Becoming a Canadian citizen is a major milestone. The last step in this journey is attending your citizenship ceremony, where you officially take on the rights and responsibilities of being Canadian.
During the ceremony, you will sing the national anthem, take the Oath of Citizenship, and receive your Canadian citizenship certificate. Once complete, you’ll be recognized as a Canadian citizen. Today, we will discuss in detail what happens during the Canadian citizenship ceremony.
So, without further ado, let us begin!
What Can You Expect At The Ceremony?
While details may differ slightly depending on the person and the location, most Canadian citizenship ceremonies follow a similar pattern. You can usually expect to:
- Recite the Oath of Citizenship
- Sing O Canada
- Sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship (OAC) form
- Collect your Canadian citizenship certificate
In addition, some ceremonies feature guest speakers or special guests, such as local leaders, Indigenous representatives, community members, or performers. These elements make the event even more memorable.
Where Do Ceremonies Take Place?
Citizenship ceremonies are held in two formats:
- Virtual: Through an online video conference
- In-Person: In a designated ceremony room at a local Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office, or another approved location
IRCC will specify the format in your official invitation. If you cannot attend in the assigned format, you may request to reschedule.
Your Citizenship Ceremony Invitation
The next thing to know about what happens during the Canadian citizenship ceremony is about the ceremony invitation.
Your invitation outlines important information about your ceremony, including:
- Date and time of the event
- When you should arrive and how long the ceremony is expected to last
- Location details for in-person events or a video link for virtual ceremonies
- A release and consent form for photos or videos (in-person only)
- The language of the ceremony (English, French, or bilingual)
- Seat number and OAC form (for virtual ceremonies)
- Instructions to reschedule, if required
How you receive your invitation depends on the contact information you provided in your application. IRCC may send it by email, call you by phone, or mail it to your address.
Although the timing varies by applicant, you’ll get your invitation at least one week before your scheduled ceremony. To track your application’s progress, you can use IRCC’s online Application Status Tracker once you’ve received your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR).
What To Bring To Your Citizenship Ceremony?
To ensure everything goes smoothly, IRCC requires you to bring the following:
- Your ceremony invitation
- Your PR card (expired cards are still valid) or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR)
- Two pieces of government-issued ID with your photo and signature (such as your PR card, passport, driver’s license, or health card)
- Your record of landing if you became a PR before June 28, 2002
- Scissors to cut up your PR card (for virtual ceremonies only)
- Signed release and consent form, if required
Optional items include a water bottle, camera or phone, and a holy book if you prefer to use one when taking the oath.
Attending An In-Person Ceremony
It is vital to know what happens during the Canadian citizenship ceremony if you attend it in-person.
Well, if your ceremony is in person, you’ll arrive at your assigned location and check in at the registration table. Here, your identity and eligibility for citizenship will be verified. You’ll also hand over your PR card and any required forms.
If you wear a face covering or mask, you may request a private room for identity verification, but you must remove it briefly.
After registration, you’ll wait in the ceremony room until all participants are ready. Once the event begins, a citizenship judge or presiding official will lead you in taking the oath and singing the national anthem.
You’ll then sign the OAC form to confirm your oath and receive your citizenship certificate. The event may conclude with a reception, and sometimes media representatives are present to capture the occasion.
Rules For In-Person Ceremonies
When attending in person, IRCC asks that you:
- Avoid scented products (perfume or cologne)
- Stand while reciting the oath and singing O Canada
- Wait until instructed before taking personal photos, and only for private use
Attending A Virtual Ceremony
For virtual ceremonies, join the event at the scheduled time using the video link in your invitation. You’ll be assigned a seat number and use this as your screen name for privacy.
Before joining, check that your internet, camera, and audio are working. You’ll first be placed in a virtual ‘waiting room,’ which may take 30 minutes or longer if many participants are attending.
As part of registration, you’ll be moved into a private room to verify your identity, cut your PR card, and confirm eligibility.
Once all candidates are registered, you’ll join the main virtual ceremony where the presiding official will guide everyone through the oath and the national anthem.
Afterward, you’ll sign and submit your OAC form and receive details about when to expect your citizenship certificate.
Rules For Virtual Ceremonies
IRCC requires participants to:
- Keep the video link private
- Use a real (non-virtual) background
- Ensure that head and shoulders remain visible on screen
- Stay in a quiet, distraction-free space
- Keep the device stable and avoid multitasking (such as driving)
- Avoid photos or recordings during the event
- Remain seated and visible for the entire ceremony
Guests can join you in the same room, but they cannot join from separate devices.
General Expectations For All Ceremonies
If you wish to know what happens during the Canadian citizenship ceremony, it is vital to know about some general expectations for the same.
Whether virtual or in person, you are expected to behave respectfully and wear business attire, though traditional or religious dress is welcomed. You can invite friends, family, and children to share this milestone moment with you.
The Oath Of Citizenship
Anyone 14 years of age and older must take the Oath of Citizenship. Children under 14 are not required to participate, though minors between 14 and 17 are encouraged to attend with the parent or guardian who submitted their application.
The oath is read in both English and French, and you may recite it in the language you are most comfortable with, though saying it in both is encouraged.
IRCC recommends practicing beforehand in one or both official languages.
The Oath Of Citizenship – 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 fulfill my duties
As a Canadian citizen.
The Oath Of Citizenship – 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 ou issus de traités
Des Premières Nations, des Inuits et des Métis
Et que je remplirai loyalement
Mes obligations
De citoyen canadien.
During an in-person ceremony, you must stand while taking the oath. If virtual, you will remain seated but visible on screen.
If you need special accommodations, you can contact IRCC ahead of time. In limited cases, you may be eligible for an oath waiver.
Your Canadian Citizenship Certificate
The Canadian citizenship certificate is official proof of your citizenship and lists the date you became a citizen. Citizenship cards are no longer issued. Since 2012, applicants receive either a paper certificate or an electronic version (e-certificate).
The type of certificate you get depends on what you chose when applying and the type of ceremony you attend.
Citizenship Certificate Details
| Certificate Type | Ceremony Type | Wait Time | Method Of Receipt |
| E-certificate | Any | Within 5 business days of IRCC receiving OAC | Download through IRCC Portal |
| Paper certificate | In-person ceremony | None | Given at ceremony after signing OAC |
| Paper certificate | Virtual ceremony | Within 2–4 weeks of IRCC receiving OAC | By mail to Canadian address |
Note that if you don’t receive your paper certificate within six weeks, you can request a replacement.
When you receive your certificate, verify that your personal details are correct. If there is an error, IRCC will issue a corrected certificate free of charge if reported within 90 days.
Important: Do not laminate or coat your paper certificate, as it can damage the document.
The certificate itself is not a travel document. To travel internationally, you’ll need to apply for a Canadian passport.
Explore your pathway to move to Canada with Immigtoronto. Our team of skilled RCICs offers customized immigration solutions, ensuring a trustworthy and professional process. Contact us at [email protected].
