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If you already hold Canadian permanent residence (PR), the next step can be Canadian citizenship and then a Canadian passport. This guide walks the full path — from eligibility and counting your physical-presence days, through the citizenship test and the Oath ceremony, to finally applying for a Canadian passport.
canada.ca — citizenship eligibility
To apply you must be a permanent resident in good standing — no unfulfilled conditions on your PR, not under an immigration review, and no removal order against you. An expired PR card does not block your application as long as your underlying PR status is still valid.
canada.ca — Physical Presence Calculator
You must have been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years before you apply. Time spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a PR can count as half-days, up to a maximum of 365 days. Rather than guessing, use IRCC's official Physical Presence Calculator.
canada.ca — citizenship eligibility
If you were required to file under tax law, you must have filed income taxes for 3 of the 5 years before applying. If you are 18 to 54 years old at the time you apply, you must provide proof of English or French at CLB/NCLC level 4 or higher.
canada.ca — citizenship test & Discover Canada
Applicants aged 18 to 54 must pass the citizenship test. Questions are drawn from the official study guide "Discover Canada" and cover rights and responsibilities, history, geography, the system of government, and Canadian symbols. Studying is free, and the guide is available on canada.ca.
You apply online through IRCC's citizenship application portal. Gather your documents (PR card, passports and travel history, tax information, language proof) and pay the application fee — check the current fee on canada.ca (historically an adult grant fee that includes a processing fee plus the Right of Citizenship fee). Processing times vary, so check IRCC's current processing-time tool.
canada.ca — citizenship ceremony
After your application is approved, you take the Oath of Citizenship at a citizenship ceremony (often virtual or in person) and then receive your citizenship certificate. That certificate is your official proof of citizenship and is needed when you apply for a passport.
canada.ca — Canadian passports
You must be a Canadian citizen to get a Canadian passport. For a first adult passport (16+): complete the application form, provide proof of Canadian citizenship (citizenship certificate or Canadian birth certificate), present a supporting identity document, supply 2 identical passport photos meeting the official specs, and name a guarantor plus references. You can choose a 5-year or a 10-year passport.
canada.ca — apply / first adult passport
Apply by mail or in person at a Service Canada Centre or passport office. If you hold an eligible recent passport, renewal uses a simpler process. Fees and processing times vary — check the current fee on canada.ca.
canada.ca — children's passports
Children's passports follow a separate process that usually involves both parents or guardians. If you are applying for your child, check the child-specific requirements and documents on canada.ca.
For complex citizenship or PR situations — short physical-presence days, complicated tax history, or concerns about PR status — you can consult a Farsi-speaking immigration lawyer or RCIC. Always verify their licence number yourself on the official registry.
Farsi-speaking immigration consultants →
General info, subject to change — always verify with official sources.
Information current for 2026