After you apply: next steps — Citizenship

We will contact you by email or regular mail a few times after you apply for citizenship to:

• let you know we’ve accepted your application for processing and to:
  • give you a link to the study guide Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship or send you a paper copy
  • ask you for any missing information (if needed)
• if you’re between the ages of 18 and 54, invite you to your citizenship test and interview, and tell you what documents you’ll need to bring
• invite you to your citizenship ceremony if your application is approved

Check the status of your application online. If the normal processing time for your application has passed and you cannot check the status of your application online, contact us.

Preparing for the citizenship test

You will need to take a citizenship test if you’re between the ages of 18 and 54 when you apply for citizenship. The test questions:

• are multiple-choice
• are based on what’s in the Discover Canada guide
• check if you meet the knowledge requirement for citizenship

You will have two chances to pass the written test. If you need another chance to prove that you meet the knowledge requirement, we’ll invite you to a hearing with a citizenship officer.

Stopping the application process

We’ll stop processing your application and won’t make a decision if you don’t:

• submit the documentation we requested from you
• provide us with a reasonable explanation for not showing up after we invite you to a:
  • citizenship test or interview
  • hearing with a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge
  • citizenship ceremony

If this happens, we’ll send you a message to explain why. You’ll have to submit a new citizenship application and pay the fees again.

If you withdraw your application, you may be eligible for a partial refund.

Refusing your application

If we don’t approve your application for citizenship, we’ll send you a letter explaining why and what options you have.

Asking questions about your application

While we process your application, only contact us if you:

• change your address
• are charged with a crime
• plan to leave Canada for more than two weeks in a row

Under Canadian privacy law, we can’t give information about your application to anyone but you unless you consent in writing.

Staying eligible until you take the Oath

To take the Oath of Citizenship, you must meet all of the eligibility requirements for citizenship until the time you take the Oath.

After we approve your application, you may not be able to take the Oath and become a citizen if you:

• lose permanent resident status
• have been asked by Canadian officials to leave Canada (removal order)

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