June 30, 2026
Getting Canadian citizenship after PR is the final step for many Pakistani families living in Canada. To get it, you must live in Canada for three years, file your taxes, pass a short test, and take the oath. Citizenship also gives you rights that PR does not. You can vote, you get a Canadian passport, and you no longer need to meet residency days to keep your status.
Key Takeaways for Canadian Citizenship after PR
Main requirement: 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada within the five years before you apply.
Other requirements: Valid PR status, tax filing for three of those years, and a language and knowledge test for ages 18 to 54.
Fee: CAD 653 for an adult and CAD 100 for a child, as of 2026.
Dual citizenship: Canada allows you to keep your Pakistani nationality when you become Canadian.
Canadian Citizenship Requirements After PR
To apply for Canadian citizenship after PR, you must meet five requirements set by IRCC. You need valid PR status, enough days in Canada, tax filing, basic language ability, and a pass on the knowledge test. Each one is explained below.
Valid PR Status
You must be a permanent resident with valid status. Your status cannot be under review, and you cannot have a removal order against you. Your PR card can be expired, since it is the status that counts, not the card. If your status is still valid, you can apply.
1,095 Days of Physical Presence
You must have been physically in Canada for at least 1,095 days, which is three years, during the five years before you sign your application. The days do not need to be in one stretch. They just need to add up to 1,095 inside that five-year window.
Time you spent in Canada before PR can also help. Each day as a student, worker, or visitor counts as half a day, up to a maximum of 365 days. So a year and a half of pre-PR time in Canada can save you close to a year of waiting.
Your five-year period must still include at least 730 days as a permanent resident. So pre-PR time can shorten your wait, but it cannot replace the two full years you need as a PR. Time in prison, on parole, or on probation does not count at all.
IRCC asks you to apply with more than 1,095 days. Most applicants wait until they reach 1,150 or 1,200 days. That margin protects you if a single travel date is counted differently.
Tax Filing
Tax filing is the major part of qualifying for Canadian citizenship after PR. You must have filed your income taxes for at least three of the five years in your eligibility period. Keep your notices of assessment ready, since IRCC checks this with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Language Ability
If you are between 18 and 54 on the day you sign, you must show you can speak and listen in English or French at CLB 4. This is a basic level, lower than the score you needed for Express Entry. You can prove it with a language test, a transcript from an English or French school, or an approved language program certificate. Applicants under 18 or over 55 are exempt.
Knowledge Test
Applicants aged 18 to 54 must pass the citizenship test. It has 20 questions, and you need 15 correct answers to pass. Questions cover Canadian history, geography, government, rights, and symbols. From March 2026, the test runs online, and all the content comes from the free study guide called Discover Canada.
Not sure if your days add up to 1,095? One mis-counted trip can push you under 1,095 and get your file returned. AIRCS Group checks your travel history, finds your earliest safe apply date, and prepares your file so IRCC accepts it. Talk to our team before you submit.
Learn more about our Canada PR services.
Can Pakistanis Keep Dual Citizenship in Canada?
Yes, Pakistanis can keep both passports. Canada has allowed dual citizenship since 1977 and does not require you to give up your Pakistani nationality. Pakistan allows it too, because Canada is one of the 22 countries on Pakistan’s dual nationality list.
How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship After PR
The PR to citizenship in Canada process runs online through the IRCC portal. If you have not reached PR yet, see our guide on how to get Canada PR from Pakistan first.
Step 1: Count Your Days
Use IRCC’s Physical Presence Calculator to count your days, since it asks for your PR date and every trip outside Canada, then works out your total days. Your application must show this calculation, and the signature date on your form has to match the application date you used in it. Apply with a margin above 1,095, because once you sign, you must send the application within 90 days or IRCC returns it.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
Collect your PR card or COPR, your passports for the full five years, your tax records, your language proof, and two ID photos. Your travel history must match your calculator entries. A missing document is the top reason files get returned before processing even starts.
Step 3: Apply and Pay Fee
Create your account on the IRCC portal, fill in the application, and upload your documents. The adult fee is CAD 653, which includes the processing fee and the right of citizenship fee. The fee for a child under 18 is CAD 100.
Step 4: Take the Test
After IRCC reviews your file, they invite you to the test. You will take the test online, answer 20 questions, and need to get 15 correct answers to pass it. Please review the Discover Canada guide and consider completing a few practice tests beforehand. If you do not pass the first time, you can retake it.
Step 5: Take the Oath
The last step of Canadian citizenship after PR is the oath ceremony. IRCC sends you a notice to appear, you take the Oath of Citizenship, and you receive your citizenship certificate. From that moment, you are a Canadian citizen. You can then apply for your Canadian passport at Service Canada.
Cost of Canadian Citizenship in 2026
The Canada citizenship fee in 2026 is CAD 653 for an adult, and a child under 18 pays CAD 100. Canada raised the adult fee on 31 March 2026, so always confirm the latest figure before you pay.
Applicant | Fee (CAD) | What It Covers |
Adult (18 and over) | 653 | Processing fee plus right of citizenship fee |
Minor (under 18) | 100 | Processing fee only |
Canadian Citizenship Processing Time After PR
The Canadian citizenship processing time is around 12 months once IRCC opens your file, though the exact wait moves up and down with application volume. Since the number changes, check the live figure on the IRCC processing times page.
The full journey from landing as a PR to taking the oath is usually four to five years, including three years of physical presence, and the time to apply and wait for processing.
Benefits of Canadian Citizenship Over PR
PR status already gives you the right to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada, plus public healthcare. Canadian citizenship after PR adds rights you do not get as a PR.
- The right to vote in federal, provincial, and municipal elections.
- A Canadian passport, one of the strongest travel documents in the world.
- No residency days to keep your status. A citizen can live abroad for years without losing citizenship.
- The right to run for public office in Canada.
- Access to government and security-cleared jobs.
- Citizenship passes to your children born outside Canada, under the current rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do I need to live in Canada before applying?
You need 1,095 days of physical presence within the five years before you sign your application. At least 730 of those days must be as a permanent resident.
Can I keep my Pakistani citizenship?
Yes, both Canada and Pakistan allow dual citizenship, since Canada is on Pakistan’s approved list. You can keep your Pakistani passport when you become a Canadian citizen.
How much does Canadian citizenship cost in 2026?
An adult pays CAD 653 and a child under 18 pays CAD 100. The adult fee covers both the processing fee and the right of citizenship fee.
How long does Canadian citizenship after PR take?
From landing as a PR to taking the oath is usually four to five years. That is three years of physical presence, plus around 12 months for IRCC to process your application once you submit it.
Do I need to take a test?
If you are 18 to 54 years old, then you have to take the test. It has 20 questions and you pass by answering 15 correctly.
Can I apply if my PR card is expired?
Yes. Your PR status does not expire, only the PR card. As long as your status is valid, you can apply with an expired card and a copy of your COPR.
Ready to Become a Canadian Citizen from Pakistan?
AIRCS Group has guided many Pakistani families from PR to citizenship in Canada. We check your day count, confirm your eligibility date, and prepare your file so it is not returned for a small error. Book a free consultation today.
