Citizenship Applications
Becoming a Canadian citizen is the final step of the immigration journey – and for many of our clients, the most meaningful one.
Citizenship brings the right to vote, a Canadian passport, and the security of a status that does not need to be renewed or maintained.
The application looks simple on its face.
In practice, residency calculations, travel histories, language requirements, and past immigration issues can turn a routine application into a complicated one – and errors at this stage can lead to delays, hearings, or refusals.
At Kabir & Alam, we help permanent residents, families, and people claiming citizenship by descent get it right the first time.
Applying for citizenship as a permanent resident
To apply for a grant of citizenship, you must generally:
Hold permanent resident status, with no unresolved conditions or admissibility issues;
Have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the five years before you apply;
Have filed Canadian income taxes for the required number of years within that period;
Demonstrate ability in English or French, and pass the citizenship test, if you are within the age range these requirements apply to; and
Not be subject to any prohibitions, such as certain criminal proceedings or a removal order
Each of these requirements has fine print.
Time spent in Canada as a temporary resident before becoming a PR can count partially toward your physical presence, but only within limits.
Days must be carefully documented – and IRCC compares your declared travel history against border records.
Getting the residency calculation right
The physical presence calculation is where most citizenship applications go wrong. Frequent travellers, cross-border workers, and applicants with incomplete travel records often under- or over-count their days.
An application filed with a miscalculated total can be returned, delayed for years by a residence questionnaire, or referred to a hearing.
We review your complete travel history before you apply, identify gaps or inconsistencies, and advise whether to file now or wait until your days are beyond dispute.
A short delay before filing is almost always better than a long investigation after.
Deemed rehabilitation
If you were convicted of a single, non-serious offence and at least ten years have passed since you completed your entire sentence – including probation, fines, and any other conditions – you may be deemed rehabilitated by the passage of time, with no application required.
However, deemed rehabilitation is never available for serious criminality, and proving your eligibility to a border officer is a discretionary process.
We often prepare a legal opinion letter for clients in this position: a formal legal analysis explaining why you are admissible, which you can present at the border to reduce the risk of being turned away.
Citizenship by descent and proof of citizenship
Some people are already Canadian citizens without realizing it.
If you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, you may be entitled to a citizenship certificate – a proof of citizenship – rather than needing to immigrate at all.
This area of law changed dramatically in December 2025, when Bill C-3 came into force and removed the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent.
Citizenship can now pass beyond the first generation born abroad: many people previously excluded – including children and grandchildren of Canadians born outside Canada – now have a claim.
For children born abroad after the change took effect, a new substantial connection requirement applies, based on the Canadian parent’s physical presence in Canada.
Proving a claim means assembling documents across every generation in the chain, and IRCC’s evidentiary standards are strict. We assess whether you qualify, gather the record, and prepare a proof of citizenship application that holds up to scrutiny.
Citizenship for children and minors
Permanent resident children can be included in a parent’s plans or apply on their own with a parent or guardian applying on their behalf, and children adopted abroad by Canadian citizens may qualify for a direct grant of citizenship.
The right route depends on the family’s circumstances, and choosing the wrong one costs time.
Refused, delayed, or under review?
A citizenship application can be refused for a miscalculated residence period, doubts about your presence in Canada, misrepresentation concerns, or prohibitions you did not know applied.
Refusals and unreasonable delays can be challenged in Federal Court, and revocation proceedings – where the government seeks to take citizenship away – demand an immediate, serious response.
Our Immigration Litigation team handles judicial reviews, mandamus applications for delayed files, and revocation defence.
How we can help
Whether you are a permanent resident ready to apply, a frequent traveller unsure if your days add up, or someone who may already be Canadian by descent, we can help you:
Confirm your eligibility and calculate your physical presence accurately;
Prepare a complete, well-documented application for a grant of citizenship;
Assess and prepare citizenship by descent and proof of citizenship claims, including under the new Bill C-3 rules;
Respond to residence questionnaires, procedural fairness letters, and requests for additional documents;
Prepare you for citizenship hearings and interviews; and
Challenge refusals, unreasonable delays, and revocation proceedings
Citizenship is a one-time finish line – it deserves an application prepared with the same care as every step that came before it.
Ready to get started? Book a consultation with us today.