The 1,095-day requirement
Adult applicants must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) during the five years before the date they sign their application. At least 730 of those days must be as a permanent resident.
Time before you became a permanent resident
Each day you spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person during the five-year period counts as half a day, up to a maximum of 365 days. Days employed outside Canada as a Crown servant can count as full days; check the official rules if that applies to you.
Taxes and language
IRCC also asks that you have filed taxes for at least three years during the five years right before you apply; read the eligibility page for when this applies. Applicants aged 18 to 54 must show speaking and listening skills at CLB or NCLC level 4. Applicants aged 55 or older and minors do not need to.
Use the official calculator
If you apply online, you complete the physical presence calculator in your online account. Paper applicants can use IRCC’s online physical presence calculator and include the printout, or complete form CIT 0407. IRCC also offers an optional travel journal for recording trips outside Canada; it does not have to be included with the application.
Records that make counting easier
Keep a list of trips with exact departure and return dates, the date you became a permanent resident and the dates of earlier temporary status. Recount from your planned signing date, because the five-year window moves. The official pages do not set out a separate rule for partial days, so follow the calculator’s instructions rather than an assumption.
Frequently asked questions
Does time as a student or worker count?
Each day in Canada before permanent residence, as a temporary resident or protected person, counts as half a day, up to 365 days.
How many days must be as a permanent resident?
At least 730 days within the five-year period.
Who has to show language skills?
Applicants aged 18 to 54 must show CLB or NCLC level 4 in speaking and listening.