applying for citizenship - dates when living as a visitor can be counted?

[bearcold]

it says "each day you lived in Canada before you became a permanent resident counts as half a day. you cannot meet the residence requirements for citizenship without a minimum of two (2) years as a permanent resident."

if you were in canada as a visitor under the visa waiver program (no visa) for 1 year (6 months + 6 month extention) before you became a pr, can 6 months (1 year / 2) be included in your 3 years of residence in canada or does it have to be the time you had an actual visa/permit?

 

[Rob_TO]

Yes you can count the time in Canada before PR. I believe valid visitor status is acceptable.

So if you spent 1 year in Canada before PR that is 6 months qualifying. Then additional 2.5 years in Canada after getting PR, will total 3 years.

Keep in mind there is currently legislation to change the rules, which would cancel any time before getting PR, and would make the only way to qualify for citizenship to spend 4 years out of 6 as a PR. This rule could be implemented later this year.