Your Canadian citizenship ceremony: what to expect and how to prepare

The final step to becoming a naturalized Canadian citizen is attending a citizenship ceremony, which can involve different requirements depending on the format.

Citizenship ceremonies are conducted virtually via a video conference (most common) or in person in a ceremony room at a local Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office.

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Citizenship ceremonies include three core elements, regardless of format: taking the oath of citizenship, singing the national anthem, and signing the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship (OAC) form.

Following the ceremony, you will be issued a certificate that serves as official proof of your Canadian citizenship.

About the oath of citizenship

You are encouraged to practice the oath of citizenship prior to attending the ceremony.

Only those aged 14 and older are expected to take the oath of citizenship.

During the ceremony, the oath of citizenship will be administered in both English and French. You may choose to recite it in the language you’re comfortable with.

If attending virtually, you must stay seated while reciting the oath; if attending in person, you must stand.

You can request accommodation if you need help taking the oath, or a waiver if you meet eligibility criteria for an exemption.

The citizenship ceremony invitation

Knowing the format of your ceremony will determine what you need to prepare and what to expect when it takes place.

The immigration department will send you an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony, which details the format of your ceremony (virtual or in person).

Beyond the format (which may be changed at your request), the invitation will also include the following:

The date it will take place, the time you should arrive, and the expected overall duration;
The physical location of the ceremony (in-person ceremonies) or a videoconference link (virtual ceremonies);
The language in which the ceremony will be conducted (mostly English, mostly French, or bilingual);
Your seat number and OAC form (virtual ceremonies only);
A permission release and consent form for photos and videos; and
Details on how to reschedule your ceremony if required.

This invitation will be sent to you at least one week prior to the date of your ceremony, by email (if provided in your application), phone (if no email is on file), or mail (if IRCC can’t reach you otherwise).

What to have on hand at your citizenship ceremony

Whether your ceremony will take place virtually or in person, IRCC expects that you have these items on hand when attending:

The citizenship ceremony invitation;
Your permanent residence (PR) card (whether valid or expired) or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR);
Two pieces of ID, one of which features your photo and signature.
- You may use ID such as your PR card, foreign passport, health card, or driver’s licence.
Your Record of Landing (only if you became a PR before June 28, 2008); and
A signed copy of the permission release and consent form.

You may bring a water bottle, a mobile phone or camera, and a holy book of your choice, should you wish to use one while swearing the oath of citizenship.

If attending a virtual ceremony, are also expected to have your OAC form and seat number on hand, as well as a pair of scissors on hand to cut up your PR card.

What to expect at a virtual ceremony

You can use a laptop, desktop, tablet, or mobile phone to attend your virtual ceremony, as long as it has a reliable internet connection and working camera and audio system.

Those accessing the ceremony through a web browser should ensure it's compatible with the videoconference platform (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox).

On the scheduled date and time, access the ceremony through the videoconference link included in your invitation. If you wish to protect your privacy, you may use your seat number as your display name.

When you access the link, you will be placed into a “waiting room” until you are let in—this may take up to 30 minutes for larger ceremonies (100+ candidates).

During the virtual registration, IRCC will privately verify your identity and review your eligibility for citizenship, and watch as you cut up your PR card.

Once all citizenship candidates are registered, you will be admitted to the virtual ceremony room, where you will all take the oath of citizenship and sing the national anthem.

IRCC will inform you when your certificate will be available.

Following the ceremony’s conclusion, you are expected to sign and submit the OAC form provided in your invitation and email it to IRCC. You must sign it on the day that you take the oath.

What to expect at an in-person ceremony

Once you arrive at the designated time and location, you will be directed to the registration table. Officials will verify your identity, confirm your Canadian citizenship eligibility, and collect your PR card and signed consent form.

If you wear a face covering or medical mask, you may request to complete the identity check in a private room, but you will be required to remove it briefly.

Once registration is complete, a presiding official (such as a citizenship judge), and an IRCC official will lead the formal portion of the ceremony, including the Oath of Citizenship and the singing of the national anthem.

You will also be asked to sign the OAC form during the ceremony to confirm that you took the oath.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, you will be congratulated and officially become a Canadian citizen. If your certificate is being issued in paper form, you will receive it at that time.

A reception may take place after the ceremony, where media may be present to record the occasion.

Ceremony rules

IRCC requires you to follow specific rules during your citizenship ceremony, which may vary based on your ceremony format.

Knowing the rules applicable to your ceremony type will help you be better prepared on the day of your ceremony.

Failure to comply with IRCC’s rules may result in the ceremony being paused, delayed, or rescheduled.

Rules for both ceremony formats

Certain rules apply to both ceremony formats:

Dressing appropriately;
- Can be business attire or traditional, religious, or ceremonial clothing.
- Head or face coverings, medical masks, and red and white colours are permitted.
Behaving in a respectful, appropriate and safe manner;
Not presenting personal or political views; and
Not promoting your business or selling a product.

Ceremony rules specific to virtual ceremonies

If attending a virtual ceremony, you must abide by the rules below:

Keep the videoconference link private;
- Family members and/or friends can be present in the room with you but cannot join on a separate device.
Use an authentic background, rather than a virtual one;
Position the camera so your head and shoulders are visible;
Join from a quiet location with no background noise or disruptions;
Keep your device steady and avoiding distracting or dangerous activities, including operating a vehicle;
Do not take photos, videos, or recordings during registration or the ceremony;
- Photos and videos may only be taken at the end of the ceremony, for personal use.
Stay seated throughout the ceremony, including while taking the oath and singing the national anthem; and
Remain visible on screen for the entire ceremony.

Ceremony rules specific to in-person ceremonies

If attending an in-person ceremony, you must abide by the rules below:

Do not wear scented products, including perfume or cologne; and
Stand when taking the oath of citizenship and during the singing of the national anthem.

Any photos taken of yourself and your family during the ceremony must be for personal use only.

Getting your Canadian citizenship certificate

Your Canadian citizenship certificate is official proof of your citizenship and shows the date it was granted.

Depending on your preference specified in your application, you will receive a paper certificate or electronic certificate (e-certificate), which is confirmed during the ceremony.

When and how you receive your certificate depends on the format you selected and whether you attended an in-person or virtual ceremony:

Certificate type	Ceremony type	Wait time	Method of receipt
E-certificate	Any	Within 5 business days of IRCC receiving your OAC form	Download e-certificate via IRCC Portal account
Paper certificate	In-person ceremony	None	Given to you at the ceremony after you sign the OAC form
Paper certificate	Virtual ceremony	Within 2–4 weeks or receiving your OAC form	By mail, to your Canadian address

In the case that your citizenship certificate contains an error, you may request a new one for free within 90 days.

Paper certificates should not be laminated or coated in plastic, as doing so may damage them.

The citizenship certificate is proof of citizenship, not a document for international travel. To travel outside Canada, you should obtain a Canadian passport.

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