publication). Who cannot become a Canadian citizen In general, you cannot become a Canadian citizen if: you are in prison, on parole or on probation (serving a sentence); in the past four years, you were in prison, on parole or on probation for more than a year; you were convicted of an indictable offence (a crime) under any Act of Parliament, or an offence under the Citizenship Act , in the three years preceding your application; you are currently charged with an indictable offence (a crime) under any Act of Parliament, or an offence under the Citizenship Act ; you are under a removal order (instructed by Canadian officials to leave Canada); you are under investigation for, are charged with, or have been convicted of a war crime or a crime against humanity; or your Canadian citizenship has been taken away (revoked) in the past five years. The items listed above are prohibitions -- factors that could prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen. The application form contains questions on these prohibitions, and you must answer them truthfully when you apply for citizenship. If you think you may not qualify because you have been charged with a crime or you have a criminal record, or if you need more information on this subject, contact us (see " Contact Information " at the end of this publication). How to apply to become a Canadian citizen To apply to become a Canadian citizen, follow the six steps below. 1. Make sure you