The citizenship test
If you are preparing for the citizenship test, study CIC’s official study guide – Discover Canada – which is provided for free. If you use any other publications, you do so at your own risk. Find out more.
- Who has to take the citizenship test
- About the test
- Getting ready for the test
- Your test date
- After the test
Who has to take the citizenship test
You must take the citizenship test if
- you are between the ages of 18 and 54, and
- you meet the basic requirements for citizenship.
You may also have to take the test if you are applying to retain your citizenship.
About the test
The test is usually written, but you may be asked to come to an interview with a citizenship judge.
The test evaluates two things:
- your knowledge of Canada and
- your language abilities.
1. Your knowledge of Canada
You will be asked questions on subjects such as:
- right to vote and right to run for elected office
- procedures related to elections
- rights and responsibilities of a citizen
- Canadian social and cultural history and symbols
- Canadian political history (including the political system and institutions)
- Canadian physical and political geography
2. Your language abilities
The citizenship knowledge test and your interaction with CIC staff will be used to assess if you have an adequate ability to communicate in either English or French. CIC staff will observe
- your ability to understand basic spoken statements and questions, and
- your ability to communicate basic information or respond to questions.
For example, as part of your interaction with departmental staff or as part of your written test or your interview with a citizenship judge, you will be expected to:
- answer simple questions on familiar topics, using short sentences;
- show that you know enough words for basic everyday communication;
- tell a simple story about everyday activities;
- speak about something you did in the past (or will do in the future);
- give simple everyday instructions and directions; and
- express satisfaction or dissatisfaction.
Getting ready for the test
The questions in the citizenship test are based on the information in our free study guide Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.
Please note: Discover Canada was updated on March 14, 2011. You do not need the updated version to prepare for the citizenship test. The test does not contain questions on the new material. To prepare for the citizenship test, you can study any copy of Discover Canada issued by the Government of Canada since 2010.
We will send you a copy of the study guide once we have received your application for citizenship.
Start studying for the test as soon as you receive your copy of the study guide. You can also take a look at the sample study guide questions to help you prepare for the test.
Your test date
We will send you a notice giving you the time and date for your test.
Your test may be written or oral. We decide whether your test will be written or oral based on a number of factors. For example, if you have trouble reading and writing in English or French, you will have an oral test.
Oral tests are done through an interview with a citizenship judge.
When you come for your written or oral test bring the following documents with you:
- the original documents you submitted with your application, and
- any passport or travel documents relevant to the four years before your application.
After the test
If you pass the test and the citizenship judge determines that you meet all the other requirements for citizenship, you will be invited to a citizenship ceremony. During that ceremony, you will take the oath of citizenship and receive a certificate of Canadian citizenship.
If you do not pass the written test, we will send you a notice telling you to appear for an interview (30‑90 minutes) with a citizenship judge. At that interview, the judge will ask you the test questions orally to give you another opportunity to demonstrate that you meet all the requirements of citizenship (including knowledge and language).
Related Links