Canada clarifies citizenship test rules
Most applicants for Canadian citizenship will have to complete a self-administered online citizenship test (with up to three attempts permitted), as new instructions from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicate this format is now the default.
This information is part of the latest instructions for officers published on the immigration department’s website on March 9, 2026.
The new instructions also formalize a 45-minute time allotment for the standard online self-administered test, while allowing for in-person tests and Microsoft Teams tests under specific circumstances.
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Prior to the pandemic, in-person written Canadian citizenship tests were the default, typically giving applicants 30 minutes to complete the test and, if they failed, one opportunity to rewrite it before being referred to a knowledge or language hearing. During the pandemic, IRCC launched self-administered online testing and later moved to a 45-minute test with up to three attempts.
Compared to the previous guidance, the updated version also gives officers a wider framework for accommodations, as well as for knowledge and language hearings.
The citizenship test is a requirement for permanent residents applying to become naturalized as Canadian citizens. It applies to applicants aged 18–54.
Online testing now the default
Prior to 2020, in-person, written citizenship tests were the norm, along with mailed notices and separate retest appointments.
The new instructions clarify that the self-administered online test is now the default.
The online test consists of 20 questions, with a passing score of 15.
Each online test is generated from a database of 300–400 test questions, balanced by topic and difficulty level.
The new instructions also highlight that if issues are found in the online test results, the applicant may be contacted to take the test again or attend an interview.
If the applicant does not receive a letter asking them to take the test again and/or they see via the Citizenship Tracker that the knowledge assessment has been passed, they have met the knowledge requirement.
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Three test attempts
Under the previous guidance, applicants received two written attempts at the test. If an applicant failed their second attempt, the officer would proceed to conduct language or knowledge hearings.
Under the updated instructions, applicants have three attempts at the test, and proceed to a knowledge hearing only after failing their third attempt, or if an officer believes the applicant does not meet the required language level.
Details on other test formats
The previous instructions focused on in-person written testing.
The updated instructions also acknowledge the following other formats:
- In-person tests; and
- Microsoft Teams tests.
The updated version explains when in-person or Microsoft Teams testing may be used, including accommodation needs, technical problems, identity verification issues, or officer discretion.
Both formats allow only one attempt per event. If an applicant fails and needs to do the test again, that will be scheduled as a separate event.
45-minute timeline to complete the test
Under the old instructions, applicants were allotted 30 minutes to complete a written test.
The new instructions allot 45 minutes for the online test.
IRCC switched from 30-minute tests to 45-minute tests after the pandemic.
The new instructions allow applicants who require accommodations to request additional time.
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A passing online score is not necessarily final right away
Under the new instructions, applicants who complete the online test receive a temporary score immediately after finishing the test.
This temporary score is not treated as final until IRCC has reviewed identity verification and proctoring.
If issues are identified, the applicant may be asked to retake the test or attend an interview.
The old instructions simply stated that applicants who passed could proceed to the citizenship ceremony, following a positive decision by the citizenship officer.
Officers may assess other citizenship requirements during a hearing
The new instructions explicitly state that citizenship officers may examine other citizenship requirements during a hearing “even those not part of the scheduled hearing if they have doubts whether the applicant meets the requirement.”
An officer may immediately reject an application upon finding that the applicant fails to meet a single requirement; officers are not required to assess other requirements after having found the applicant ineligible.
The old instructions do not contain any such specification.
Core testing rules remain largely the same
Despite the updates, several core elements of Canada’s knowledge test remain unchanged.
For example:
- the citizenship test still consists of 20 questions;
- applicants must correctly answer at least 15 out of 20 questions to pass; and
- Cheating on a test or during a hearing may constitute misrepresentation. If someone is suspected of cheating, the test will stop.
In case of a hearing, the language assessment format also remains similar: officers may ask up to nine questions, and applicants must answer at least six questions sufficiently to meet the requirements.
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About the Canadian citizenship test
The citizenship test is one of the final stages of becoming naturalized as a Canadian citizen.
To qualify to take the test, an applicant must first meet the other requirements for naturalization:
- Be a permanent resident of Canada;
- Have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) within the past five years;
- Be proficient in English or French; and
- Have filed Canadian income taxes, if required;
The test applies only to applicants aged 18-54; younger or older applicants are exempt.
After successfully completing the test and meeting all other eligibility criteria, applicants aged 14 or older are typically invited to take the Oath of Citizenship, which is the final step in naturalization.
After taking the oath, a successful applicant will receive proof of citizenship (in the form of a citizenship certificate), which they can use to apply for a Canadian passport.
The Canadian passport is consistently ranked among the most powerful passports in the world, with the latest ranking putting it in the seventh position globally.
Dual citizenship
Canada allows dual citizenship, meaning that it imposes no restrictions on individuals with other nationalities from becoming naturalized as Canadian citizens, and recognizes that a Canadian can concurrently hold additional nationalities.
That said, not all countries allow their nationals to hold dual citizenship, so whether an applicant can retain their original citizenship after becoming Canadian depends on the laws of the other country/countries of which they are a national.
In some cases, once a permanent resident becomes naturalized as a Canadian citizen, they may need to notify the other countries/countries of which they are a national, and/or formally renounce their other citizenship(s).
Common source countries that allow dual citizenship include the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.
A few examples of countries that prohibit dual citizenship include China, India, and Singapore.
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