After the test: passing, retakes and the hearing

Whether you finished the test feeling confident or worried, it helps to know what comes next. This page explains both paths: what happens when you pass, and what happens when you don’t. Your invitation and IRCC’s messages to you always come first; this is a general overview.

If you pass

1. The result becomes official

You need 15 correct answers out of 20. If you took the test online, an IRCC officer reviews it, including the photos taken during the test, before the result is official. This can take a few days or a few weeks. You do not need to do anything during this time except watch your email (and your spam folder) and keep your contact details up to date with IRCC.

2. You may be invited to an interview

Depending on your case, IRCC may invite you to an interview with a citizenship official. It is used to confirm your identity, check original documents and confirm that you still meet the requirements. If you are invited, bring the original documents from your application and the passports or travel documents you used in the 5 years before you applied. Being invited to an interview does not mean something is wrong.

3. The citizenship ceremony

When your application is approved, you receive an invitation to a citizenship ceremony. The invitation tells you the date, the format and what to bring. Read it carefully and follow it exactly.

At the ceremony you take the Oath of Citizenship (you can choose to swear or to affirm). In the oath, you promise to be faithful to the King of Canada, King Charles III, and his heirs and successors; to obey Canada’s laws, including the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples; and to fulfil your duties as a Canadian citizen. You become a citizen when you take the oath, not when you pass the test.

Until that moment, you are still a permanent resident and you must keep meeting the requirements. If anything changes in your situation after you apply, such as new criminal charges, tell IRCC. Check with IRCC before planning long trips outside Canada between the test and the ceremony.

4. After the ceremony

Congratulations — you can now vote, run for office, and apply for a Canadian passport. Many new citizens also celebrate with family. You will receive proof of your citizenship, which you need to apply for your passport.

If you don’t pass

Not passing the first time happens to many people, and it is not the end of your application. Take a breath, then make a plan.

You have three attempts in total

You have up to three attempts to pass, within your 30-day test period. This applies whatever the format: online, by video call on Microsoft Teams, or in person. Don’t count on seeing the same questions again: any part of Discover Canada can come up on your next attempt.

Between attempts, do not simply retake the test the next morning. Use the time:

• Write down the topics you found difficult while they are still fresh.
• Reread those chapters of Discover Canada, especially history and government, where most points are lost.
• Practise by chapter, then take full timed mock exams until you score 18 out of 20 or better several times in a row.
• Go through every wrong answer and make sure you understand why the correct answer is right.

After three unsuccessful attempts: the hearing

If you do not pass after three attempts, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official. It lasts about 30 to 90 minutes. It is an oral interview, and it may include:

• Knowledge questions similar to the test: 20 questions, and you must answer 15 correctly.
• Questions about your residence in Canada.
• A check of your English or French.

The hearing is a real assessment, not a formality, so prepare for it as seriously as you prepared for the test. Practise answering out loud in English or French, because you will hear the questions and respond by speaking rather than clicking.

If you pass the hearing, you will be invited to a ceremony. If you do not, your application is refused. You can apply again later, but you would need to submit a new application and pay the fees again. That is why it is worth preparing well from the start.

A calm way to look at it

The test covers a fixed, free guide, and the format is known in advance. Steady study works. Our practice sets, chapter practice, mock exams and wrong-answer review are designed to help with exactly this. They are a study aid, though — no website can guarantee a pass, and the official guide is always the source.

Official details: IRCC — test results and next steps. This site is independent and not affiliated with IRCC.