The Canadian citizenship process, step by step

Becoming a Canadian citizen is not one single event. It is a series of steps, and the whole process can take many months. This page puts the steps in order and links to our more detailed guides for each one. It is a general overview, not legal advice. IRCC’s official pages, and the letters and emails IRCC sends you, always come first.

The process at a glance

1. Check that you are eligible.
2. Gather your documents, including proof of English or French.
3. Apply and pay the fees.
4. IRCC receives and reviews your application.
5. Background checks.
6. Study for the test. Start early, ideally before you apply.
7. Get your test invitation and take the test.
8. Get your results, and possibly attend an interview.
9. Attend the citizenship ceremony and take the oath.
10. Start your life as a new citizen.

Some stages can overlap, and the order can vary from one application to another. Not everyone goes through every step: applicants who are 55 or older, and minors, do not take the test.

Where are you now?

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Before anything else, make sure you can apply. In short, an adult applying for themselves must:

• be a permanent resident whose status is not in doubt;
• have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the 5 years before the date they apply;
• have filed taxes for at least 3 of those 5 years, if they were required to;
• prove English or French at CLB 4 or higher, if aged 18 to 54;
• pass the citizenship test, if aged 18 to 54;
• not be affected by a prohibition, such as certain criminal charges or convictions.

Mistakes here are costly. If you apply even one day short of 1,095 days, your application can be refused. Read Am I eligible? for the details and a link to IRCC’s official day calculator.

Step 2: Gather your documents

The exact list depends on your situation and on IRCC’s current instructions, so always follow the official checklist for your application. Many applicants need to prepare:

• a record of every trip outside Canada, with dates, and the result from IRCC’s physical presence calculator;
• their tax records;
• proof of English or French at CLB 4 (ages 18 to 54), such as a result from an approved language test or a diploma from studies in English or French;
• translations of any documents that are not in English or French;
• citizenship photos, if their application method asks for them.

IRCC may also ask for police certificates if you lived in other countries. Keep a copy of everything you send. Remember that the language proof is separate from the test: you need both.

Step 3: Apply and pay the fees

You apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). IRCC’s Apply for citizenship page explains how to apply. You pay the fees online and include proof of payment with your application.

When we checked in November 2026, the fee was CA$653 for each adult and CA$100 for each minor. Fees can change, so confirm the amount on IRCC’s fee list on the day you pay. Some older websites still show $630; if you pay too little, your application can be delayed or returned. You do not need a lawyer or consultant to apply. See Citizenship application fees.

Step 4: IRCC receives your application

After you apply, IRCC checks that your application is complete and lets you know that it has been received. Many of IRCC’s messages, including your test invitation, come by email. Check your spam folder, and keep your contact details up to date with IRCC. If something important changes after you apply, such as new criminal charges, you must tell IRCC.

Step 5: Background checks

IRCC reviews your application and carries out background checks. You usually do not need to do anything at this stage. If IRCC asks you for more information or documents, reply by the deadline it gives you.

How long does it take?

This site does not give processing times, because they change often. IRCC publishes its current estimates on its processing times page: choose “Citizenship” and then “Citizenship grant.” Treat any waiting time you read on a forum or in a chat group as out of date.

While you wait, it helps to keep your own dates in one place: the day you applied, the day IRCC confirmed it, your test invitation and your ceremony. You can write them down, or log them in a free tracker such as PRTrack, which does not sign in to your IRCC account.

Step 6: Study for the test

Do not wait for the invitation. Test invitations can come sooner than you expect, and once one arrives you have only 30 days. The test has 20 questions, you have 45 minutes, and you need 15 correct answers to pass. It is in English or French only, and every question is based on the free official guide, Discover Canada. Our study plan gives a 4-week plan and a 2-week sprint. After you read a chapter, check yourself with practice set 1.

Step 7: The test invitation and the online test

When your application reaches the right stage, IRCC emails you an invitation to the test. The invitation opens a 30-day test period. There is no fixed appointment: you choose when to take the test inside that window. Most people take it online, alone in a private room, on a computer, laptop or tablet with a webcam. A phone is not accepted. You have up to three attempts, and they must all fit inside the same period. If you need an accommodation, for example because of a disability, IRCC may arrange an in-person or video test. Read Test day for the technical checks and the rules.

Step 8: Results and a possible interview

For an online test, the score you see at the end is not final. An IRCC officer reviews the test, including the photos taken during it. This can take a few days or a few weeks. Depending on your case, IRCC may then invite you to an interview with a citizenship official, to confirm your identity, check your original documents and confirm that you still meet the requirements. Being invited to an interview does not mean something is wrong.

If you do not pass after three attempts, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official. After the test explains both paths.

Step 9: The ceremony and the oath

When your application is approved, you receive an invitation to a citizenship ceremony. It gives the date, tells you whether the ceremony is in person or online, and lists what to bring. Follow it exactly. At the ceremony you take the Oath of Citizenship, and you can choose to swear or to affirm.

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. Check with IRCC before you plan a long trip outside Canada between the test and the ceremony. Read the words of the oath and what they mean in The Oath of Citizenship.

Step 10: After you become a citizen

After the ceremony you receive proof of your citizenship. You need it to apply for a Canadian passport. As a citizen you can vote and run for office. Citizenship also brings responsibilities, such as obeying the law, serving on a jury if you are called, and voting in elections. How elections work in Canada explains how to prepare for your first vote.

Citizenship can also open doors at work: some jobs, especially in the federal public service, give preference to Canadian citizens. When you look for work, you can browse Job Bank listings by province and job title on AI-Job and apply through the original posting. If you ever lose a job, MyEI.ca shows what Employment Insurance could pay, using the official tables.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying too early. Count your days with the official calculator and leave a buffer of a few extra weeks.
• Paying an old fee. Use the amount on IRCC’s fee list on the day you pay, not a number from a blog or chat group.
• Waiting for the invitation to start studying. Thirty days goes by quickly.
• Missing IRCC’s emails. Check your spam folder and keep your contact details current.
• Believing someone who sells “leaked” test questions or promises a guaranteed pass. IRCC does not publish the questions used on the test.
• Thinking the test makes you a citizen. The oath does.

Wherever you are in the process, your preparation for the test is the part you control. Start with practice set 1 today. This site is independent and not affiliated with IRCC.