So you’ve been in Canada for a while, and you’re now planning to apply for Canadian citizenship. Here’s how:

1. Confirm that you’re eligible to apply.

You must be at least 18 years old (or apply with your parent or guardian).

You must be a Canadian permanent resident.

You need to be able to speak English or French well enough to communicate.

You must have lived in Canada for at least three of the past four years. Use the residence calculator tool to determine if you’re been in the country long enough.

And you can’t have a recent criminal record (get the details from Citizenship and Immigration Canada).

If you’re a U.S. citizen, you’re allowed to have dual U.S.-Canadian citizenship. (Here are the U.S. and Canadian perspectives on dual citizenship.) Ogling the Canadian ads for Cuban holidays? Check out this New York Times article about the benefits to travelers of having multiple passports: “Carrying Several Passports? It’s Not Just for Spies.”

2. Apply for citizenship. You can get the application package online. The fee for adult applicants is $200 (it’s $100 if you’re under 18).

3. Study for your citizenship test. The government recently released a new study guide called Discover Canada: the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.

4. Take your citizenship test.

5. If you pass the test and meet all the citizenship requirements, attend a citizenship ceremony, where you’ll need to take the oath of citizenship (and yes, Canada has a queen!):

I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Need more information? Check Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s citizenship FAQ.

Photo by Jason Spaceman (flickr)