What happens if you fail the Canadian citizenship test
If you fail the Canadian citizenship test, it is not the end of your application. Your invitation gives you a 30-day window with up to three attempts, and a retake inside that window carries no separate IRCC fee. Only after a third unsuccessful attempt does the process move to a hearing with a citizenship official.
Below is what IRCC's own pages say about each step, with a link to the source beside every rule. igotcitizenship is an independent study app and is not affiliated with IRCC, so always treat your invitation and IRCC's pages as the final word.
The rules in brief
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| The invitation sets a 30-day period in which the test must be taken. | How the test works |
| Up to three attempts are allowed in that period, across the online, Teams and in-person formats. | Test results |
| A retake inside the window carries no separate IRCC fee. | IRCC fees |
| After three unsuccessful attempts, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official. | Test results |
| If the hearing is not successful, the application is refused, and continuing means applying again and paying the fees again. | Test results |
Step by step through the window
Your invitation arrives
IRCC sends an invitation with the dates you may write the test. You take the online test inside that period, or the invitation may send you to a test centre or to a Microsoft Teams appointment instead. IRCC's page on the test invitation explains the options.
Attempt 1
The test has 20 questions, you have 45 minutes, and you need 15 correct to pass (source). If you pass, the result goes to your application and the window closes for you. If you do not pass, nothing is charged and you can try again.
Attempt 2
Your second attempt is inside the same 30-day window. IRCC does not set a minimum number of days to wait between attempts (source). If a website or app tells you that you must wait a week before retaking, it is inventing a rule. That said, there is also nothing to gain by rushing. Use the time to fix what went wrong.
Attempt 3, the last one
This is your third and final attempt inside the window. There is no fourth attempt at the test itself.
If you pass at any point
The result is recorded with your application and the test is finished for you. Any attempts you did not use are simply never needed. IRCC does not publish a fixed expiry for a passing result, and it says a result can be invalidated, so be wary of anyone who quotes you a validity period.
What happens after three unsuccessful attempts
After a third attempt that does not pass, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official. According to IRCC's results page:
- The official may assess your knowledge of Canada orally.
- The official may also look at your residence and your language.
- The hearing is not an extra attempt at the test. It is a conversation.
- It is your last opportunity in this application.
If the hearing is not successful, the application is refused. To continue, you would need to apply again and pay the fees again.
What a refusal costs
IRCC's fee list sets the adult application fee at $653: a $530 processing fee and a $123 right-of-citizenship fee. If an application is refused, IRCC refunds the $123 right-of-citizenship fee but not the $530 processing fee. Fees are set by regulation and can change, so check IRCC's page for the current amounts.
What if the window runs out?
If the dates in your invitation pass without a successful attempt, IRCC does not publish what it does next in that case. We will not guess. Read your invitation carefully and IRCC's page on the test invitation before you do anything else.
How to use a retake well
A first attempt that does not pass still shows you where your gaps are. Before your next attempt:
- Write down what you remember. Straight after the test, note the topics that felt shaky.
- Go back to the guide. Reread the matching sections of Discover Canada, free on canada.ca.
- Practise by topic. Focus on your weakest areas rather than starting from the beginning.
- Sit a full timed exam. Twenty questions in 45 minutes, so the next attempt feels routine.
- Check for outdated facts. Some things the guide says have changed since it was published. See what has changed since Discover Canada.
Our 30-day study plan can be compressed into the days you have left, and the cheat sheet of must-know facts is a quick way to check the basics.
Practise the window before it starts
Knowing how the window works before it opens takes some of the pressure off. igotcitizenship's test window simulator walks you through the invitation, each attempt, a pass, an expired window and the hearing, with IRCC's source linked at every step. It is a practice of the published rules, not a copy of IRCC's system.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can I take the Canadian citizenship test?
Up to three times inside the 30-day window set by your invitation (source).
Do I have to pay to retake the test?
A retake inside the window carries no separate IRCC fee, according to IRCC's fee list.
Do I have to wait before retaking?
IRCC does not set a minimum number of days between attempts.
Is the hearing another test?
No. It is not an extra attempt at the test. A citizenship official may assess your knowledge of Canada orally, along with your residence and language.
What happens if the hearing does not go well?
The application is refused, and you would need to apply again and pay the fees again.
Want to be ready for the first attempt? Start the free diagnostic.