Physical presence requirement (citizenship)
Statutory definition
Section 5(1)(c) of the Citizenship Act requires an applicant to have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the 5 years immediately before the date of application. Days during which the applicant held temporary resident status after age 18 count as ½ a day each (up to 365 days counted toward the 1,095). Days before the application date count; days after filing but before grant do not add to the total.
Explanation
The physical presence calculation is critically important for citizenship applicants. Absences from Canada reduce the day count. Applicants should track absences precisely — IRCC audits travel history using CBSA records and passport stamps. Common mistakes include: counting days of arrival and departure (only days fully in Canada count); forgetting to deduct half-days for temporary resident periods; and miscounting when counting backward from the application date. Physical presence calculators are available on the IRCC website.