Citizenship with kids included in the application

[JithenB]

I am in the following situation and would appreciate your guidance.

I will complete the 1,095-day physical presence requirement for Canadian citizenship in August 2026. My children are currently in India, and I have sponsored them for permanent residence. Based on the current processing timeline, they are expected to become Canadian permanent residents in September 2026*.

The plan is for them to travel to Canada to complete their PR landing, obtain their PR cards, and then return to India. I expect them to move back to Canada permanently in early 2028.

Given these circumstances, can I include my children in my Canadian citizenship application when I apply in 2026? My understanding is that minor children who are included in a parent's citizenship application under the applicable provisions are not required to meet the 1,095-day physical presence requirement. I would like to know whether my children would qualify under this exception, even though they intend to return to India after becoming permanent residents and before moving back to Canada in 2028.

Thanks in advance.

 

[CanGoldDigger]

So the children are not even a PR yet?

 

[CanGoldDigger]

If they are PRs, they can apply with you via 5(2) Path, even though they intend to return to India.

 

[armoured]

So the children are not even a PR yet?

To underline: don't apply this route with the children included BEFORE they are PRs. It will just cause delays.

So either wait until they are PRs, or get citizenship alone (without the children), and after that, a 5(2) applications for the PR-children (separate application for each of the children) can be done at any time.

 

[JithenB]

If they are PRs, they can apply with you via 5(2) Path, even though they intend to return to India.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the kids are not PRs yet. I just want to plan everything properly.

If they apply for citizenship under the 5(2) pathway, can they stay outside Canada while their citizenship application is in progress? Since they are already PRs, they do not need to maintain residency requirements during the citizenship application process, correct?

 

[JithenB]

To underline: don't apply this route with the children included BEFORE they are PRs. It will just cause delays.

So either wait until they are PRs, or get citizenship alone (without the children), and after that, a 5(2) applications for the PR-children (separate application for each of the children) can be done at any time.

Thanks for your reply. The kids are not PRs yet. My plan is to apply for their citizenship along with my application once they become PRs, using the 5(2) pathway.

My main question is regarding their absence from Canada during the citizenship application process. If they are completely outside Canada while their citizenship application is in progress, would that create any issues with the approval of their applications?

 

[armoured]

Thanks for your reply. The kids are not PRs yet. My plan is to apply for their citizenship along with my application once they become PRs, using the 5(2) pathway.

My main question is regarding their absence from Canada during the citizenship application process. If they are completely outside Canada while their citizenship application is in progress, would that create any issues with the approval of their applications?

ALready answered above by others.

 

[CanGoldDigger]

Thanks for your reply. The kids are not PRs yet. My plan is to apply for their citizenship along with my application once they become PRs, using the 5(2) pathway.

My main question is regarding their absence from Canada during the citizenship application process. If they are completely outside Canada while their citizenship application is in progress, would that create any issues with the approval of their applications?

How old are the children?

 

[JithenB]

How old are the children?

They are 10 and 12 years old.