Can I count any time I’ve spent outside of Canada toward the physical presence requirement when applying for citizenship?

You can count time spent outside Canada toward the physical presence requirement for citizenship if you

• were a permanent resident employed in or with the
  • Canadian Armed Forces
  • federal public administration
  • public service of a province or territory
• lived outside Canada with your Canadian spouse or common-law partner or permanent resident spouse, common-law partner, or parent who was employed in or with the
  • Canadian Armed Forces
  • federal public administration
  • public service of a province or territory

This doesn’t include employment as a locally engaged person.

The physical presence requirement only uses time after

• becoming a permanent resident
• your common-law relationship began (for calculating residence with a common-law partner)

Find out how to calculate your physical presence