Rulebook / Residence & citizenship / Canada
Canada citizenship presence
- Day threshold
- 1095 days
- Window
- Rolling 1826 days
- Direction
- Floor — reach at least
- Counts
- Days in Canada; arrival and departure days both count
- Authority
- Government of Canada
Canada citizenship presence requires at least 1095 days in Canada in any rolling 1826-day period. You are trying to reach the number, not stay under it. 1,095 days in the five years before applying. Time as a temporary resident may count at half rate, up to 365 days — not tracked here.
Who it applies to
This matters most if you are:
- A permanent resident who travels often and must protect the status they already hold.
- An applicant counting physical presence toward residence or a passport.
- Anyone who will have to evidence their days to an immigration authority at renewal or application.
The rule — and why it exists
Days in Canada. At least 1095 days in Canada in any rolling 1826-day period — written as >=1095 / 1826.
Why it exists: residence and citizenship are granted to people who actually live in the country. Presence requirements and absence caps are how that is measured rather than asserted.
Counting the days
- On any given day, look back over the 1826 days ending on that day (that day included).
- Count every day you were physically in Canada in that span. Partial days count as full days.
- The total must reach 1095. Repeat for every day — there is no reset date.
- A day only stops counting once it is more than 1826 days old. Leaving and returning changes nothing.
The free calculator below counts this rule with the same engine the Dwelltime app ships.
Check it with the free tool
Examples
Example 1 — 722 days inside, checked at the end of the window
Stays: Canada 2026-03-01 → 2028-02-20. Checked on 2028-02-20.
Result: Days in Canada: 373 more days needed (722 of 1095 in Canada), earliest 2029-02-27.
Example 2 — 1095 days used, then trying to return
Stays: Canada 2026-01-01 → 2028-12-30. Checked on 2029-01-30.
Result: Days in Canada: reached — 1095 of 1095 days in Canada.
Example 3 — Two separate stays that add up past 1095
Stays: Canada 2026-01-01 → 2027-10-19; Canada 2028-07-02 → 2030-04-19. Checked on 2030-04-19.
Result: Days in Canada: reached — 1314 of 1095 days in Canada.
Exceptions & edge cases
- Absences with permission. Some regimes disregard absences approved in advance or forced by illness; record them and check the source.
- Continuity vs. totals. Some rules require both a total and no single absence over a limit; both must hold.
- Evidence. Authorities may ask for stamps, boarding passes or statements — keep the source of every day.
Common misconceptions
- "Hitting 1095 days is automatic." Not quite — the count meets the day test; the remaining conditions still apply.
- "It resets when I leave." No. Days age out one at a time, 1826 days after they happened.
- "Arrival day doesn't count." Any part of a day inside is a day inside.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1095-day count per calendar year or rolling?
Rolling 1826 days. The window rolls forward one day at a time.
Do arrival and departure days count?
Yes — any part of a day counts as a day.
Where does this rule come from?
Government of Canada: Citizenship eligibility — time lived in Canada. The link is verified on every build; if it stops resolving the build fails.
This rule is tracked in 
Dwelltime
- Counts your days for this rule from the trips you record
- Shows the last safe day, or the days still needed, before you book
- Explains every counted day and every uncounted one
- Runs alongside your other visa, tax and residency rules
Sources
Related rules
- 🇨🇦Canada Visitor180 days per visit in Canada
<=180 / VISIT - 🇨🇦Avoid Canada tax residencyThe 183-day rule makes you a deemed resident only if you have no significant residential ties; with ties you may be resident on fewer days.
<=182 / YEAR - 🇨🇦Become Canada tax residentThe 183-day rule makes you a deemed resident only if you have no significant residential ties; with ties you may be resident on fewer days.
>=183 / YEAR - 🇨🇦Canada PR residency obligation730 days in every five-year period. Time accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse abroad can also count and is not tracked here.
>=730 / 1826
For information only. This page is a plain-English summary of publicly available rules, not tax, legal or immigration advice. Rules change and depend on your personal circumstances — always confirm with the official source above and a qualified professional before acting.