calculator on IRCC's site produces the printout you must submit with the application.

Do I have to take the citizenship test? +

Yes, if you are 18–54 at the time of application. The test has 20 multiple-choice and true/false questions, you need 15 correct to pass, and it is now delivered online via IRCC's secure portal with webcam ID verification (45-minute time limit). All questions come from the official Discover Canada study guide. You get three attempts; failing all three leads to a hearing with a citizenship officer.

What language proof does IRCC accept? +

CLB 4 or higher in speaking and listening (English or French) — listening and speaking only, no reading or writing test. Accepted evidence: IELTS General, CELPIP-General, TEF/TCF Canada (French), a government-funded LINC/CLIC certificate, or a transcript showing secondary or post-secondary education completed in English or French (anywhere in the world). Test scores do not expire for citizenship purposes.

Can I keep my other citizenship? +

Yes — Canada has allowed dual (and multiple) citizenship since 15 February 1977. You do not have to give up any other nationality to become Canadian. However, several countries (e.g. China, India, Japan, Singapore) restrict or prohibit dual citizenship on their side, so check your country of origin's rules before swearing the Canadian oath.

Is the citizenship ceremony virtual or in-person? +

Most ceremonies in 2026 are held virtually via Zoom (about one hour including registration). You must be physically present in Canada to take the oath. In-person ceremonies are still offered and you can request a switch from virtual to in-person by replying to the ceremony invitation. After taking the oath, your citizenship certificate is mailed to you, usually within 2–4 weeks.

Should I apply online or by paper? +

Online via the IRCC Secure Account is the default and is meaningfully faster. Nearly all adult and family grant applications are now eligible for the online portal. Paper applications by mail to Sydney, NS are still accepted for specific exempted categories (some adoption cases, applicants with accessibility needs) but add several months to the timeline.