Applying citizenship, but I have a DUI.

[Jyjyjj]

hi guys, I am a PR now since 2022 Nov, and trying to apply Canadian citizenship whenever I’m eligible for 1095 days. But now I am super confused with eligibilities for citizenship.
It’s for ‘not be under a prohibition’.
In the section it describes as

you’ve been convicted of an indictable offence in Canada or an offence under the Citizenship Act, and

• if we received your application after June 11, 2015, and this conviction took place in the 4 years before you apply

Here is my situation.
2018 - DUI charged
2020/10 DUI conviction with $1250 fine and 1 year of driver’s license suspension.
2022/11 Became PR despite of having DUI (had removal order and etc were going on but everything lifted once I became PR)

I am hoping to apply my citizenship in March, 2026. Anyway! I think mine is summary offense. When you use citizenship calculator, should I say yes for probation?

Many thanks!

 

[HARRY4465]

Bro, My friend is in a similar situation. Please share your contact details. Need to talk about it

 

[bilal01]

hi guys, I am a PR now since 2022 Nov, and trying to apply Canadian citizenship whenever I’m eligible for 1095 days. But now I am super confused with eligibilities for citizenship.
It’s for ‘not be under a prohibition’.
In the section it describes as

you’ve been convicted of an indictable offence in Canada or an offence under the Citizenship Act, and

• if we received your application after June 11, 2015, and this conviction took place in the 4 years before you apply

Here is my situation.
2018 - DUI charged
2020/10 DUI conviction with $1250 fine and 1 year of driver’s license suspension.
2022/11 Became PR despite of having DUI (had removal order and etc were going on but everything lifted once I became PR)

I am hoping to apply my citizenship in March, 2026. Anyway! I think mine is summary offense. When you use citizenship calculator, should I say yes for probation?

Many thanks!

Since your DUI conviction happened in 2020, and you’re applying after 2024, it’s beyond the 4-year prohibition period. You should now be eligible for Canadian citizenship, provided all other requirements like 1095 days of presence are met.

 

[Jyjyjj]

Hi thanks for letting me know. Real question is I had 1 year of driver’s license which ended 2021 Oct, So Should it be after 4 years from 2021? Or 2020? Anyhow I will apply 2026, It does not necessarily matter, just wanted to be clear. Btw! Thanks for replying.

 

[DANIEL1031]

hi guys, I am a PR now since 2022 Nov, and trying to apply Canadian citizenship whenever I’m eligible for 1095 days. But now I am super confused with eligibilities for citizenship.
It’s for ‘not be under a prohibition’.
In the section it describes as

you’ve been convicted of an indictable offence in Canada or an offence under the Citizenship Act, and

• if we received your application after June 11, 2015, and this conviction took place in the 4 years before you apply

Here is my situation.
2018 - DUI charged
2020/10 DUI conviction with $1250 fine and 1 year of driver’s license suspension.
2022/11 Became PR despite of having DUI (had removal order and etc were going on but everything lifted once I became PR)

I am hoping to apply my citizenship in March, 2026. Anyway! I think mine is summary offense. When you use citizenship calculator, should I say yes for probation?

Many thanks!

Bro same situation here did you apply for citizenship yet?

 

[ravleen]

I need help on my husband's situation:

Dui charge: 1 mar 2024
28 nov 2025 reduced to careless driving and 1 year probation with ignition interlock

can I apply for citizenship and what should I answer to the following question in citizenship application:

a. Serving a team of imprisonment
B. on probation
c on parole

Not sure if I need to include my probation as it's a provincial probation and not a federal one because i didnt get a criminal conviction.

Am I okay to proceed, I have already fulfilled the specific number of days requirement in the last 5 years

 

[CanGoldDigger]

You can apply only after your probation.

 

[Buletruck]

I need help on my husband's situation:

Dui charge: 1 mar 2024
28 nov 2025 reduced to careless driving and 1 year probation with ignition interlock

can I apply for citizenship and what should I answer to the following question in citizenship application:

a. Serving a team of imprisonment
B. on probation
c on parole

Not sure if I need to include my probation as it's a provincial probation and not a federal one because i didnt get a criminal conviction.

Am I okay to proceed, I have already fulfilled the specific number of days requirement in the last 5 years

Federal or provincial, he's still on probation.

 

[CanGoldDigger]

Federal or provincial, he's still on probation.

So you can't apply until he is not on any.

 

[ravleen]

So you can't apply until he is not on any.

So the time he is on probation for a 1 year, will not be counted towards 1095 days eligibility as well?
Can anyone confirm that.

 

[AnnieBr]

The 4-year prohibition is counted from the date of conviction (Oct 2020), not from when the license suspension ended.

Since you plan to apply in March 2026, you are already past the 4-year period. As long as you are not currently on probation, parole, or serving a sentence and you meet the 1095-day presence requirement, you should be eligible to apply.

For the calculator, answer “No” to probation if it already ended.

 

[AngeloJL]

I need help on my husband's situation:

Dui charge: 1 mar 2024
28 nov 2025 reduced to careless driving and 1 year probation with ignition interlock

can I apply for citizenship and what should I answer to the following question in citizenship application:

a. Serving a team of imprisonment
B. on probation
c on parole

Not sure if I need to include my probation as it's a provincial probation and not a federal one because i didnt get a criminal conviction.

Am I okay to proceed, I have already fulfilled the specific number of days requirement in the last 5 years

Hello! I’m unfortunately in the same situation today. I was wondering if you could share what ultimately happened in your case. Did IRCC allow you to count the days of physical presence during your probation period toward your citizenship application? And what was the final outcome of your application? I would really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thank you!

 

[AngeloJL]

I need help on my husband's situation:

Dui charge: 1 mar 2024
28 nov 2025 reduced to careless driving and 1 year probation with ignition interlock

can I apply for citizenship and what should I answer to the following question in citizenship application:

a. Serving a team of imprisonment
B. on probation
c on parole

Not sure if I need to include my probation as it's a provincial probation and not a federal one because i didnt get a criminal conviction.

Am I okay to proceed, I have already fulfilled the specific number of days requirement in the last 5 years

Hello! I came across your post from 2018 regarding your citizenship application, so I wanted to reach out and ask for some information. I’m unfortunately in the very same situation today.

I was wondering if you could share what ultimately happened in your case. Did IRCC allow you to count the days of physical presence during your probation period toward your citizenship application? And what was the final outcome of your application?

I would really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thank you so much!

 

[Walker_Ted]

Canadian citizenship application – DUI conviction, no probation, fine fully paid, IRCC requesting fingerprints and referring to sections 21/22

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation or has experience with Canadian citizenship applications involving a past DUI conviction.

I am a Canadian permanent resident and submitted my citizenship application in June 2025. I recently received a letter from IRCC requesting that I provide fingerprints within 30 days.

The letter says that IRCC had previously requested my fingerprints but did not receive confirmation that they had been taken. It also states:

“After a review of the biographical information provided in your application, it appears that there are questions to clarify regarding your application in relation to sections 21 and/or 22 of the Citizenship Act.”

IRCC says I must provide fingerprints in order for them to continue processing my application.

Here is my situation regarding the DUI:

• I was charged with impaired driving.
• The matter was dealt with by summary conviction/procedure.
• I was ultimately convicted.
• My sentence was a fine only.
• The fine has been fully paid.
• I received a driver's licence suspension.
• I was never placed on probation.
• I did not receive a jail sentence.
• I am not currently on probation, parole, or serving any sentence.
• I have provided fingerprints since 31 July

My questions are:

1. Has anyone received a similar IRCC letter mentioning sections 21 and/or 22 after a past DUI conviction?
2. If there was no probation and the fine was fully paid, did the citizenship application eventually proceed normally?
3. How IRRC will deal with my application