Your citizenship ceremony and your first steps as a Canadian

Think back to the first form you filled out, the first fee you paid, the months of refreshing your status page. All of it leads here. The citizenship ceremony is where you take the Oath of Citizenship and walk out a Canadian. For most people it is a joyful, emotional day, often shared with family. This guide covers what to expect, what to bring and how to prepare, and then the practical first steps after the ceremony: your certificate, your passport, voting and more.

Your invitation

IRCC sends the invitation only after your application is approved, and at least 1 week before the ceremony. It usually comes by email. If you did not give an email address, IRCC may call you (sometimes from an unknown or foreign number) or send a letter. The invitation tells you the date and time, whether the ceremony is virtual or in person, the video link or the address, and the language of the ceremony: mostly English, mostly French, or bilingual. While your online status shows the ceremony as “In progress”, it is still being scheduled.

Virtual or in person

Both kinds last a few hours and include registration, speeches, the Oath, O Canada and instructions for afterwards. If you were invited to one format and would prefer the other, you can ask to reschedule into it. IRCC allows a format change once.

What to bring

• Your ceremony invitation.
• Your PR card, even if it has expired, or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688). Bring one for each child on the application too, even if they are not attending.
• Two pieces of ID for each adult, at least one with your photo and signature. If one is your PR card, the other must be issued by the federal, provincial or territorial government. Foreign ID not in English or French needs a translation with a translator’s affidavit.
• Your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) if you became a permanent resident before June 28, 2002 and still have it.
• The signed release and consent form that came with your invitation, if it applies to you.
• For a virtual ceremony: your seat number (on the first page of the invitation), scissors, and a laptop, desktop, tablet or phone with a working camera and sound, a reliable connection, and Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
• Optional: a holy book for the Oath, a water bottle (in person), and a phone or camera for photos.

Who takes the Oath, and bringing children

Everyone 14 and older takes the Oath, adults and minors alike. If you applied for a child aged 14 to 17, IRCC strongly encourages you to attend with them. Children under 14 do not take the Oath but are welcome to come, as long as the parent or guardian who applied for them is there. Minors need two pieces of ID too, but theirs do not need a photo or signature: a school ID card or health card works, and hospital or immunization records work for young children. If you cannot arrange child care for an in-person ceremony, you can ask to reschedule. If you were born abroad to a Canadian parent, you may already be a citizen: see our citizenship by descent guide.

The Oath of Citizenship

You can swear the Oath, if you want to refer to your religious belief (you may bring your holy book), or affirm it, if you prefer not to. IRCC encourages you to practise beforehand and, if you can, to repeat it in both English and French as a sign of respect for Canada’s two official languages. Then everyone sings O Canada in its bilingual version. This is the official English wording on canada.ca:

Dress the way you would for an important occasion. Business attire is recommended, and traditional, religious or ceremonial clothing, head coverings, and red and white are all welcome. If you wear a face covering, you will remove it briefly, in private if you wish, so staff can confirm who you are. At an in-person ceremony, stand for the Oath and anthem if you are able, and skip perfume or cologne. At a virtual one, sit in a quiet room with your head and shoulders on screen. A plain background, a Canadian flag or red and white is fine, but virtual backgrounds are not.

After the ceremony: your first steps as a Canadian

1. 01

   Get your citizenship certificate

   You chose a paper certificate or an e-certificate in your application. An e-certificate is usually ready to download from the IRCC Portal within 5 business days of IRCC receiving your signed Oath form, and you get an email telling you how. Check every detail on it. Keep a paper certificate safe and do not laminate it, because that can stop it being verified.

2. 02

   Apply for your Canadian passport

   You can apply once you have your certificate. With an e-certificate, print it to apply. Your PR card is gone and the certificate is not a travel document, so wait for your passport before you leave Canada.

3. 03

   Register to vote

   Voting is now your right and your responsibility. Register with Elections Canada for federal elections, and with your province’s or territory’s election office for provincial or territorial ones.

4. 04

   Update your SIN record

   Service Canada lists a change in immigration status as a reason to update your Social Insurance Number record, and you can do it online. Have your citizenship certificate ready.

5. 05

   Celebrate, and get involved

   You no longer need to tell IRCC when you move. Take a moment to enjoy this. IRCC also points new citizens to ways to get involved in their community and to the Canoo app, which gives free admission to national parks and historic sites.

Your PR card, travel and dual citizenship

Your PR card is collected or cut up at the ceremony, and you will never need to renew it again. To travel abroad and come home, you now need a Canadian passport. Canada allows dual citizenship, so Canada does not ask you to give up your other citizenship. Your other country may see it differently: some countries do not allow dual citizenship, and some may not recognize your Canadian citizenship while you are there. Check that country’s rules, ideally before you take the Oath. Dual citizens generally need a valid Canadian passport to enter Canada, even if they hold another passport. Our proof of citizenship guide covers certificates in more detail.

If you cannot attend

Life happens, and IRCC understands that. To reschedule, email the office that sent your invitation (or use the IRCC web form) within 30 days after the ceremony date, with your reason in the subject line. Accepted reasons include illness, travel, being outside Canada, lacking child care, or wanting a different format or language. After a first request, you get a final invitation. If you are outside Canada when the invitation arrives, reply with the subject “Outside Canada – Oath of Citizenship” and the details your invitation asks for.

Still on the way? The citizenship overview walks through the whole application, and the citizenship test guide helps you prepare for the step before this one.