How to apply for Canadian citizenship from outside Canada?

[aniadoor]

Hello,
I have completed the required 3 years out of the last 4 years in Canada, now I reside in my home country.
So can I apply for Canadian citizenship from my country through the local Canadian embassy or consulate?

Any help would be appreciated

[scylla]

Hello,
I have completed the required 3 years out of the last 4 years in Canada, now I reside in my home country.
So can I apply for Canadian citizenship from my country through the local Canadian embassy or consulate?

Any help would be appreciated

No - you cannont apply through the local Canadian embassy or consulate. All citizenship applications must be sent to the following address:

Case Processing Centre – Sydney
Grant Adults
P.O. Box 7000
SYDNEY, NS  B1P 6V6
CANADA

or the following if using a courier:

Case Processing Centre, Sydney
Grant Adults
47-49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 5Z2

[aniadoor]

Thanks for your response,

Could you please confirm this site ( which says you can apply)
h_ttp://canadaonline.about.com/cs/citizenship/ht/beacitizen.htm


Tips:
4. To apply for Canadian citizenship from outside Canada, consult your local Canadian embassy or consulate.

let me know your thoughts

[aniadoor]

Please correct the link by removing the (underscore) '_' from http before trying,


Thanks

[scylla]

Thanks for your response,

Could you please confirm this site ( which says you can apply)
h_ttp://canadaonline.about.com/cs/citizenship/ht/beacitizen.htm


Tips:
4. To apply for Canadian citizenship from outside Canada, consult your local Canadian embassy or consulate.

let me know your thoughts

Sure - you can certainly consult your local Canadian embassy or consulate. They will tell you to apply through the office in Canada. I believe local embassies and consulates can process requests to renounce or resume citizenship for existing citizens. They do not however handle new citizenship applications. These applications are only processed through the Sydney NS office.

I would avoid getting your information from sites such as the one above since this isn't a government web site and they can contain inaccuracies. Look for information on the CIC site instead:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/index.asp

[aniadoor]

 @ scylla
Thanks very-much for your clarification.

Greatly Appreciated!!!

[aniadoor]

So currently I am out of Canada, but my son lives in Canada.

 is it OK if I directly submit application to the Sydney office through my son (with his Canadian address)
and come back to Canada only when its time for me to attend the test?

[Cirrus123]

It appears that this member is providing incorrect information. As per this URL:

cic.gc.ca website: /english/information/times/canada/cit-retaining.asp

The official website clearly states that not only can the interview and test be conducted through your local embassy, but so can the oath, which is contradictory to other information on their website that says the oath cannot be taken outside Canada.

The only question is whether "registering" citizenship means "applying for", which appears to be the same thing as the steps, timeline, and requirements are identical.

[scylla]

Registering and applying are two completely different things.

Applying is for those who aren't yet Canadian citizens but want to apply to become one having accumulated sufficient residency days.

Registering is for those who are already Canadian citizens and need this status to be confirmed/officially recognized.

Again, two completely different things.

[Leon]

The only question is whether "registering" citizenship means "applying for", which appears to be the same thing as the steps, timeline, and requirements are identical.

I believe that "registering" refers to people who are Canadian citizens born abroad and have to register with immigration to get their status recorded.  "Retaining" refers to the old rules of 2nd generation born abroad who would lose their citizenship by the age of 28 unless they applied to retain it.

If you look at the consular manual for citizenship:

4. Roles and responsibilities
For clients outside Canada, consular missions provide general information and case specific information on citizenship certificate (proof) and renunciation applications. Consular missions accept citizenship certificate and renunciation applications on behalf of CIC, forward completed applications to the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia (CPC Sydney), do follow-ups with clients where required and provide country specific expertise, especially with regard to document authenticity.
Questions on adoption applications and statelessness grant applications should be referred to visa offices.
Adult grant applicants are expected to reside in Canada and no service is provided to these applicants outside Canada.
Subsection 20(1) of the Regulations authorizes consular and visa officers to administer the oath of citizenship to persons outside Canada who have been granted citizenship under sections A5(2) (minor grant), A5(4) (discretionary grant) and A11(1) (resumption).

[Beaver]

Okay back to aniador's question...

You have to be in Canada to apply for citizenship.

Applying through your son won't look good on you to CIC - they are wary of applicants returning to Canada only for their test or oath because it shows signs of irregularities. If they suspect an irregularity (i.e., applicant not spending majority of their time in Canada while application is pending even though the applicant has met the miminum physical residency requirements), they most likely may issue a Residence Questionnare, or require a hearing with a Citizenship Judge.

The current application form asks for certain information from you to help CIC determine your ties to Canada, notably your address and work history. CIC also requires citizenship photos be taken within Canada, and accredited photo shops here (i.e., Shoppers Drug Mart) are required to certify when, and where the photo was taken.