Are you a permanent resident who wants to become a Canadian Citizen?If so, we can help!
At Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC, our team of citizenship experts can help you determine if you are eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship, assist you with your citizenship application and advise you of the best measures you should take to obtain Canadian citizenship.
Generally, anyone who is born in Canada is automatically a Canadian citizen. However, people wanting to acquire Canadian citizenship can do so in a number of ways. In certain situations, a person who was not born in Canada can apply for a certificate of citizenship showing that he or she derived citizenship at birth from a Canadian citizen living abroad.
Amendments to the Canadian Citizenship Act The Canadian Citizenship Act was amended on 17 April 2009 to grant Canadian citizenship to certain people who had lost it as well as to others who have been recognized as citizens for the first time.
Citizenship was restored to people who became citizens when the first citizenship act took effect on 1 January 1947 as well as to people born in Canada or who became citizens on or after 1 January 1947 and then lost their citizenship, and those born outside Canada on or after 1 January 1947 in the first generation to a Canadian citizen. Under the new law some people, including those who meet these requirements, can be granted citizenship for the first time.
Children born to Canadian parents in the first generation outside Canada can only be Canadian citizens at birth if one parent was born in Canada or one parent became a citizen by immigrating and was later granted citizenship (naturalization).
Canadian Citizenship Requirements and Exceptions
As a general rule, individuals who are applying for Canadian citizenship must meet the following 3 requirements:
Be 18 years of age
Be a permanent resident of Canada
Meet residency obligations (reside in Canada for 1095 within last 1460 days – three out of four years).
However, if the applicant is a child is under the age of 18, the following circumstances must be met:
The child must be a permanent resident
The child does not have to have lived in Canada for three years
The child’s parent, adoptive parent, or legal guardian, and one of the parents is already a Canadian citizen or is in the process of applying to become a citizen. This applies for adoptive parents also.
In addition, the applicant must meet two other requirements:
Language requirement (be able to understand and speak basic English or French); and
Knowledge about Canada requirement (Canada’s history, geography, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship).
A language test is required to be provided with an application and a test is to be taken to proof knowledge about Canada. Persons 55 years of age and over are exempt from these two requirements.
In addition, the permanent residence status in Canada must not be in doubt at any time, meaning that you must not be involved in an immigration investigation, immigration inquiry or a removal order.
Applicants residing in Canada prior to becoming permanent residents can receive credit for one half day, to a maximum of one year, for each day of residing in Canada.
Prohibitions regarding criminal history
There are prohibitions on an individual applying for Canadian citizenship if a criminal history is present. An individual with a criminal history cannot become a Canadian citizen in the following circumstances:
in the three years prior to applying, one has been convicted of a criminal offence under the Citizenship Act;
is presently accused of a criminal offence under the Citizenship Act;
is currently, or has been in the last 4 years, in prison, parole, or probation;
has been asked by Canadian officials to leave Canada (under removal order);
is being investigated for, accused of, or convicted of a war crime or a crime against humanity; and
has had their Canadian citizenship removed in the past five years.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Bellissimo Law Group to resolve a misrepresentation issue on my permanent residency application, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. From the very beginning, their team was incredibly responsive and attentive, making sure I was informed and comfortable with every step of the process.
Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout my case. They meticulously reviewed all the details, provided clear and professional advice, and guided me through the complex legal landscape with ease. Their support was unwavering, and they always made themselves available to answer any questions or concerns I had.
Thanks to Bellissimo Law Group, my permanent residency application was successfully resolved, and I am now a proud resident of Canada. If you are looking for a law firm that truly cares about their clients and delivers outstanding results, look no further than Bellissimo Law Group.
M. Pidlaoan
I highly recommended Bellissimo Law Group for both legal and the process of application for immigration. The team handled my 2 cases brilliantly. They are very knowledgeable and the work and service are outstanding and very professionally done. Viola Gniadek, Christopher Colette and Punya Bagga handled my first case for my nephews and Michelle Boeriu on the second case for my brother. These two cases have been approved. Thank you with all my heart for the job well done. I really appreciate your valuable work and services. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the team and Belllissimo Law Group.
Arwen Zemborain
I scheduled a consultation with Bellissimo Immigration Law Group and was incredibly pleased with how helpful they were. Not one, but two lawyers were on the call to advise me, and they took the time to look into all possible immigration options for me and my family. I had done a lot of research prior to speaking with them, but that consultation made me realize how difficult the process would be without a law firm that keeps up with the frequent policy changes. They offered invaluable advice and I will definitely hire them to create my profile when I have everything together.
Brad Greiner
Lijing was very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions in great detail. I highly recommend Bellissimo for immigration issues!
Maria Hermansky
sandy Lou
Thank you Belissimo Law Group for helping my husband and I navigate through his PR application. It’s difficult to know who to trust, especially with matters as sensitive and complex as immigration but I am so happy that I made the choice and chose BLG. They not only have an incredible comprehension of immigration law but also a great deal of compassion and consideration for their clients. I truly enjoyed working with them and I feel grateful that there are people out there working hard to make a positive impact on someone else’s life like they did with mine. Thank you again BLG, I would recommend your services to anyone in the same or similar situations!
On a side note, for people out there who are thinking about hiring an immigration consultant, please talk to a law firm first. Some consultants charge the same or more for their services without needing to have a good comprehension of immigration laws.
Cutie Pie
I highly recommend Bellissimo Law Group for their exceptional expertise and dedication to immigration law. Their team demonstrates a deep understanding of complex legal matters and provides thorough, personalized guidance throughout the entire process. They are professional, responsive, and committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for their clients. Especially, thanks to Lijing and Shuai for assisting us on our case to achieve great outcome.
any modifications!
Mayank Topiwala
Exceptional Legal Support from Bellissimo Law Group – Highly Recommended!
It has been a pleasure working with Bellissimo Law Group. During the challenging times of COVID, I was searching for a trusted lawyer to handle my case but had difficulty finding the right support. That changed when I reached out to Bellissimo Law Group.
From the very beginning, they understood my case and provided expert guidance. My first application involved LMIA, work permits, and extensions, all of which they handled with professionalism and efficiency. With their support, I was able to navigate multiple legal processes successfully, ultimately obtaining my permanent residency in Canada.
Despite delays caused by longer processing times during COVID, the team remained supportive throughout. A special mention to Ms. Lijing Cao and her associates, who managed my applications from start to finish and played a crucial role in securing my permanent status.
I highly recommend Bellissimo Law Group to anyone seeking reliable, professional, and dedicated legal assistance!
Divya K
I cannot express enough gratitude for the incredible support and expertise provided by Mr Mario and Keely for my dad’s medical inadmissibility case. I retained their law firm after receiving the PFL . From the very beginning, they guided us through the complexities of the immigration process with professionalism, care, and honesty. They not only helped us navigate legal challenges but also provided advice that quite literally saved my dad’s life. They prepared a strong mitigation plan for my dad’s case that worked in our favour. I was particularly impressed by their quick response time and willingness to address any concerns promptly. What sets them apart is their genuine compassion and dedication—they truly care about their clients and go above and beyond to make a difference. I would definitely recommend them to anyone with their immigration issues especially for medical inadmissibility.
dhananjay bhatt
We would like to thank all the people at Bellissimo Law group for their hardwork and help with our PR file. Mario is professional and the best in providing legal advise. Special mention to Keely who was working on our file since day 1 and went out of the way to ensure we get our permanent residency. She was empathetic and never missed a single thing in our case. We would recommend this firm to all people who want legal professional advise.
