Passing the citizenship test is a big milestone — but it's not the final step. Here's exactly what happens next, from the official decision on your application all the way to receiving your citizenship certificate.
A Citizenship Official Reviews Your Application
After you pass the test, a citizenship official makes a decision on your application. This review covers all your eligibility requirements — not just the test result. Your application tracker will be updated with your next step — this could be "Decision made on your application," "Invitation for an interview," "Invitation for a retest," or "Invitation for a hearing."
The government also reserves the right to change their decision if your circumstances change and you no longer meet the requirements before the ceremony is complete. That means it's important to continue meeting all citizenship requirements right up until you take the oath.
You'll Receive a Ceremony Invitation
Once your application is approved, you'll receive an invitation to your citizenship ceremony — the official event where you take the Oath of Citizenship and become a Canadian citizen.
IRCC will contact you in this order:
- Email — if you provided one in your application
- Phone call — may appear as an unknown or international number
- Mail — if email and phone attempts don't reach you
Your invitation will arrive at least one week before the ceremony date. It will include the date, time, format (virtual or in-person), location or video link, and the language of the ceremony (English, French, or bilingual).
Virtual or In-Person Ceremony
Your invitation will specify which ceremony format you've been assigned — virtual or in-person. If you'd prefer the other format, you can request a change once, but you'll need to accept a new ceremony date. You cannot keep your original date and switch formats.
Rescheduling is possible if you can't attend, but there are rules. Your request must be submitted within 30 days of your scheduled ceremony. Your first reschedule request will be reviewed and, if approved, you'll receive a new final invitation. A second reschedule request is also reviewed — if it's not approved, your application may be abandoned and fees refunded.
What Happens at the Ceremony
The ceremony is where you officially take the Oath of Citizenship. It's described by IRCC as "a special, dignified and meaningful occasion." Most in-person ceremonies are open to family and the public.
One important thing to know: your permanent resident (PR) card is destroyed or collected at the ceremony. For virtual ceremonies, you'll cut up your card yourself during registration. You'll no longer need it once you're a citizen.
Your Citizenship Certificate
After the ceremony, you'll receive a certificate that proves your Canadian citizenship and shows your citizenship date. There are two types:
Paper certificate
- In-person ceremony: you receive it at the ceremony immediately
- Virtual ceremony: mailed to your Canadian address within 2 to 4 weeks after you submit your signed form
E-certificate
- Available in your IRCC Portal within 5 business days of IRCC receiving your signed Oath form
- Must be printed to apply for a passport
One critical note from IRCC: do not laminate your certificate. Laminating makes it invalid — this applies to both paper certificates and printed e-certificates.
What You Can Do After the Ceremony
Once you're a citizen, a few things change right away:
Apply for a Canadian passport — You can apply as soon as you have your citizenship certificate. Your passport is what you'll need to travel internationally and return to Canada. Dual citizens must use a valid Canadian passport to enter Canada.
Vote — You gain the right to vote in federal, provincial, and territorial elections. You'll need to register as a voter.
Canada Strong Pass — Citizens can access free or discounted entry to museums and attractions across Canada through this program.
You also no longer need to notify immigration if you change your address — that requirement ends when you become a citizen.
Tracking Your Progress
Your IRCC application tracker shows your status across six sections, including language skills, background verification, physical presence, and citizenship ceremony status. Each section shows one of four statuses: "Waiting on you," "In progress," "Completed," or "Waived."
Keeping an eye on your tracker is the best way to know where things stand at each stage after passing the test.
Source
All information in this post comes directly from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). For the most current details, visit canada.ca/citizenship.