Guidance Required: Minor Children Citizenship Application and Physical Absence During Processing

[JithenB]

Hello Everyone,
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 sometime in 2028.

Given these circumstances, can I include my children in my Canadian citizenship application when I apply sometime in October 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 confirm 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.

Will their physical absence(non-resident status) from Canada while their citizenship application is being processed (which currently takes approximately 1 to 1.5 years) disqualify them from obtaining Canadian citizenship for any reason?

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I appreciate your guidance and support in advance.

 

[aminb]

Based on IRCC’s current requirements, minors applying under subsection 5(2) do not need to meet the 1,095-day physical presence requirement. They must, however, already be permanent residents when the citizenship applications are submitted.

Their temporary absence from Canada during processing does not appear to be listed by IRCC as a reason for ineligibility under 5(2). That said, you should make sure their PR status remains valid and that IRCC is informed of their correct residential and mailing addresses. If either child is between 14 and 17, they will also need to take the oath.

Since the children plan to spend most of the processing period abroad, I would still confirm the application procedure directly with IRCC before submitting.