After you apply: next steps — Citizenship

On this page

• Processing your application
• Citizenship test, interview, and hearing
• Decision
• Oath of Citizenship

Processing your application

Check your application status

You can check your application status online to find out where we are with your application.

Some applications take longer to process than the time shown on our site. For example, if your case is not routine, we may contact you to get more information or ask you to send us other documents.

When to contact us

While we process your application, contact us if any information on your application changes or if you:

• change your address
• plan to leave Canada for more than two weeks in a row
• can’t check your application status online and the normal processing time for your application has passed
• are charged with a crime

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

Citizenship test, interview, and hearing

If you were between 18 and 54 years of age when you signed your application, you’ll be invited to take the citizenship test. We may invite you to take the citizenship test within weeks after we send you the acknowledgement of receipt. The test usually takes place 4 weeks after we send the notice.

After the test, you may go to an interview with a citizenship official. The interview is usually on the same day as the test. Adults who don’t need to take the test (over 54 years of age), will still be invited to an interview. Generally minors (under 18) who apply at the same time as their parents, don’t need to go to an interview. Minors between 14 and 17 years of age will be invited to an interview if they’re applying alone.

If you don’t pass the test the first time, you’ll take the test a second time. The second test usually takes place 4 to 8 weeks after the first test, but it may be longer.

If you don’t pass the test the second time, we’ll schedule a hearing for you with a citizenship official. At the hearing, we may also:

• verify your language skills
• ask any questions we may have about your application

Decision

A citizenship official makes a decision on your application after the test, interview, and hearing if you had one. When they make a decision, we change the status of your application to “Decision made”. This means we either approved or refused your application.

If we approved your application, you meet all the requirements for citizenship at this time. We’ll send you an invitation to take the Oath of Citizenship at a citizenship ceremony. We’ll let you know by email if you gave us your email address or letter mail if we don’t have your email address.

If we refused your application for citizenship, you don’t meet the requirements for citizenship. We’ll send you a letter by registered mail explaining why.

Oath of Citizenship

Taking the Oath of Citizenship at a citizenship ceremony is the final step to become a Canadian citizen. The ceremony usually takes place within three months after we make a decision on your application. We’ll send you the invitation approximately 4 weeks before the ceremony.

Staying eligible until you take the Oath

To take the Oath of Citizenship, you must meet all eligibility requirements for citizenship until you take the Oath. We can change the decision if your situation changes and you no longer meet the requirements. For example, if you:

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