Online Citizenship Test

Ottawa, November 26, 2020—As part of our response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is today launching a new platform for online citizenship tests.\

The platform is being tested over the next few months. During this time, a limited number of clients—those whose tests were cancelled due to the pandemic and those who are on the waiting list—will be invited to take the online citizenship test.

Clients do not need to reach out to IRCC, as the clients who will be invited to take the online test will receive an email. If the client used a representative, we’ll contact the representative by email.

If they prefer, clients may also wait until the in-person tests resume (date to be determined).

Once IRCC has confirmed the stability of the online testing platform, we’ll begin to invite more clients to take the test.

While IRCC has been able to conduct some citizenship tests for urgent applications since the pandemic struck, most in-person tests and retests have been cancelled since March 14, 2020.

Prior to COVID-19, IRCC had begun a citizenship modernization program to improve client service delivery. Online tests are a part of this program.

Online testing allows clients to complete the test at a time convenient to them, within 21 days. It will also help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by limiting gatherings of individuals and protecting clients and IRCC staff as the department strives to limit in-person interactions.

To become a Canadian citizen, all citizenship applicants aged 18 to 54 must successfully pass the citizenship test.