Moose
Free tool
Canadian Citizenship Day Calculator
Count your physical-presence days toward the 1,095-day requirement — including half-day credit for time you spent in Canada before becoming a permanent resident — and estimate your earliest citizenship application date.
Planning estimate only. Confirm eligibility with the official citizenship eligibility rules and Physical Presence Calculator on Canada.ca.
Track every trip automatically
Moose keeps a running physical-presence count, logs each trip abroad, and counts down to your earliest citizenship date — right on your iPhone home screen.
The physical-presence rule
To be eligible for Canadian citizenship as an adult, you must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days during the five years immediately before the day you apply. In addition, you must have filed taxes for at least three of those five years if required to do so.
The count works like this:
- Each day as a permanent resident in Canada counts as one full day.
- Each day as a temporary resident or protected person (for example on a work or study permit) in the five years before you apply counts as a half day, up to a maximum credit of 365 days.
Example: You lived in Canada on a work permit for 2 years (730 days) before landing as a PR. That pre-PR time gives you 365 credited days (the cap). You then need 730 more days as a PR to reach 1,095.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying too early. Officers count to the exact day. Most applicants add a buffer of 15–30 extra days beyond 1,095 in case of small errors.
- Forgetting short trips. Weekend trips to the US still count as days absent. Track them as you go.
- Ignoring the 5-year window. Only days within the five years before your application date count — very old presence expires.
- Missing tax years. You need to have met tax-filing obligations for at least three of the five years.
This tool assumes you apply today and that your PR period falls within the 5-year window. For a day-by-day breakdown across many trips, use the official Physical Presence Calculator on Canada.ca or let Moose track it for you continuously.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need to apply for Canadian citizenship?
You must be physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) during the five years immediately before you apply. You must also have met tax-filing obligations for at least three of those five years.
Does time before I became a permanent resident count?
Yes, partly. Each day you were physically present in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person in the five years before applying counts as a half-day, up to a maximum of 365 credited days.
Is this citizenship calculator official?
No. This is a free planning estimate based on the physical-presence rule published by IRCC. It is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Always confirm with the official Physical Presence Calculator on Canada.ca before you apply.
