Calculating Citizenship Eligibility For PRs Who Live In Canada But Work In The U.S. 

News Source:- One of the requirements for Canadian citizenship, is you have to have been physically present in Canada for three out of the last five years. But if you drive to the U.S. for work every day, does that count as a “full day”?

If you are a Canadian permanent resident working in the U.S., your work days do not count against your physical presence requirement for Canadian citizenship as long as you have a residence in Canada and return for at least part of the day.

The Citizenship Act defines the calculation length of physical presence differently depending on if you are a temporary resident, or a permanent resident:

(a) for every day during which the person was physically present in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act before becoming a permanent resident, the person accumulates half of a day of physical presence, up to a maximum of 365 days; and

(b) for every day during which the person has been physically present in Canada since becoming a permanent resident, the person accumulates one day of physical presence.

“Therefore, if a person works in the U.S. for part of the day but has a residence in Canada and spends a portion of their day in Canada, then this time can be calculated towards the physical presence requirement for their citizenship application,” an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) spokesperson wrote to CIC News.

In other words, as long as you are a Canadian permanent resident living in Canada, part of a day in Canada counts as a full day toward your citizenship. Read More.