When can you apply for Canadian citizenship?
You need 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada in the 5 years before you apply. Enter your dates below to see where you stand today and the earliest date you could apply. Free, no account, and nothing you type leaves your browser.
Your dates
Past and planned. The day you leave and the day you return both count as days in Canada.
Where you stand
Pick your PR date and your standing appears here instantly. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Assumes you have lived in Canada from your arrival until you apply, minus the trips listed. This is an estimate, not legal advice. Verify with IRCC's official calculator before applying. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
How the counting works
You must be physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years right before the date you apply. Only days inside that 5-year window count.
Days you were physically in Canada as a worker, student, visitor, or protected person before becoming a PR count as half-days, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.
Any part of a day spent in Canada counts as a full day. For a trip abroad, the day you leave and the day you return both count as days in Canada.
Common questions
Does time in Canada before my PR count?
Yes, partially. Each day you were physically in Canada as a temporary resident (worker, student, visitor) or protected person within the 5-year window counts as a half-day, up to a maximum credit of 365 days. Time before that window never counts.
Should I apply the day I hit 1,095?
IRCC recommends applying with more than the bare minimum, in case of small counting differences or forgotten trips. A cushion of a couple of weeks is a common choice; more never hurts.
Is this the official calculator?
No. This is a free planning tool that runs entirely in your browser and stores nothing. Before you apply, confirm your count with IRCC's official Physical Presence Calculator, which is the one that matters.
What else do I need besides presence?
Physical presence is one requirement among several: filing taxes for at least 3 of the 5 years, proof of English or French if you are 18 to 54, and passing the citizenship test, among others. Check the full list on canada.ca.
Use the wait to get test-ready
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