Canada prepares to welcome new Canadian citizens

Thousands of people will be welcomed as new Canadian citizens on Sunday as Canada celebrates Canada Day.

There will be 46 citizenship ceremonies taking place across the country, with some of the larger events taking place at The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, the Old Port of Montréal, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Riding Mountain National Park near Brandon, Manitoba, and Canada Place in Vancouver.

“Each year on Canada Day, thousands of immigrants across Canada join together by becoming Canada’s newest citizens,” said Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

Canada’s identity has been largely shaped by the significant cultural and economic contributions of immigrants. Over the last 10 years, Canada has welcomed nearly 1,700,000 new Canadian citizens.

Citizenship ceremonies are the end of a long process of immigration, settlement and integration for a newcomer to Canada.

To qualify for citizenship, an applicant must be a permanent resident of Canada and have lived in the country for at least 1,095 days out of the five years before you apply.

Applicants aged between 18 and 54 will also need to sit and pass a citizenship test, which includes questions about Canada’s history, geography, political system, national symbols, identity and values, and of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Article published 26th June 2018