Leaving Canada After Applying for Citizenship: What You Need to Know

You’ve finally made the big decision: you’ve applied for Canadian citizenship. It's a major step toward becoming a permanent part of a country known for its multiculturalism, strong healthcare system, and excellent quality of life. However, as soon as you hit that "submit" button, you might find yourself facing another critical question: "Can I leave Canada after applying for citizenship?"

The answer is a resounding yes—but as with many legal matters, there are some significant caveats, timelines, and requirements that you must understand before you pack your bags for that extended trip. In this article, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about leaving Canada after submitting your citizenship application, including eligibility criteria, potential delays in your application, and some failed cases where applicants faced complications.

The Timing of Your Absence Matters

Leaving Canada after applying for citizenship can be perfectly legal, but it heavily depends on when you plan to leave and for how long. First, you need to consider the timeframes involved in the citizenship process. Processing times for Canadian citizenship can vary widely, but on average, it takes about 12 to 24 months. During this period, there are several critical steps, including:

1. Acknowledge Receipt (AOR): This is your confirmation that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has received your application. It typically takes a few weeks to a couple of months.
2. Citizenship Test and Interview: Applicants between 18 and 54 must take a citizenship test and attend an interview, typically scheduled within a year.
3. Oath Ceremony: After passing your test and interview, you will be invited to the citizenship ceremony, which is the final step in becoming a Canadian citizen.

Leaving Canada for a vacation or for work during the early stages (before your AOR) is usually not a major concern. But when it comes to the citizenship test, interview, and oath ceremony, timing becomes extremely sensitive. Missing any of these appointments without notifying the IRCC can cause significant delays, or worse, may result in the refusal of your application.

Can You Travel After the AOR?

Once you’ve received your AOR, you're technically in the "clear" to leave Canada temporarily. However, it’s important to note that you need to keep your Canadian address up-to-date with the IRCC.

But beware: There have been cases where applicants received test dates or interview invitations while they were away, and couldn’t return in time. This can lead to postponements, or in the worst cases, your application might be closed, forcing you to start over.

Will Leaving Canada Affect My Residency Requirement?

A common concern among applicants is whether traveling outside Canada after applying will affect their residency requirement. Canadian law requires applicants to have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) in the five years prior to submitting their citizenship application. The good news is that once you’ve submitted your application, your physical presence days are "locked in." This means that leaving Canada after submission won’t retroactively affect your residency calculation.

However, the IRCC will still consider whether you have strong ties to Canada, particularly when reviewing any prolonged absences during the application process. Long absences could signal to the IRCC that your primary residence is no longer in Canada, which could potentially complicate matters.

What Happens If You’re Gone for an Extended Period?

Being away for a short vacation, family visit, or business trip isn’t usually problematic. However, if you're gone for several months or more, the situation becomes trickier.

Imagine this: You’ve applied for Canadian citizenship, and midway through your wait, you’re offered an international job opportunity that requires you to be abroad for two years. While it's possible to remain outside Canada for an extended period, you risk complicating your application status, especially if you're not keeping the IRCC informed about your situation.

Real-World Example: In 2019, a citizenship applicant was refused because they had been away for more than a year without notifying the IRCC of their absence. When the test invitation arrived, they missed it and failed to respond in time. This caused significant delays and eventually led to the application being closed. The individual had to reapply and go through the entire process again, losing not only time but also additional application fees.

Maintaining Communication with IRCC

If you do decide to leave Canada after submitting your citizenship application, you need to maintain regular communication with the IRCC. Here’s what you should do:

1. Update Your Address: Even if you are traveling, make sure to update your mailing address on the IRCC website.
2. Check Your Application Status: Regularly check your application status online and monitor emails or letters from IRCC.
3. Notify IRCC of Long Absences: If you are going to be away for an extended period, notify the IRCC as soon as possible. You may be asked to provide additional information or documentation to prove that you still have significant ties to Canada.

What About the Citizenship Test and Oath Ceremony?

If your citizenship test or oath ceremony is scheduled while you are abroad, it’s essential to return to Canada for those appointments. While you can request to reschedule these events in some cases, it’s risky. Citizenship appointments have limited flexibility, and missing your test or oath date could lead to delays of several months—or even a closure of your application.

For example, let’s say you’re on a month-long business trip abroad and you receive a test notice with a date that conflicts with your travel schedule. In this case, you can request to reschedule the test, but this may lead to several months of delays. The IRCC does not guarantee a new test date will be available within a specific timeframe, which could extend your citizenship process far beyond what you initially expected.

Can You Apply for a Canadian Passport While Waiting?

A question that often arises is whether you can apply for a Canadian passport while waiting for your citizenship application to be processed. The short answer is no. You must wait until you are officially a Canadian citizen before applying for a Canadian passport.

However, if your Permanent Resident (PR) card is about to expire and you plan to travel, you will need to apply for a PR Travel Document (PRTD) to re-enter Canada. If you are overseas and don’t have a valid PR card, you won’t be able to board a flight back to Canada without a PRTD. Make sure your PR card is valid before leaving the country, especially if your trip extends beyond its expiry date.

Key Considerations Before Leaving Canada

1. Ensure Your PR Card Is Valid: Your PR card should be valid for the entire duration of your trip.
2. Keep Ties to Canada: Prove you have strong ties to Canada, such as owning a home, maintaining Canadian bank accounts, and keeping a Canadian driver’s license.
3. Update IRCC with Travel Plans: Always notify the IRCC if you plan to be away for an extended period.
4. Check Application Status: Monitor your application status regularly and ensure you can return to Canada when needed for important appointments.
5. Stay Accessible: Always remain reachable via email or phone in case IRCC needs additional documentation or information from you.

Closing Thoughts: Is It Worth the Risk?

Leaving Canada after applying for citizenship is doable, but it comes with risks that could delay or even jeopardize your application. If you have to travel, especially for long periods, it's essential to be proactive about maintaining communication with the IRCC and staying on top of your application’s status.

For those planning long absences, balancing your commitment to your new life in Canada with any personal or professional obligations abroad is critical. Proper preparation and diligence can minimize the risk of facing complications. Ultimately, the goal is to become a Canadian citizen, and missing key appointments or not adhering to timelines can set you back significantly.

2222