By admin (July 27, 2024)
The Canadian passport is ranked as the seventh-best in the world.
The newest 2024 ranking of global passports by Henley & Partners, a residence and citizenship advisory firm, is out, incorporating data from the International Air Transport Authority.
This year, the Canadian passport takes the seventh place on the list of the world’s most powerful passports, bound by factors that include the number of visa-free travel destinations it offers.
This would mean that holders of a Canadian passport will be able to access as many as 187 countries without a visa, in addition to getting more opportunities to work or study in many of these regions. To top it off, most Canadians get the added advantage of dual citizenship, meaning they can have two passports.
The ranking of the Canadian passport for this year marks the second consecutive time it has maintained this seventh position, placing it on the same levels as those from Czechia, Hungary, and Malta.
Singapore still retains the top spot, with visa-free travel to 195 countries. In second place are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain with their passports guaranteeing access without visas to 192 countries. This year, out of the G7, the United States is in eighth place, with visa-free access to 186 countries. Afghanistan places last on the list with visa-free access to just 26 countries.
A Historically Strong Passport
Historically, the Canadian passport has been very strong, based on Henley’s rankings. In 2014, Canada’s passport was as high as the second highest in the world. For almost two decades now, Henley’s ranking has consistently kept the Canadian passport at the top ten.
How to Get a Canadian Passport
Become a Citizen First
First of all, to get a Canadian passport, you need to become a citizen of Canada. If you weren’t born in Canada, then that typically means gaining permanent residence in Canada and fulfilling their requirement of physical presence therein, which is to say you need to have lived in Canada for at least three of the last five years, amounting to about 1,095 days.
Note: If you’re a direct-born child of a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth you may be eligible to obtain derivative citizenship. New legislation has also expanded the possibility for some children of Canadians born abroad to become citizens.
Once you’ve gained permanent residence and completed the physical presence requirement, you will also need to meet the following criteria in order to become eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship:
- Tax Filing: If required, file and pay all taxes that are due during your stay.
- Citizenship Test: Acquire a pass in the test for Canadian citizenship.
- Language Proficiency: Language ability at CLB 4 or higher in one language, either English or French.
The naturalization process takes about three years.
Application for a Canadian Passport
You can then apply for a passport once you have attained a citizenship ceremony and got your certificate of citizenship. Any person who is a Canadian citizen legally is allowed to apply, though some factors such as misrepresentation, security, human rights violation, or organized crime-related problems may make a person ineligible.
Application requires the following:
- Proof of Canadian citizenship either a certificate of citizenship or a Canadian birth certificate
- Any valid Canadian passport or travel document issued to you.
- Two references to accompany your application
- One original document to prove your identity
- Two identical passport-size photos
- First time applicants will also require a guarantor. The guarantor should meet the basic conditions, which once more depend upon the class of the passport and the place of application.
New citizens can apply on the internet or through a Service Canada center, either by appointment or walk-in service.