Canadian citizenship applicants with representatives can now apply online

Citizenship applicants who have representatives can now apply online, although the representative still cannot apply on their behalf.

Source: CIC News

Canada’s online citizenship application portal is open to people who have representatives, but reps will not be able to apply on their behalf until sometime next year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expanded its online portal to include applications from applicants who have representatives on November 30.

“These applicants will still need to complete, sign, date and submit the application themselves and must not share their account access or password with anyone, including their representative,” IRCC said in an email. “Representatives cannot yet apply online on behalf of an applicant, but they can still provide advice on completing the application and they can communicate with IRCC on the applicant’s behalf after the online application is submitted.”

This is the latest move in modernizing the citizenship application system. Single applicants have been able to apply for citizenship online since August. Recently, Canada also started accepting proof of citizenship applications online. These documents allow the foreign-born children of Canadians to prove their right to citizenship.

In 2022, IRCC says it will open the online applications to:

• families,
• minors,
• representatives to apply on behalf of their clients, and
• clients who are declaring residence outside of Canada as a crown servant or with a crown servant family member.

Eligibility for Canadian citizenship

Canadian citizenship allows you to hold a Canadian passport, vote in elections, and run for office. Many people also consider it to be a great source of pride.

Permanent residents can apply for citizenship if they are over the age of 18 and have fulfilled the residency requirement. Within the past five years of applying for citizenship, you need to have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days. Children may also be granted citizenship, but they do not necessarily have to meet the residency requirement.

Applicants between the ages of 18 and 54 have to demonstrate their language proficiency in English or French with a Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 4 or higher. This age group also has to take a citizenship test.

In addition, applicants cannot have a criminal history considered prohibitive to granting Canadian citizenship.

If you get approved after you apply, the next step is to take the citizenship test, if you need to. Then you will attend a citizenship ceremony and take the Oath of Citizenship.

Once that is done, you are officially a Canadian citizen.