Can I get citizenship with Canada Express Entry?

You cannot get Canadian citizenship directly with the Express Entry program. You can, however, apply for Canada PR and later qualify for citizenship if you have lived in the country with a PR status for at least 3 out of 5 years, along with fulfilling other criteria.  The Express Entry program is one of the Canadian immigration pathways that allow foreign nationals to apply for permanent residence in Canada.  The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) are three federal immigration programs that are managed by the Express Entry system. Express Entry follows a points-based CRS Tool that assesses applicants based on several factors such as age, educational qualifications, work experience, employment offer, language proficiency, and adaptability. Applicants with a high-ranking profile or high score will receive an invitation to apply for Canada PR. Once you have lived as a permanent resident in Canada for a minimum of 3 out of 5 years and have met all the other criteria, you can apply for Canadian citizenship.

 

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Steps to apply for Canada PR with Express Entry

You must score at least 67 points to qualify for the Express Entry program. Applicants can only apply for permanent residence in Canada if they receive an ITA through Express Entry.

 

Once you are invited to apply for PR via the Express Entry program, you can follow the below steps to apply for permanent residence in Canada:

 

Step 1: Fill out the online PR application form within 60 days of receiving an ITA  

Step 2: Arrange and upload all the required documents

Step 3: Complete the fee payment, which includes the PR processing fee, biometric fees, and right of permanent residence fee

Step 4:  Submit your PR application online

Step 5: Wait for a decision on your application, which might take up to 6 months or less.  

 

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How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship?

You are eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship only if you have been a permanent resident of Canada for a minimum of three years.

 

Eligibility Criteria for Canadian Citizenship 

Along with being a PR holder, you are also required to meet specific other criteria that are given below:

 

• Resided in Canada for at least 3 out of 5 years
• Been filing your taxes as a permanent resident for a minimum of 3 years before applying for citizenship
• Fulfill English and French language proficiency scores of at least CLB Level 4
• Give the Citizenship test and clear the test
• Take the Oath of Citizenship

 

Steps to Apply for Citizenship in Canada

Canada offers both online and offline modes to apply for Canadian citizenship.

You can follow the below steps to apply on paper or offline for citizenship in Canada:

 

Step 1: Get the application package that is provided

Step 2: Complete the fee payment

Step 3: Submit your application, provided you have gained citizenship eligibility, before signing the application form.

Step 4: Send the completed application form along with the list of documents to the IRCC by courier or mail.

Step 5: Wait for the status of your citizenship grant, which could take around 7 months to issue.

 

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