After Passing the Canadian Citizenship Test
1. From Test Pass to IRCC Decision
After you pass the citizenship test, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) reviews your language results, residence calculation, and background checks together. The decision letter typically arrives about 1–3 months after the test and interview, though timelines vary by case.
IRCC may request additional documents (e.g. proof of residence, identity verification), so check your IRCC account and mail regularly. If the decision is positive, an invitation to a Citizenship Ceremony will follow. For the official process see canada.ca.
2. Citizenship Ceremony
Attendance is generally mandatory for all applicants aged 14 and over. If you cannot attend due to illness, travel, or other valid reasons you may request an exemption or a rescheduled date in advance.
The ceremony usually lasts about an hour. Every applicant aged 18 or over recites the Oath of Citizenship before the Canadian flag, in English or French. You then receive your Certificate of Canadian Citizenship on the spot. Your permanent resident (PR) card is normally returned to IRCC at the ceremony (as of 2026).
3. ID and Passport
You can apply for a Canadian passport once your citizenship certificate is in hand. As of 2026, an adult 5-year passport costs roughly CAD $120 and a 10-year passport about $160. Processing usually takes 2–3 weeks, and in-person service at a passport office can be faster.
Your driver's licence and SIN do not update automatically when you become a citizen — notify your provincial authorities of any status changes and renew supporting documents as needed.
4. Handling Original Nationality
Canada has explicitly allowed dual citizenship since 1977. However, your country of origin may restrict dual nationality or trigger automatic loss when you naturalize. Confirm the rules under your home country's law separately — Korea, Japan, China and others have restrictions.
5. Tax and Social Security
Canada uses residence-based taxation. Becoming a citizen does not automatically change your tax obligations. The CRA looks at residential ties — home, days in Canada, family, and business links — as a whole when deciding tax residency.
Public pensions like CPP/QPP depend on residence and contributions, not citizenship. Canada has totalization agreements with many countries (including South Korea), allowing periods to be combined; check the specific treaty and Service Canada for your situation.
6. Voting and Local Rights
Citizenship gives you the right to vote and run in federal, provincial and municipal elections immediately. Watch registration deadlines on Elections Canada.
Federal absentee voting is available from abroad under certain conditions, and some public-service positions and security clearances require Canadian citizenship.
7. Children and Citizenship
Permanent-resident children under 18 can be included in a parent's application and are exempt from the test and language requirements. Children born in Canada are Canadian citizens at birth.
For children born abroad, the first-generation limit introduced in 2009 applies — if a Canadian parent was themselves born outside Canada, their child born abroad may not automatically inherit Canadian citizenship.
8. FAQ
Q. How long until the ceremony? A. Usually 1–3 months after the test and interview, depending on location and scheduling.
Q. Do I have to return the PR card? A. Yes — PR status ends when you become a citizen, so follow IRCC instructions to return it.
Q. Can I keep my original citizenship? A. Canada permits it. Whether your other country does is a separate legal question — check that country's law.
Q. Do I need the certificate to apply for a passport? A. Yes — it is the primary proof of citizenship. Replacement after loss takes additional time.
For the latest details, see canada.ca/citizenship.