The physical presence requirement
To apply for Canadian citizenship, you must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the 5 years right before the date you apply.
- As a permanent resident: each day in Canada counts as 1 day.
- Before becoming a PR: each day in Canada as a temporary resident (worker, student, visitor) or protected person counts as half a day. You can count up to 365 days of credit this way, which takes 730 days in Canada.
- Time serving a sentence (for example on probation or in prison) generally does not count.
How days are counted
IRCC treats the day you leave Canada and the day you return as days in Canada. Only the full days in between count as absences. This calculator uses the same method. It rounds half-days down, so the result errs on the side of caution.
Example
Priya arrived in Canada on a work permit on 1 October 2021 and became a PR on 1 October 2023, with no trips abroad. Her 2 years before PR earn 365 days of credit (730 ÷ 2). She then needs 730 more days as a PR, which she reaches on 30 September 2025, about two years earlier than without the credit.
Other requirements (not checked here)
- Filed Canadian income taxes for at least 3 years within the 5-year period, if you were required to.
- Aged 18–54: prove your English or French skills and pass the citizenship test.
- Not be under a removal order, and have no prohibitions.
IRCC has its own official physical presence calculator, and you'll need to submit its printout with your application. Use this tool to plan and to test future trips, then confirm with the official calculator before applying.