What are the requirements for becoming a Canadian citizen?

1. Who can apply

To become a Canadian citizen, you must

• be a permanent resident
• have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years
• have filed your taxes, if you need to
• pass a test on your rights, responsibilities and knowledge of Canada
• prove your language skills

Depending on your situation, there may be additional requirements.

•  with your application
• noting how well you speak when talking to a citizenship official anytime during the application process
• assessing your language level during a citizenship test with a our official, if necessary

We accept various certificates, diplomas and tests as proof of your language skills.

Get a language accommodation or waiver (exemption)

Pass a citizenship test

If you’re between 18 and 54 years old on the day you sign your application, you must take the citizenship test.

The test will ask questions about

• the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens
• Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols

We’ll invite you to the test after you submit your application.

Get a test accommodation or waiver (exemption)

Take the oath of citizenship

You must take the oath of citizenship if

• you’re at least 14 years old when you sign your application and
• we approve your application

Get an oath accommodation or waiver (exemption)

Prohibitions

If you committed a crime in or outside Canada

• you may not be eligible to become a Canadian citizen for a period of time
• time spent serving a term of imprisonment, on parole, or on probation doesn’t count as time you’ve lived in Canada

Find out about situations that may prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen:

• If you’re not sure whether the situations apply to you, contact your lawyer or arresting police officer.
• Wait until the situation no longer applies before you apply for citizenship.
• We’ll review your application on a case-by-case basis.

2. How to apply

• Apply online
• Apply on paper
  • Get an application package
  • Pay your fees
  • Submit your application
• Apply for citizenship urgently

You need to choose the online or paper application. Do not apply both ways.

Apply online

As of January 4, 2023, you can choose either an electronic citizenship certificate (e-certificate) or a paper certificate.

Most applicants can now apply online to become a Canadian citizen.

Find out how to apply online

• as a family or a group
• for a minor (under 18)
• with a representative

Some people must still apply on paper

Apply on paper

As of January 4, 2023, you can choose an electronic citizenship certificate (e-certificate) or a paper certificate for most citizenship applications.

How to choose the certificate type

Get an application package

The application package includes the instruction guide and all the forms you need to fill out. Use the instruction guide and the document checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Choose the application package for your situation:

• Adult (age 18 or older)
• Parent or guardian applying for a minor (under age 18)
• Minor without a Canadian parent applying alone
• Adult who served with the Canadian Armed Forces
• Adoption by a Canadian citizen
• Stateless person born to a Canadian parent

Pay the application fees

Your fees depend on whether you’re an adult (age 18 and over) or a minor (under age 18). Your fees may include

• the processing fee
• the right of citizenship fee

You have to pay your fees online.

• Only pay your fees once you’re ready to submit your application.
• Include the receipt with your application.
• If you’re submitting more than 1 application at the same time, you can pay all the fees together (1 receipt) or separately (multiple receipts).

Pay your fees online

Submit your application

You must be eligible for Canadian citizenship the day before you sign the application form.

Make sure

• you sign the application form
• you date the form the day you sign it (don’t use a date in the past or future)
• that the date of signature on the application form is the same as the “Application date” in the physical presence calculation for these applications:
  • Adult (age 18 or older).
  • Minor (under 18) without a Canadian parent applying alone.
• to send your application as soon as possible after you sign and date the application form
  • We’ll return your application to you if we receive it more than 90 days after the date on the form.

 If you’re submitting more than 1 application

Send your completed application form and all documents in the application package by mail or courier:

Regular mail	Courier
Case Processing Centre – Sydney Citizenship Grants P.O. Box 7000 Sydney, NS  B1P 6V6	IRCC Digitization Centre – Citizenship 3050 Wilson Ave New Waterford, NS  B1H 5V8

Apply for citizenship urgently

Processing times show how long it takes us to process applications for citizenship. We can process applications faster in special cases.

3. After you apply

electronic citizenship certificate (e-certificate)

• We’re offering the e-certificate to some applicants who already submitted an application before January 4, 2023.
• You do not need to contact us.

Learn more about the e-certificate

• Processing your application
• Check and update your application

Processing your application

Processing time ^?

 8 months

When we receive your application for citizenship, we review your application to make sure you

• answered all the questions on the form
• sent all the required documents
• paid the fees

Answer a few questions to find out how we review and process your application.

How did you apply? (required)

Online

On paper

Check and update your application

You can check your application status online

• to find out our progress with your application
• only after you’ve received an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter or email
  • You’ll get an AOR after we receive your application and check that it’s complete.
  • It can take some time before you receive it.

We may contact you to get more information if your case is non-routine.

When to contact us

Do not contact us about your application status if you don’t have an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter.

While we process your application, contact us if any information on your application changes or if you

• change your address
• plan to leave Canada for more than 2 weeks in a row
• can’t check your application status online and the normal processing time for your application has passed
• are charged with a crime
• applied as part of a group, but now want to continue the application by yourself
• need an accommodation or a waiver (exemption) for
  • the citizenship test
  • proving your English or French language skills
  • the oath of citizenship

Due to privacy laws, we can’t give information about your application to anyone unless you consent in writing. For example, if you have difficulty communicating in English or French, you need to provide consent for a family member to contact us about your application.

4.Citizenship test

Most people need to take the citizenship test as part of the application. Find out how to prepare for the test and what to expect after you take it.

• After the test: Result and next steps

Who has to take the test and go to the interview

Whether you have to take the test or go to the interview depends on your age and application.

Your age and situation	Take the test	Go to the interview
Adult 18 to 54 years of age	Yes	We may invite you to an interview
Adult 55 and over	No	We may invite you to an interview
Minor under 18 with a Canadian parent or a parent applying at the same time	No	No, except in some casesFootnote*
Minor 14 to 17 without a Canadian parent or a parent applying at the same time	No	We may invite you to an interview
Minor under 14 without a Canadian parent or a parent applying at the same time	No	No, except in some casesFootnote*

Table footnotes

Table footnote *

We’ll only ask a minor to go to an interview if we have specific questions. Both the minor and the person who submitted the application for the minor must be present at the interview.

Get a test accommodation or waiver (exemption)

Test questions and passing score

The test

• will ask questions about
  • the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens
  • Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols
• has 20 questions that are either
  • multiple choice or
  • true or false
• is in English or French
• is 45 minutes long

 You need to get at least 15 out of 20 questions right to pass the test.

Test format

There are several ways to take the test.

 We’ll invite most applicants to take the citizenship test online.

 If you need an accommodation for accessibility or other reasons, we

• may invite you to take the test on Microsoft Teams or in person
• can give you the test in a different format

Study for the test

Use our official study guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, to study for your test. You can start studying for the test at any time.

The official study guide is always free. The guide is available in multiple formats. You can choose to:

• read it online
• listen to the MP3 version
• download the PDF or eBook
• order a paper copy of the study guide

Wait for your test invitation

We usually send the invitation within 1 week of your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter or email.

• We’ll send the AOR after we check that your submitted application is complete.
• If you haven’t received your AOR, check if you’ll get it soon.
• The wait time for the invitation also depends on your situation and our current processing time.
  • For example, you may wait longer if your application is non-routine.

You don’t need to contact us to get an invitation. We’ll send them as quickly as possible.

If you have an emergency If you need to reschedule

How you’ll get the invitation

If you gave an email address in your application, we’ll send you or your representative an invitation by email.

• To avoid missing our emails, check your junk or spam folder.
• Look for an invitation from an email address that ends in “@cic.gc.ca.”

If you or your representative did not give an email address

• you can give one by using our web form, or
• we’ll call you (check your voicemail messages regularly)

How to take the test

You can take the test only after you receive your invitation. How you’ll take the test depends on the test format.

If you take the test online

Follow these steps:

1. Make sure you
   1. read the online test tutorial
   1. know what you need for the test, including
      1. required identifications (IDs)
      1. compatible browsers and devices
      1. the proper location to take the test
2. After you receive the invitation, you can take the online test when you’re ready.
   1. You have 30 calendar days to complete the test. (Check your invitation for the dates.)
   1. Within this 30-day period, you have up to 3 chances to pass the online test.
      1. For example, if you fail the test the first time, you have 2 more chances to pass it.
   1. If you fail the test 3 times, we’ll invite you to a hearing with a citizenship official.

If you take the test on Microsoft Teams or in person

If you request an accommodation, we may invite you to take the test on Microsoft Teams or in person. For more information, check the instructions in your test invitation.

You have up to 3 chances to pass the test.

• For example, if you fail the test the first time, we can invite you to a maximum of 2 other test attempts.
• If you fail the test 3 times, we’ll invite you to a hearing with a citizenship official.

If you need to bring your child to the in-person test

What to do if you missed the test

Your next steps depend on on the type of test you missed. Answer the following questions to find out more.

What is the format of your test? (required)

• Online
• On Microsoft Teams
• In person

After the test: Result and next steps

After you take the test, you’ll get your test result. Your next steps will depend on whether you pass or don’t pass the test.

Test result

How you get the test result depends on whether you took the test online, on Microsoft Teams or in person:

Online Test on Microsoft Teams or in person

If you pass the test

You pass the test if you correctly answer at least 15 out of 20 questions (75%).

After you pass the test, we

• may invite you to an interview with a citizenship official (case-by-case)
• will invite you to the citizenship ceremony

If you fail the test

You have up to 3 chances to pass the test (whether online or on Microsoft Teams or in person).

If you fail the test 3 times, we’ll invite you to a hearing with a citizenship official. At the hearing, we’ll orally ask you questions that are similar to those on the citizenship test.

If you pass the hearing, we’ll continue processing your application.

If you fail the hearing

• we’ll refuse your application
• you need to reapply and pay the fees again if you still want to become a citizen

If you don’t pass the test and applied as a family or a group

When you apply as a family or a group, we process all applications together. If you have to do a retest or go to a hearing, we may invite your co-applicants to the citizenship ceremony before you.

If you want everyone to attend the same ceremony, ask us to pause processing of the applications. We’ll wait until you pass the test or hearing so everyone can be a citizen at the same time.

Document navigation

5. Prepare for the citizenship ceremony

Taking the Oath of Citizenship at a citizenship ceremony is your final step to become a Canadian citizen. Citizenship ceremonies take place across the country and at all times of the year. There are special ceremonies on Canada Day and during Citizenship Week.

Who has to take the oath

Adults and children aged 14 or over must go to the citizenship ceremony and take the oath.

Parents will get certificates of citizenship for their children under age 14. Children under age 14 don’t have to go, but are welcome to.

Get an oath accommodation or waiver (exemption)

Get your citizenship ceremony date

We’ll invite you to the citizenship ceremony by email or mail 1 to 2 weeks in advance.

The invitation will have the ceremony’s

• time and date
• video conference link (for a video oath ceremony)
• location (for an in-person ceremony)

 Check your junk folder for our emails

Wait time for the ceremony invitation

Every application is different. The wait time for your ceremony invitation depends on

• our current processing time
• your situation
  • For example, if you’re between 18 and 54 years old when you sign your application, you must pass the citizenship test.
  • You may wait longer if your application is non-routine.

Check your application status

You can find the latest status information for your ceremony invitation by checking your application status.

If the “Citizenship ceremony” section of the citizenship status tracker has an “In progress” status, it means we

• are in the process of scheduling your ceremony
• will send you the invitation at least 1 week before the ceremony date

  If you contact us, we cannot give you more information than what’s available in your application status.

If you’re not available on the day of your ceremony, send us a message to explain why and get a new date. If you don’t give an explanation or your explanation isn’t reasonable, we may stop processing your application and not grant you citizenship. You can either:

• email or write to the office that sent you the notice (within 30 days of the appointment) or
• use the online web form

Generally, once we receive your message, we’ll schedule your ceremony on a different day. We’ll let you know by email if you gave us your email address or letter mail if we don’t have your email address.

You need to stay in the room for the entire ceremony. If you’re bringing a young child, also bring a guest who can take them out of the room if they get restless and need to leave the ceremony room. If you can’t arrange child care, let us know and we’ll reschedule your ceremony date.

Language of your ceremony

Your notice tells you if your ceremony will be mostly in English, mostly in French, or bilingual. If you want to attend a bilingual ceremony, contact the office that sent you the notice.

What to bring

When you come to the ceremony, bring:

• your ceremony notice
• a signed copy of the Permission Release and Consent form (included with the notice)
• permanent resident card if you have one (even if it’s expired) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM5292 or IMM5688)
• Record of Landing (IMM 1000) if you became a permanent resident before June 28, 2002
• 2 pieces of personal identification (ID)
  • one piece of ID must have your photograph and signature, for example: driver’s licence, health card or permanent resident card
  • foreign ID documents must be government-issued, Canadian ones don’t need to be government-issued
  • if they’re not in English or French, you must provide a translation with an affidavit from the translator
  • minors are not required to show identification with a signature
• all your passports and travel documents, current and expired, that you listed on the application form
• optional: a holy book, of your choice, if you want to use one to swear the Oath of Citizenship

What happens at the ceremony

During your ceremony, you will:

• take the Oath of Citizenship
• get your citizenship certificate
• sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form
• sing the national anthem, O Canada

A citizenship judge or official will preside over the ceremony and lead the Oath of Citizenship. Many people will take the oath with you. The ceremony official will say the oath in English and in French. As a group, you’ll repeat the words to the oath after the official. You must repeat the oath in at least one of the official languages, but we encourage you to say them in both. You’ll also be invited to sing the bilingual version of the national anthem.

You can swear or affirm the oath. Swearing is for people who want to refer to their religious beliefs and affirming is for people who don’t want to refer to religious text. If you want to swear the oath on your holy book, bring it with you.

Once you take the Oath of Citizenship, you’ll be a Canadian citizen. We’ll give you your citizenship certificate as proof that you’re a Canadian citizen. It will show the date that you became a citizen. Keep it in a safe place.

Prepare to say the oath and sing the anthem

We’ll give you the words to the oath and the anthem at the ceremony, but you can practice to prepare for the ceremony.

Oath of Citizenship

I swear (or affirm)
That I will be faithful
And bear true allegiance
To His Majesty
King Charles the Third
King of Canada
His Heirs and Successors
And that I will faithfully observe
The laws of Canada
Including the Constitution
Which recognizes and affirms
The Aboriginal and treaty rights of
First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples
And fulfil my duties
As a Canadian citizen.

Alternative formats and transcript

National anthem: O Canada

In all provinces and territories, except Quebec, we use the bilingual, English first version (PDF, 824 KB):

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Listen to a bilingual, English first recording performed by our choir and musicians:

Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Listen to a bilingual, French first recording performed by our choir and musicians:

6.After the citizenship ceremony

Congratulations on becoming a Canadian citizen and welcome to the Canadian family! Find out about information and services for new Canadians.

Get your citizenship certificate

A Canadian citizenship certificate proves that you’re a Canadian citizen. Depending on the format you chose when you applied, you’ll get a paper or an electronic certificate.Paper certificate Electronic certificate (e-certificate)

Learn more about the citizenship certificate(opens in a new tab) 

Get your passport

• You must wait to get your citizenship certificate after the ceremony before you can apply for a passport.
• A valid Canadian passport proves you have the right to enter Canada.
• Your citizenship certificate is not a travel document.

If you’re a dual Canadian citizen, you can only enter Canada with a

• valid Canadian passport, or
• special authorization (issued only under certain circumstances)

Register to vote

As a Canadian citizen, you have the right and responsibility to vote.

For provincial or territorial elections, contact the election authority in your province or territory.

Be active in your community

Get involved with your community to make Canada a stronger and more inclusive country.

Enjoy the wonders of natural and cultural heritage places in Canada

Enjoy free admission to all places run by Parks Canada for 1 full year. This includes national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.

Access the best of Canadian culture

Download the free Canoo mobile app to access the best of Canadian culture!

• You and your children can get 1 year of free admission to over 1,400 events and destinations, including museums, national parks and historic sites.
• If you used Canoo as a permanent resident (PR), you can’t use it again as a new citizen.

Canoo is an initiative by the Institute for Canadian CitizenshipGet more information and services

Find out about other services and information we offer for Canadians

  After you become a Canadian citizen, you don’t need to tell us if you change your address.