Canadian citizenship physical presence calculator
Count your days of physical presence in Canada for the citizenship application, using IRCC's published rules.
Last reviewed 2026-11-07 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Quick answer
To apply for Canadian citizenship you need at least 1,095 days physically in Canada in the 5 years before you sign your application, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident. Each day in Canada before PR as a temporary resident or protected person counts as half a day, up to 365 days of credit. The day you leave and the day you return from a trip both count as days in Canada.
How IRCC counts physical presence
| Rule | What IRCC says |
|---|---|
| Minimum | 1,095 days (3 years) in Canada during your 5-year eligibility period |
| Eligibility period | The 5 years before the date you sign your application. Don't count the signing day itself. |
| Days as a permanent resident | At least 730 days of the 1,095 must be as a PR. Each counts as 1 full day. |
| Days before PR | Each day as a temporary resident or protected person counts as 0.5 days, up to 365 days of credit (730 calendar days) |
| Trips | The day you leave and the day you return count as days in Canada. Leave July 1, return July 6 = 4 days absent. List same-day trips too. |
| Time that doesn't count | Prison, parole, probation, and time waiting for a refugee claim decision |
| Crown servants | Days employed outside Canada as a Crown servant (or as their family member) count as 1 day |
Worked example
Priya signs her application on November 7, 2026. Her window runs from November 7, 2021 to November 6, 2026. She studied in Canada from November 7, 2022, became a PR on November 7, 2024 and took one 15-day trip as a PR (left May 1, back May 16: 14 days absent).
- Days as a PR: 730 − 14 = 716 — below the 730-day PR minimum.
- Pre-PR days: 731 (Nov 7, 2022 to Nov 6, 2024, including February 29, 2024) × 0.5 = 365.5, capped at 365.
- Total: 716 + 365 = 1,081 — short of 1,095, and short of the 730 PR days.
With no more trips, both minimums are met for an application signed on November 21, 2026. The calculator above shows this projection automatically.
The other citizenship requirements
Physical presence is one requirement among several. IRCC also looks at income tax filing (you may need to have filed for at least 3 of the 5 years), language proof at CLB/NCLC 4 for ages 18–54, the citizenship test for ages 18–54, and situations that prohibit citizenship. See the Canadian citizenship guide for fees, the test and accepted language proofs.
Official sources
| What we checked | Official page |
|---|---|
| 1,095 days, 730 PR days, half-day credit, 365 cap, time that doesn't count | IRCC — Who can apply for citizenship |
| Day counting, signing day, trips | IRCC — Form CIT 0407, How to calculate physical presence |
| Official calculator (online account and paper) | IRCC — Calculate your physical presence |
Sources last checked 2026-11-07. IRCC doesn't say outright how the day you became a PR is counted; this calculator counts it as a PR day, consistent with IRCC's wording that pre-PR time runs "until 1 day before" you became a PR.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Canada to apply for citizenship?+
At least 1,095 days (3 years) of physical presence during the 5 years before the date you sign your application, and at least 730 of those days must be as a permanent resident, according to IRCC.
Does time before I became a PR count?+
Yes, partly. Each day in Canada as a temporary resident (visitor, student, worker or temporary resident permit holder) or as a protected person counts as half a day, up to a maximum of 365 days of credit. That maximum equals 730 calendar days.
How are day trips to the United States counted?+
IRCC's form CIT 0407 says the day you leave and the day you return both count as days in Canada, so a same-day trip counts as 0 days absent. You must still list every trip, including same-day and next-day trips.
Does the day I sign my application count?+
No. IRCC's physical presence instructions say not to count the date you sign your application.
What time doesn't count at all?+
Time in prison, on parole or on probation, and time waiting for a decision on a refugee claim. Work or study permits issued while a refugee claim was pending did not give temporary resident status, so IRCC says that period can't be used.
Is this calculator's result accepted by IRCC?+
No. It's an independent estimate. Online applicants calculate physical presence in IRCC's online account; paper applicants use IRCC's physical presence calculator or form CIT 0407. IRCC also encourages applying with more than 1,095 days.
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