How many days must I be physically present in Canada to qualify for citizenship?

Checked on 2026-10-26

You must be physically present in Canada for 1,095 days (3 years) in the 5 years before you apply, with at least 730 days as a permanent resident. Pre-PR time as a temporary resident counts at half a day per day, to a maximum credit of 365 days. Use IRCC's Physical Presence Calculator.

Key facts

What	The rule	Source
Physical presence	At least 1,095 days (3 years) in Canada during the 5 years before you sign	IRCC, Physical presence
As a permanent resident	At least 730 days (2 years) must be as a PR	IRCC, Eligibility
Pre-PR time (temporary resident)	Each day counts as 0.5, up to a maximum credit of 365 days	IRCC, Physical presence
Excluded time	Prison, parole, probation, time waiting for refugee claim decision	IRCC, Eligibility
Tax filing	Filed income tax in at least 3 of the 5 years	IRCC, Eligibility
Verification	Use the IRCC Physical Presence Calculator	IRCC, Physical presence

The 1,095-day rule

The Citizenship Act (s. 5) requires that you have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days — exactly 3 years — during the 5-year eligibility period. The 5-year period is calculated backward from the date you sign your application. Physical presence means you were actually in Canada. Trips abroad subtract from your count.

At least 730 of those days (2 years) must have been after you became a permanent resident. The remaining 365 days can be made up of either more PR time or credited temporary resident time.

Pre-PR time: the half-day credit

If you were in Canada as a temporary resident (visitor, student, worker) or protected person before becoming a permanent resident, each day you spent in Canada during that time counts as half a day toward the 1,095-day total — but only up to a maximum credit of 365 days. For example, if you were a student in Canada for 4 years before becoming a PR, up to 730 of those pre-PR days can contribute 365 days to your citizenship count.

What does not count

Time you spent in prison, on parole or on probation is excluded. Time spent waiting for a decision on a refugee claim also does not count. Only days when you were physically in Canada and not subject to a criminal sentence count.

Tax filing

IRCC requires that you have filed Canadian income tax returns for at least 3 of the 5 tax years in the eligibility period, if required under the Income Tax Act.

How to calculate your days

IRCC provides an online Physical Presence Calculator where you enter your addresses, absences and status changes. The tool calculates your total and tells you whether you meet the 1,095-day requirement. You must include a printout of the calculator result with your application.

Language requirement: applicants aged 18 to 54 must prove CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in English or French.
Citizenship test: 20 questions, 15 correct to pass, 45 minutes.
The 1,095-day rule has not changed since Bill C-6 came into force in 2017.

Sources

IRCC: Check adult citizenship eligibility checked 2026-10-26
IRCC: Physical presence requirement for citizenship checked 2026-10-26
IRCC: Who can apply for Canadian citizenship checked 2026-10-26
Citizenship Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29, s. 5 checked 2026-10-26

Change history

2026-10-26: Page created

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.