The citizenship test

If you are between 18 and 54, the citizenship test is one of the last steps between you and your ceremony. It is normal to feel a little nervous about it, especially if you have not written a test in years. Here is the good news: it is short, it is open-book in the sense that every question comes from one free official guide, and you get three tries. This page explains who takes it, how it works, how to study without stress, and exactly what to do on test day.

Who takes the test

Most applicants who are 18 to 54 on the day they sign their application must take the test. If you were under 18 or 55 or older on that day, you do not take it, and neither does anyone who asked for and received a waiver. The test checks what you know about Canada. It does not test your English or French: that is a separate requirement, proved with documents, which our citizenship language guide explains. If you are still working out whether you can apply at all, start with the citizenship eligibility guide.

How the test works

You cannot book the test yourself. IRCC sends you an invitation, usually about 1 to 3 months after your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR), although non-routine files can take longer. It normally comes by email from an address ending in @cic.gc.ca or @canada.ca, so check your junk folder. The invitation is a PDF that gives your application number, your unique client identifier (UCI), and a start date and end date 30 days apart. You can take the online test any time in that window, including weekends and holidays.

Your study guide: Discover Canada

Every test question is based on one free book: Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. You can read it online, download it as a PDF or eBook, listen to the audio version, or order a paper copy. You can start studying any time, even before your invitation arrives. IRCC also publishes official practice questions on its study page. Use those rather than random apps or websites, which can be out of date or simply wrong.

• The rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship.
• Canada's history, from Indigenous peoples to modern Canada.
• Canada's geography and its regions.
• Canada's economy.
• How government works, including elections, and how laws and the justice system work.
• Canada's symbols.

A calm 4-week study plan

IRCC does not set a study schedule, so this is simply a plan that works for many people. About 30 minutes a day is plenty. If your invitation is already here, you can squeeze it into the first two weeks of your 30-day window.

1. 01

   Week 1: rights, responsibilities and who Canadians are

   Get Discover Canada in the format you like best. Read the opening sections on citizenship, rights and responsibilities, and who Canadians are. Write a short note of the key ideas in your own words.

2. 02

   Week 2: history

   Read the history sections slowly, a few pages a day. Focus on the big moments and why they matter, not on memorizing every date. Listening to the audio version on a walk or commute helps it stick.

3. 03

   Week 3: government, laws and symbols

   Read how Canadians govern themselves, how federal elections work, the justice system and the national symbols. Notice the levels of government and who does what. Explain one idea out loud to a friend or family member each day.

4. 04

   Week 4: economy, regions, and review

   Finish with the economy and Canada's regions. Then try IRCC's official practice questions, go back to the pages behind anything you missed, and rest the day before your test.

Test day: getting the online test right

• ID: your permanent resident card (even if it has expired), or a valid ID with your photo and signature, such as a driver’s licence or health card.
• Device: a desktop, laptop or tablet with a webcam. Phones are not allowed.
• Browser: Chrome or Safari. Chrome on an iPad, a Microsoft Surface Pro and a VPN are not allowed.
• Place: a quiet spot with good lighting and reliable internet. A public library computer is fine, and you do not need to be in Canada.
• Time: a full, unhurried hour. Close every other tab, window and program before you begin.

1. 01

   Sign in

   Sign in only after your invitation arrives, using your application number and UCI. Accept the privacy notice and terms.

2. 02

   Ask for your test link

   Select “Email me the test link”. It can take a few minutes to arrive and expires after 15 minutes. If you asked more than once, use the newest link.

3. 03

   Confirm your identity

   Enter your application number and UCI again.

4. 04

   Take your photos

   Photograph your ID and yourself. Religious or traditional clothing, head coverings and glasses are fine, as long as your face is clearly visible.

5. 05

   Start the test

   Select “Start the test”. The 45-minute timer begins, and you get a warning when 5 minutes are left.

Results, retakes and the hearing

With the online test, you see an unofficial score as soon as you submit. An officer then reviews it to make it official, which can take a few days or a few weeks. There is no confirmation email and you cannot log in later to see it, so print the results page or email it to yourself before you close it. With in-person and Microsoft Teams tests, you get your official score right after the test. Your online application status will then show what comes next.

• If you pass: everyone who passes is invited to a citizenship ceremony. Some people are first invited to an interview to check identity, documents and eligibility. Bring your original documents and your passports or travel documents from the 5 years before you applied.
• If you do not pass on a try: you can sign in and try again. You have up to 3 attempts within your 30-day window.
• If all 3 attempts do not pass: you are invited to a hearing with a citizenship official, usually 30 to 90 minutes. The official may ask 20 oral questions about Canada (15 to pass), ask about your residence, and check your English or French (up to 9 questions, 6 to pass).
• If the hearing does not go well: your application is refused, and you would need to apply again and pay the fees again.
• If you miss the online test: the first time, IRCC sends a new invitation automatically. The second time, you must email the rescheduling address in your invitation, or your application can be closed as abandoned.

If you need accommodations

If a disability or another situation makes the online test hard for you, you can ask for an accommodation in your application or after you get your invitation. IRCC will contact you to arrange it, usually as an in-person or Microsoft Teams test. In-person tests can be written on paper, given orally, or offered in other formats such as Braille. If you need to move your test, email the address in the rescheduling section of your invitation with your reason, application number and UCI. Rescheduling usually takes 4 to 8 weeks. Children cannot come into an in-person testing room, so plan child care or ask the office first.

Where this fits in the bigger picture: the citizenship overview walks through the whole application, and once you pass, our citizenship ceremony guide explains your proud final step and what to do afterwards.