Notifications regarding citizenship ceremonies

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

Whether scheduling a standard ceremony or an enhanced ceremony, citizenship staff must allow enough time to notify the citizenship judge or volunteer presiding official, candidates and special guests. There should also be enough time to prepare staff and volunteers.

On this page

Notification of prominent guests attending a citizenship ceremony

Citizenship staff must notify National Headquarters (NHQ) about most prominent guests attending a citizenship ceremony. When requesting approval to invite or work with an individual or organization, citizenship staff should refer to Delegations and approvals needed for a citizenship ceremony.

Notifying candidates: Notice to appear to take the oath of citizenship

Citizenship staff should send the “Notice to Appear – To Take the Oath of Citizenship” form [CIT 0024 CIF2] to candidates who have met all the requirements for citizenship. This notice should be mailed to the applicant at least 14 calendar days before the ceremony so that it reaches each candidate at least seven days before the ceremony.

The notice indicates

  • the location, date and time of the ceremony;
  • the documents the candidate must bring with them to the ceremony:
    • notice,
    • personal identification,
    • IMM 1000, IMM 5292 or IMM 5688 form,
    • permanent resident card [PR card],
    • a holy book of their choice, if they wish to use one to swear the oath of citizenship);
  • that a person aged 14 years or older must take the oath of citizenship in order to become a Canadian citizen;
  • that if a candidate cannot attend the event, they must contact the Department as soon as possible.

Citizenship offices may also wish to include their phone number on the form. An information sheet for candidates should be included with the notice to appear.

Information sheet

The notice to appear should include an information sheet that informs the candidate of the following:

  • Candidates under 14 years of age do not have to attend a ceremony or take the oath of citizenship but may do so if they wish.
  • Infants and young children are welcome, and there is a designated area where a friend or non-candidate family member can take children if they need to leave the room (candidates must stay in the room for the full length of the ceremony).
  • (optional) The number of guests each candidate can invite (there may be a limit on the number of guests for large ceremonies). Some offices print “tickets” using a word processing program.
  • The appropriate dress code for the candidates and their guests is business attire. Candidates may choose to wear traditional dress.
  • Candidates can choose to affirm or swear the oath of citizenship (in which case they should bring their own holy book).
  • Candidates must immediately notify citizenship staff (before the ceremony) if they are the subjects of any criminal or immigration proceedings or have become so since they made their application for Canadian citizenship.
  • Candidates must bring their “Record of Landing” form [IMM 1000] and their PR card to the ceremony (the PR card will be collected before the ceremony).
  • Cameras and video recording are permitted during the ceremony.
  • Available parking and public transportation.

Preparing the list of candidates and the number of countries of origin

Citizenship staff should print the “Nominal Roll – Ceremony” form [CIT 0037], which is a list of the candidates for citizenship to whom a notice to appear has been sent, and make copies as required. The list should be sorted alphabetically by last name.

The nominal roll is used to check off the candidates’ names to confirm that

  • they have arrived and submitted the “Permission Release and Consent”, on the last page of the “Notice to Appear – To Take the Oath of Citizenship” form [CIT 0024 CIF2] (see Allowing guests to take photographs);
  • their Record of Landing documents have been updated and their PR cards have been collected.

The clerk of the ceremony will need to track the number of candidates’ countries of origin and provide the total number to the citizenship judge or volunteer presiding official. This information is available in the Global Case Management System (GCMS).

If a candidate does not attend the ceremony, citizenship staff will remove the candidate’s certificate package and store it securely.

Accommodating the ceremony’s minor attendees

Applicants under 14 years of age are not required to attend the ceremony. On occasion, citizenship staff may receive a call from a parent of a non-accompanying minor under 14 who has already received their certificate package directly from the Case Processing Centre in Sydney but who wishes to attend a citizenship ceremony and be presented with their citizenship certificate. In this instance, citizenship staff can make the necessary arrangements with the family to include the minor in an upcoming ceremony event. The family will be reminded to bring the minor’s certificate package to the office on the date of the ceremony.

If minors under 14 years of age do not come to the ceremony, their certificates are given to the parent(s) taking the oath.

For minors 14 years of age or older whose parent(s) applied for citizenship at the same time, the parent(s) must take the oath before or at the same time as the minor. A minor cannot become a citizen before their parent.

Page details

Date modified: