What happens after you pass the Canadian citizenship test
After you pass the Canadian citizenship test, IRCC confirms your result, may invite you to an interview with a citizenship official, and then invites you to a citizenship ceremony. At the ceremony you take the Oath of Citizenship, and that is the moment you become a Canadian citizen. Afterwards you receive your citizenship certificate and can apply for a Canadian passport.
Each step below links to the IRCC page it comes from. igotcitizenship is an independent study app and is not affiliated with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and your own invitations are the final word on dates and formats.
The steps at a glance
| Step | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Your result is confirmed | Online scores are reviewed by an officer first | Test results |
| 2. A possible interview | Depending on your case, to check identity, documents and eligibility | Test results |
| 3. The ceremony invitation | You are invited to take the oath | Citizenship ceremony |
| 4. The ceremony | You take the oath, sing O Canada and sign the oath form | What to expect |
| 5. After the ceremony | Certificate, passport, voting | After the ceremony |
Step 1: your result is confirmed
You pass with at least 15 correct answers out of 20, which is 75%. If you took the test in person or on Microsoft Teams, you get your official score straight away. If you took it online, the score on screen is temporary: an officer reviews it, which IRCC says can take a few days or a few weeks (IRCC).
You will not get a confirmation email, so print or email yourself the results page. Your application status shows "Completed" for the test once it is final, and IRCC does not send email updates, so check the status tracker.
Step 2: a possible interview
Depending on your case, IRCC may invite you to an interview with a citizenship official. It is used to confirm your identity, check copies of your documents and confirm you are eligible. IRCC notes that an interview does not necessarily lead to a final decision on the day.
Not everyone is interviewed. If you are, the invitation tells you when, where and what to bring.
Step 3: the ceremony invitation
Next, IRCC invites you to a citizenship ceremony. IRCC does not publish a fixed wait between passing and the ceremony, so be wary of anyone who promises one. Your invitation sets the date, the time and whether the ceremony is virtual or in person.
Everyone 14 and older takes the oath. Children under 14 do not have to, though they may attend with the parent or guardian who applied for them (IRCC, who takes the oath).
Step 4: the ceremony
Ceremonies usually last a few hours, whether virtual or in person (IRCC, what to expect). In order:
- Registration. Officials check your identity and ask a few questions to confirm nothing prevents you from becoming a citizen.
- Your PR card. In person, officials collect it. At a virtual ceremony, they cut it during a private registration meeting.
- The oath. You swear or affirm the Oath of Citizenship, then sing O Canada.
- The form. You sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form. At a virtual ceremony you sign it that day and email it back, as your invitation explains.
- Your certificate. You get it, or are told when it will be ready.
In person, stand for the oath and the anthem if you are able. At a virtual ceremony, stay seated throughout.
The Oath of Citizenship
This is the English text IRCC publishes today:
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 fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.
You repeat it after the presiding official, in both official languages if you can. You can swear, which refers to your religious beliefs, or affirm, which does not. If you swear, you may bring your holy book.
Step 5: after the ceremony
According to IRCC's page on what to do after the ceremony:
- Your certificate. An e-certificate should reach the IRCC portal within 5 business days of IRCC receiving your signed oath form. A paper certificate is handed to you at an in-person ceremony, or mailed 2 to 4 weeks after a virtual one. Do not laminate it.
- Your passport. You can apply only once you have your certificate. Your citizenship certificate is not a travel document and your PR card is gone, so wait for your passport before you travel abroad.
- Voting. You can register with Elections Canada for federal elections.
Frequently asked questions
When do I become a Canadian citizen?
When you take the Oath of Citizenship at your ceremony, not when you pass the test.
Do I need to study after I pass?
No more testing is needed, though an interview can ask about your eligibility. Knowing the oath before the ceremony helps.
Do I give up my PR card?
Yes. It is collected or cut at the ceremony.
Can I travel right after the ceremony?
Wait for your Canadian passport. IRCC says the certificate is not a travel document.
Still preparing? Our practice questions and answers and a free practice test will get you to step 1.