ANECDOTE: I came to Canada at 3 years old with first generation parent immigrants in the early 90's and we all had citizenship within ~3 years (I was 6 at the time).

Things are most likely different now.

Thanks to McDonald's (and others) breaking all the rules and abusing immigrants, the current situation is you have to be physically inside Canada for 5 years out of 7 before you can even apply for citizenship.

And that's just to apply. The process can easily take a year or two longer. Also every day I spend outside Canada (holiday, visiting family, whatever) pushes that back.

It's a LONG process.

Wrong info. Here are the actual rules from the Government site:

To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must:

  be a permanent resident
  have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years
  have filed your taxes, if you need to
  pass a citizenship test
  prove your language skills
  Other requirements may apply.

I got my citizenship ages ago but I think the rules were about the same.

....that, is extremely interesting.

My application in mid 2015 was denied because they received it the day after the rules changed from what you posted to what I posted.

It must have changed back in the mean time, and I've never looked into it again.

Thanks very much!

Yeah, that was Mr Mike at his best. When they can't do something productive they get "tough" on immigration/crime/lap dancing/whatever other subject tickles their cockles. After him they must've changed the rules back.

Thanks again!

And because you said "ages ago" I suspect you and I have the same original passport.