Who qualifies for a waiver

We’ll only approve a waiver if your situation meets certain criteria. On this page, we’ll explain what reasons are valid for requesting a waiver.

On this page

Check the requirements for your age group

Not all age groups have the same requirements for citizenship.

In these situations, you don’t need to request a waiver.

Valid reasons for a waiver (compassionate grounds)

We’ll consider your reason for requesting a waiver valid if your situation meets our criteria for compassionate grounds.

The criteria for the waiver depends on whether you’re an adult or a minor applicant:

Waiver for adults (18 and above)

An adult applicant can request a waiver for any of the test, language or oath requirements.

Test and language waivers

Usually, if you’re between 18 and 54 years old when you sign your application, you must

  • take the citizenship test and
  • prove your language skills in English or French

If you are in a situation that prevents you from taking the test or meeting the language requirement, you can ask for a waiver. Examples of situations that qualify for a waiver include

  • a severe medical condition that has lasted (or may last) for at least 1 year, including
    • a serious illness
    • a physical or developmental disability
    • a mental impairment (such as a cognitive impairment, learning disability, or any condition that affects focus and memory)
  • trauma due to
    • war
    • torture
    • living in a refugee camp
    • other similar situations
  • low levels of education or literacy in the first language (mother tongue)
  • other situations that may justify a waiver

Oath waiver

Usually, every applicant aged 14 and above needs to take the oath of citizenship. This is the last step in the process to become a Canadian citizen.

An adult applicant (18 and above) only qualifies for an oath waiver if they can’t understand the oath due to a mental disability (like an intellectual or a developmental disability). For example, they don’t understand that taking the oath makes them a Canadian citizen.

Asking for more than 1 waiver

Depending on the situation, you can request a waiver for more than 1 requirement, such as

  • test and oath waivers
  • test, oath and language waivers (all 3)

Waiver for minors between 14 and 17 years old

Usually, minors between 14 and 17 years old must take the oath of citizenship.

Oath waiver

Minor applicants can request an oath waiver if they are in a situation that prevents them from taking the oath. Examples of situations that qualify for a waiver include

  • a severe medical condition that has lasted (or may last) for at least 1 year, including
    • a serious illness
    • a physical or developmental disability
    • a mental impairment (such as a cognitive impairment, learning disability, or any condition that affects focus and memory)
  • trauma due to
    • war
    • torture
    • living in a refugee camp
    • other similar situations
  • low levels of education or literacy in the first language (mother tongue)
  • other situations that may justify a waiver

Automatic waivers

Minors under 18 don’t need to take the citizenship test or prove their language skills.

Minors under 14 don’t need to take the oath of citizenship.

Invalid reasons for a waiver

Time and cost on their own aren’t generally valid reasons for a waiver. For example, we don’t usually give a waiver because of the

If you have a personal or financial hardship that causes a time or cost issue

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