After you apply: get next steps – Citizenship

Once we start processing your case, we will send you a notice confirming we have received your application for Canadian citizenship.

We will also send you a copy of the study guide Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. Study the guide carefully. You will need to know the information in it for the citizenship test.

You can check the status of your application online. You can also check the status of your application by contacting the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre.

If we receive the required forms, documents and fees and you meet the requirements to apply for citizenship, we will send you a notice giving you the time and date for your test.

If your application for Canadian citizenship is not approved, you will receive a letter stating the reasons why and the options available to you.

If you do not:

• submit documentation
• appear for a hearing; or
• attend the citizenship ceremony;

and have not contacted CIC, we may consider your application abandoned and close your file.

Making an inquiry about your application

• During the processing of your application for Canadian citizenship, you should only contact CIC if you:
  • change your address;
  • plan on leaving Canada for more than two weeks in a row;
  • are charged with a criminal offence;
  • have not received any information on your file within the general processing times.
• Before enquiring about the status of your application please be sure you have waited the appropriate processing time for each step.
• Make sure you have your receipt or file number available when you contact the Call Centre or access e‑CAS.
• We will contact you if we require further information or documents in order to continue processing your application.
• The local office will write to you to inform you of the date and time of any appointments.
• Under Canadian privacy legislation we cannot give information about your application to anyone but you without your written permission.