The oath ceremony: your last step to citizenship
Passed the test? What is left is the good part. Here is what happens between the test and the ceremony, what the day looks like, the oath itself, and your first steps as a Canadian citizen. For the test half of the story, see the test day guide.
The Oath of Citizenship
I swear (or affirm)That I will be faithfulAnd bear true allegianceTo His MajestyKing Charles the ThirdKing of CanadaHis Heirs and SuccessorsAnd that I will faithfully observeThe laws of CanadaIncluding the ConstitutionWhich recognizes and affirmsThe Aboriginal and treaty rights ofFirst Nations, Inuit and Métis peoplesAnd fulfil my dutiesAs a Canadian citizen.
Fifteen short lines that end one journey and start another. Read them a few times before your ceremony; you will be glad you did.
Before the ceremony
It has your date, arrival time, seat or session details, format, expected duration, and its own checklist. The invitation always overrides general advice, including this page.
If you cannot attend, tell IRCC right away: you are automatically rescheduled into another ceremony, and that next invitation is your final one. Asking to switch format (say, in person to virtual) also means being rescheduled to a new date.
You stop being a permanent resident the moment you become a citizen, so PR cards are returned to IRCC at the ceremony. If you need yours for urgent travel first, contact IRCC as early as possible; some people postpone their ceremony instead.
If your invitation says video, test your camera, microphone, and connection in advance, and plan for a quiet spot. You will hold documents up to the camera during check-in.
It does. This is the finish line of a years-long journey, there will be photos, and many people bring family to watch. Business casual or better is the norm.
The presiding official administers it slowly, line by line, for you to repeat in English, French, or ideally both. Read it a few times beforehand so the moment is about the meaning, not the words.
What to bring (in person)
- Your invitation itself
- Your PR card, even if it is expired, and/or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688); your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) if you became a PR before June 28, 2002
- PR cards for any minor children on your application, whether they attend or not
- Two pieces of ID, at least one with your photo and signature (driver's licence, health card). Your PR card can be one of the two, but the second must then be a valid Canadian government-issued ID. Foreign ID must be valid and government-issued, with a translator's affidavit if it is not in English or French
- The signed copy of the Personal Release and Consent form that comes with your invitation
- Optional: a holy book of your choice if you wish to swear on it, your own water bottle, and a phone or camera for photos
Your invitation includes its own checklist; if it differs from this one, the invitation wins.
What the day looks like
- Check-in: your documents are verified and your PR card is collected.
- The presiding official (often a citizenship judge) speaks about what citizenship means.
- An Indigenous smudging may open the ceremony; taking part is optional.
- Everyone takes the oath together, repeated line by line after the presiding official, and signs the oath form.
- You sing O Canada, officially for the first time as a citizen.
- Paper certificates are handed out at the ceremony; if you chose an e-certificate, it appears in the IRCC portal within about 5 business days.
Plan for two to three hours including check-in (your invitation states the expected duration), and nobody fails one. Bring tissues; it sneaks up on people.
Your first days as a citizen
Paper certificates are handed out at the ceremony; e-certificates appear in the IRCC portal within about 5 business days, with download instructions by email. Check every detail immediately (on the spot for paper), report any error to IRCC right away, store it safely, and never laminate it.
You can apply as soon as you have your certificate (paper, or a printed e-certificate). Do not finalize any travel plans until the passport is actually in your hands.
Your Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Record of Landing may be needed decades from now, for example when applying for Old Age Security. It goes in the same safe place as the certificate.
Citizens can vote in federal elections. Register with Elections Canada online in minutes, or check the box the next time you file taxes.
Someone in your circle is probably a few steps behind you on the same road. Share what you learned; test-day and ceremony intel from real people is gold.
Every one of these has a step you can start this week. The full after-the-ceremony guide →
Common questions
How long after the test is the oath ceremony?
It varies. After you pass, IRCC finalizes its decision and then schedules you into a ceremony; the wait is commonly weeks to a few months. Community timelines from other applicants are the best live signal.
Is the ceremony online or in person?
Both happen, and your invitation states yours. Both are equally official. You can ask IRCC to switch format, or to a bilingual English-and-French ceremony, but a switch means being rescheduled to a different date.
Can my family attend?
For in-person ceremonies, guest numbers are limited and your invitation says exactly how many you may bring; recent ceremonies often allow one guest per applicant. For video ceremonies, your household can simply be around you.
What if I can't attend on the date?
Contact IRCC immediately. You are automatically rescheduled into another ceremony, and that next invitation is your final one. The same contact route covers accommodation needs, like a sign language interpreter, and taking the oath from outside Canada.
Do I swear or affirm?
Your choice. Swearing is religious in form (you can bring a holy book to swear on); affirming is not. Both are equally valid, and you can take the oath in English, French, or both.
Does everyone have to take the oath?
Children under 14 become citizens without taking it. Adults can only have it waived if a mental disability prevents them from understanding its significance; minors aged 14 to 17 can be waived on broader compassionate grounds.
Deeper answers: how long after the test is the oath, how long the whole process takes, accessibility accommodations, and who qualifies for a waiver.
Still on the road to the oath?
Track every milestone from application to ceremony, see how your timeline compares with other future citizens, and walk into the test already knowing you can pass it.