Discover Canada – Authorities

Note: Recent changes to the Citizenship Act affect information in the Message to Our Readers section of Discover Canada. Specifically, the age range has been amended for applicants who must meet the knowledge requirement. Effective October 11, 2017 applicants who are 18-54 years of age when they apply, including applicants who already have an application in process, are required to demonstrate an adequate knowledge of Canada and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship through a citizenship knowledge test in either English or French, and to demonstrate adequate knowledge of either English or French. The citizenship test is not used to assess an applicant’s knowledge of English or French. Learn how language abilities are assessed.

Authorities

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Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship - Authorities

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Section 5 of the Citizenship Act

5. (1) The Minister shall grant citizenship to any person who:

(e) has an adequate knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

Section 15 of the Citizenship Regulations

Knowledge of Canada and Citizenship Criteria

15. (1) A person is considered to have an adequate knowledge of Canada if they demonstrate, based on their responses to questions prepared by the Minister, that they know the national symbols of Canada and have a general understanding of the following subjects:

(a) the chief characteristics of Canadian political and military history;
(b) the chief characteristics of Canadian social and cultural history;
(c) the chief characteristics of Canadian physical and political geography;
(d) the chief characteristics of the Canadian system of government as a constitutional monarchy; and
(e) characteristics of Canada other than those referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d).

(2) A person is considered to have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship if they demonstrate, based on their responses to questions prepared by the Minister, that they have a general understanding of the following subjects:

(a) participation in the Canadian democratic process;
(b) participation in Canadian society, including volunteerism, respect for the environment and the protection of Canada’s natural, cultural and architectural heritage;
(c) respect for the rights, freedoms and obligations set out in the laws of Canada; and
(d) the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship other than those referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c).

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