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Canadian citizenship: counting 1,095 days present

Residence & citizenship · AmericasChecked Updated

Canadian citizenship

Residence & citizenship
1,095days present in the 5 years before applying

You must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the 5 years before applying.1

A day out
Only full days outside Canada count as days away. The day you leave and the day you return both count as physical presence in Canada.2
Window
The count uses the 5 years immediately before your application and does not include the date you sign it. Signing on 1 April 2018 means counting through 31 March 2018.31
Before PR
Each day in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident counts as half a day, up to 365 days of credit.4

Worked example

Pre-PR credit changes the date you reach the line

  1. You were a temporary resident from 15 January 2022 until becoming a permanent resident on 15 January 2024. Those 730 days give 365 days of credit, so you still need 730 days present after PR.4How we count: 730 pre-PR days x 0.5 = 365, exactly the credit cap. 1,095 - 365 = 730.
  2. Two trips after PR have 20 and 4 full days outside. By 6 February 2026, 754 calendar days have run since PR, less 24 outside leaves 730 days present.2How we count: 15 January 2024 through 6 February 2026 is 754 days. 20 + 4 = 24; 754 - 24 = 730.
  3. On 7 February 2026, the count through the previous day reaches 730 + 365 = 1,095. Signing one day earlier gives only 729 + 365 = 1,094.31How we count: The signing date is excluded. 730 + 365 = 1,095 on 7 February; removing one more PR day gives 1,094 on 6 February.

The rule it rests on: You must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the 5 years before applying.1 Only full days outside Canada count as days away. The day you leave and the day you return both count as physical presence in Canada.2 The count uses the 5 years immediately before your application and does not include the date you sign it. Signing on 1 April 2018 means counting through 31 March 2018.31 Each day in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident counts as half a day, up to 365 days of credit.4

Questions people ask

How many days must I be in Canada for citizenship?

You must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the 5 years before applying.1

Do departure and return days count in Canada?

Only full days outside Canada count as days away. The day you leave and the day you return both count as physical presence in Canada.2

Can time before permanent residence count?

Each day in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident counts as half a day, up to 365 days of credit.4

Does the application signing date count?

The count uses the 5 years immediately before your application and does not include the date you sign it. Signing on 1 April 2018 means counting through 31 March 2018.31

Sources

2 laws and 2 official pages, each with its exact words
  1. Citizenship Act, s. 5(1)(c)(i) · Department of Justice Canada · read 27 Oct 2026
    Exact words at least 1,095 days during the five years immediately before the date of his or her application
  2. IRCC, CIT 0407 travel days · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · read 27 Oct 2026
    Exact words You will only count the full days outside of Canada, because the day you left and day you returned to Canada counts as time physically present in Canada.
  3. IRCC, CIT 0407 application window · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · read 27 Oct 2026
    Exact words Do not count the actual date you will sign your application
  4. Citizenship Act, pre-PR credit · Department of Justice Canada · read 27 Oct 2026
    Exact words up to a maximum of 365 days
Checked against Citizenship Act, s. 5 on 27 Oct 2026 Updated 26 Oct 2026

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