Canadian Citizenship Ceremony and Oath: What to Expect
The Canadian citizenship ceremony and Oath of Citizenship are the final formal stage in the citizenship process for most approved applicants. The ceremony is the official event where citizenship is conferred and the Oath of Citizenship is taken, either in person or virtually, in English, French, or a bilingual format. The ceremony invitation provides the official date, time, format, and attendance details, since there is no single national ceremony schedule. The oath itself is a legal declaration made during the ceremony and must be completed in the manner required by IRCC. Preparation typically involves reviewing the invitation carefully, bringing the required documents and identification, and following the rules that apply to the ceremony format. Issues such as rescheduling, missed ceremonies, guest attendance, and format changes are handled through IRCC’s official process and depend on the circumstances of the individual case.
What the Canadian Citizenship Ceremony Is
For most approved citizenship cases, the citizenship ceremony is the final formal event before Canadian citizenship is granted. IRCC describes it as a special, dignified, and meaningful occasion that marks the transition into Canadian civic life.
The ceremony has both legal and symbolic importance. It is the official event through which citizenship is conferred for those who are required to attend, while also marking the beginning of the rights and responsibilities that come with Canadian citizenship. Family members, friends, and invited guests may also be part of the occasion, which gives it a broader public meaning beyond a purely administrative step.
Purpose and role of the ceremony
The ceremony is organized by IRCC and led by a presiding official. It brings citizenship candidates together in an official setting to mark the granting of citizenship and to recognize the civic importance of that moment. IRCC presents the ceremony as an opportunity to reflect on citizenship and to celebrate the occasion in a formal public context.
Depending on the event, the ceremony may include formal instructions, speeches, special guests, or community participation. While the exact format can vary, the ceremony consistently serves as the official concluding event in the citizenship process.
Who takes part in the ceremony
The main participants are citizenship candidates who have reached the ceremony stage. The event is led by a presiding official, and official guidance notes that ceremonies may also include clerks, interpreters, guest speakers, performers, elected officials in some in-person ceremonies, Indigenous participants, and other community representatives.
IRCC also notes that family and friends may attend, depending on the ceremony format and event arrangements. This gives the ceremony a communal character as well as a legal one.
In-person and virtual ceremony formats
Canadian citizenship ceremonies may take place in person or virtually, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recognizes both as official formats. In-person ceremonies are held at a physical location, while virtual ceremonies take place by videoconference using the access details provided in the invitation.
The setting may differ, but both formats are official IRCC ceremonies and serve the same role as the final step in the citizenship process. Both are conducted under IRCC’s authority and both serve as the final ceremony in the citizenship process.
Language of the ceremony
Citizenship ceremonies may be conducted in different language formats. Public ceremony listings identify ceremonies as bilingual, predominantly English, or predominantly French, depending on the event. This reflects the role of both official languages in Canada’s public institutions and citizenship process.
The language format affects how the event is conducted, but not its legal significance. Regardless of language, the ceremony remains the official event through which citizenship is formally granted.
The Canadian Oath of Citizenship
The Oath of Citizenship is the formal declaration made during the citizenship ceremony. For those who are required to take it, this is the legal act that completes the final step in becoming a Canadian citizen. It is not simply ceremonial wording. Through the oath, the individual affirms allegiance to the King of Canada, commitment to the laws of Canada, respect for the Constitution, including the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and acceptance of the duties of Canadian citizenship. The current official version refers to His Majesty King Charles the Third.
Becoming a Canadian citizen does not generally require a person to give up another citizenship, so some new citizens may continue to hold dual citizenship depending on the laws of the other country.
Official wording of the oath
The oath is spoken aloud during the ceremony after the presiding official. IRCC also encourages participants to repeat it in both official languages if possible.
English
I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of Canada, His Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, including the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.
French
Je jure (ou j’affirme solennellement) que je serai fidèle et porterai sincère allégeance à Sa Majesté le roi Charles Trois, roi du Canada, à ses héritiers et successeurs, que j’observerai fidèlement les lois du Canada, y compris la Constitution, qui reconnaît et confirme les droits ancestraux — ancestraux ou issus de traités —des Premières Nations, des Inuits et des Métis, et que je remplirai loyalement mes obligations de citoyen canadien.
Swearing or affirming
The official wording allows the declaration to be made by swearing or by affirming. IRCC uses both options in the official text itself, which means the declaration does not have to be religious in form. The important point is that the oath or affirmation is made in the official manner required during the ceremony.
Who must take the oath
Adults aged 18 and older must take the oath of citizenship. Minors aged 14 to 17 must also take the oath. Minors under 14 do not have to take the oath, but they are welcome to attend the ceremony. If a minor under 14 attends, the parent or guardian who applied for the minor must be at the ceremony. IRCC also recognizes limited exceptions, including accommodations for those who need help taking the oath and oath waivers in specific cases involving inability to understand the oath due to a mental disability.
Because the oath has legal effect, the requirement is treated seriously. Where an accommodation is needed, IRCC allows it to be requested. Where a waiver is sought, the request must fall within the official eligibility rules.
How the oath is taken at the ceremony
At the ceremony, the oath is repeated aloud after the presiding official. This applies whether the ceremony is held in person or virtually. IRCC’s ceremony guidance also explains that both ceremony formats include oath taking as part of the official proceedings.
IRCC provides an Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form either in the virtual ceremony invitation or at the in-person ceremony. Do not sign the form before the ceremony. For a virtual ceremony, IRCC gives instructions during the ceremony on how to sign and return the form, and the form must be signed on the day you take the oath. For an in-person ceremony, candidates sign the form during the ceremony.
How the Citizenship Ceremony Process Works
Once IRCC approves a citizenship application for the ceremony stage, the next step is the official ceremony invitation. That invitation is the key document in the process because it confirms the ceremony date and time, whether the event will be virtual or in person, the videoconference link or physical location, and the ceremony language. IRCC states that the invitation is sent at least 1 week before the ceremony date.
Invitation and scheduling
IRCC’s current guidance states that the invitation includes:
- the time and date of the ceremony
- the ceremony format, virtual or in person
- the videoconference link or physical location
- the language of the ceremony, which may be mostly English, mostly French, or bilingual
If the “Citizenship ceremony” section in the citizenship tracker shows In progress, IRCC states that it means the department is working on scheduling the ceremony and will send the invitation at least 1 week before the ceremony date.
There is no fixed number of days between the citizenship test and the ceremony. The wait for an invitation depends on the current Canadian citizenship processing time and the details of the individual case. IRCC also notes that some applicants may wait longer, including in non-routine cases. Before the ceremony, some applicants may also be asked to attend a citizenship interview if IRCC needs to verify information, documents or eligibility requirements.
Ceremony dates in Canada
For applicants asking when the next ceremony will take place, the accurate answer is that there is no one nationwide next date. IRCC schedules ceremonies case by case. The public ceremony finder shows only certain in-person ceremonies open to the public, while virtual ceremonies are not listed publicly. For that reason, the most reliable source for the next ceremony date is the official IRCC invitation rather than a general public calendar.
What happens on the day of the ceremony
IRCC states that both virtual and in-person ceremonies usually last a few hours, and the invitation gives the relevant arrival time and duration. The event generally includes:
- registration and brief ceremony instructions
- the ceremony itself, including speeches, taking the oath, congratulatory remarks, and the national anthem
- video presentations
- an opportunity for photos with the presiding official and special guests, where applicable
- post-ceremony instructions, including information about the citizenship certificate and passport
The exact running order may vary from one ceremony to another, but this is the standard structure described in IRCC’s current guidance.
Changes, rescheduling, and missed ceremonies
IRCC allows applicants to request a ceremony reschedule in certain situations, but approval and next steps depend on the reason, timing, and whether the person has already requested a reschedule. According to current official guidance, a request may be made if:
- the applicant cannot attend on the scheduled ceremony date
- a change from virtual to in person is needed
- a change from in person to virtual is needed
- the person is outside Canada
- a bilingual ceremony is preferred instead of one that is mostly English or mostly French
- childcare cannot be arranged for an in-person ceremony
- an in-person ceremony closer to the current location is needed
- illness or another case-specific reason prevents attendance
IRCC states that the request should be sent within 30 days of the ceremony date in the invitation by replying to the office that sent the invitation, which is the preferred option, or by using the web form. The explanation for the requested change should be included. If it is the first request to reschedule, IRCC states that the case will be reviewed and the ceremony will be rescheduled. If it is the second request, IRCC assesses whether the explanation is reasonable and may begin the process to abandon and close the application if it is not accepted.
If IRCC cancels a ceremony or changes details because of emergencies or circumstances outside its control, such as severe weather or technical difficulties, the department states that it will contact the person with further instructions or a new ceremony date.
If a person misses the ceremony without contacting IRCC, the outcome depends on whether it is the first or second missed ceremony. IRCC states that after a first missed ceremony, the ceremony will be automatically rescheduled and a final invitation will be sent. If the rescheduled ceremony is also missed without an explanation, IRCC may start the process to abandon and close the application.
After the ceremony
Once the ceremony is complete, IRCC provides final instructions about what comes next. In practical terms, the next steps usually include receiving the citizenship certificate in the selected format and using that proof of citizenship for future steps such as a Canadian passport application. The exact follow-up depends on the ceremony format and the instructions issued for the individual case.
What to Bring and How to Prepare for the Citizenship Ceremony
Preparation for the citizenship ceremony begins with the official invitation. IRCC’s current guidance makes the invitation the main source for ceremony-specific instructions because it confirms the date, time, format, location or virtual link, and any attendance details that apply to the event.
The invitation should be reviewed carefully before the ceremony, since some requirements differ depending on whether the ceremony is in person or virtual.
Documents and identification
The applicants should bring the documents and identification listed in their invitation, because IRCC may include ceremony-specific instructions.
IRCC’s standard ceremony checklist includes:
- your ceremony invitation
- one of the following:
- for adult applicants, 2 pieces of identification
- at least 1 piece of ID must have both your photo and signature
- for minor applicants, 2 pieces of identification
- the IDs do not need to have both photo and signature
- for parents or guardians who applied for a minor, 1 piece of identification
- your Record of Landing, IMM 1000, only if you:
- became a permanent resident before June 28, 2002, and
- still have the document
For a virtual citizenship ceremony, IRCC also says you must have:
- your virtual seat number, which is on the first page of your invitation
- a pair of scissors to cut up your PR card at the start of the ceremony
- a signed copy of the permission release and consent form, if applicable
For an in-person citizenship ceremony, IRCC also says you must bring:
- a signed copy of the permission release and consent form, if it is included in your invitation
Optional items include:
- a holy book of your choice, if you want to use one when swearing the Oath of Citizenship
- a water bottle for an in-person ceremony
- a mobile phone or camera to take a picture
If an ID document is not in English or French, IRCC says a translation with an affidavit from the translator is required.
Preparing for the ceremony itself
IRCC’s ceremony guidance encourages candidates to practice the oath of citizenship and the national anthem before the event. During the ceremony, the oath is repeated after the presiding official, and O Canada is included as part of the proceedings.
For virtual ceremonies, preparation also includes making sure the device, internet connection, camera, and microphone are working before the ceremony begins. Because admission is controlled through the invitation link, the virtual access details should be ready in advance. For in-person ceremonies, preparation mainly involves arriving with the required documents and following the venue instructions in the invitation.
Dress and appearance
IRCC does not require one specific outfit, but candidates and guests are expected to dress appropriately and behave respectfully. Business attire is appropriate for the occasion. Traditional, religious, or ceremonial clothing, head coverings, red and white clothing, medical masks, and face coverings may also be worn.
The guidance for in-person ceremonies also refers to face coverings or masks during registration where applicable, and notes that they may be worn again during the ceremony after registration is completed. That is not a dress code in the traditional sense, but it shows that ceremony appearance rules can include practical attendance requirements.
Guests, children, and attendance expectations
IRCC allows guests in some form, but the rules depend on the ceremony format. For virtual ceremonies, guests may be in the same physical room, but they must not be disruptive and must not join on a separate device. For in-person ceremonies, whether guests are allowed depends on the size of the ceremony and the room setup, and the invitation provides the relevant details.
IRCC also states that the candidate must stay on screen during a virtual ceremony or remain in the ceremony room during an in-person ceremony for the entire event. This is an important part of preparation because it affects childcare, guest planning, and general attendance arrangements.
Where a child is not becoming a citizen at the same ceremony, IRCC’s Help Centre provides additional instructions depending on the type of ceremony being attended. That means childcare planning may need to be considered in advance, especially for in-person events or longer ceremonies.
