Permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship after living physically in Canada for at least 4 years in a 6 year period. The previous requirement of living in Canada for 3 years out of four to qualify for citizenship ended in June 2015.

Permanent residents of Canada may apply for Canadian citizenship after residing in Canada for a minimum legally-specified period of time. This manner of obtaining citizenship is referred to as “naturalization”. The children of naturalized Canadian citizens will also automatically obtain citizenship even if they are born abroad.

Canada allows dual citizenship, so those permanent residents who obtain Canadian citizenship can also keep their original citizenship, provided that the laws of the other country also allow dual citizenship.