You just clicked Submit on the online citizenship test. The screen flashes green — 15/20, you passed. What now? This page walks you through everything that happens between hitting submit and walking out of the oath ceremony as a Canadian citizen, including the steps unique to the online test (which differ slightly from the in-person flow).
Currently a CitizenPass user? Move on to your [ceremony prep checklist](/ceremony) and pin a reminder for the oath invite — they tend to arrive without much advance notice.
The 60 seconds after you click Submit
- Green confirmation screen — "Congratulations, you have passed the Canadian citizenship test." It shows your score (e.g. 18/20).
- The screen may prompt you to download a PDF of the result. Save it. IRCC stores the score in your file anyway, but having your own copy is useful.
- The proctor (the human watching the webcam) confirms the session is closed and ends the recording.
- Browser session ends. You do not need to do anything else right then.
If you failed (red screen, score <15), see the dedicated section below.
What happens in the 24-72 hours after the test
IRCC's back-office systems process your test submission and update your file. Expect:
- 24-72 hours: PR Portal / Citizenship Application Tracker flips the test step from "In Progress" to "Completed."
- Same window: Overall application status moves to "Decision Made" or "In Process — Ceremony Pending".
- 3-5 business days: A proctor session report is added to your file noting any flags raised during testing. If no flags, the report is a one-line confirmation.
If after 5 business days the portal still shows the test as in progress, log a [webform inquiry](https://secure.cic.gc.ca/enquiries-renseignements/canada-case-cas-eng.aspx) referencing your UCI and test date. Sometimes the proctor's close-out report is delayed for technical reasons unrelated to your result.
The oath ceremony invitation — what to expect
The next concrete milestone is the invitation to the oath ceremony. This is the moment you become a Canadian citizen — you are not a citizen yet, even though you have passed the test.
Online oath ceremony
Online ceremonies are currently the default for applicants who took the online test. Expect:
- Arrival time: 2-8 weeks after the test, by email
- Format: A 30-60 minute Zoom call with 50-200 other applicants and a Citizenship Judge
- Pre-call setup: 15-30 minute tech check with IRCC staff before the main ceremony
- What you do: Recite the oath in English or French (your choice), pledge to observe Canadian laws, sign the Oath of Citizenship form (digitally), and listen to the judge's address
- Outcome: You are a Canadian citizen the moment the oath is administered
In-person oath ceremony
In-person ceremonies are available on request — submit the preference through the [webform](https://secure.cic.gc.ca/enquiries-renseignements/canada-case-cas-eng.aspx) or in your portal. Expect:
- Arrival time: 4-12 weeks after the test, by mail (letter to your address on file)
- Format: A 60-90 minute ceremony at a local IRCC office, typically with 30-100 applicants and family present
- What you do: Take the oath, sing the national anthem, receive your citizenship certificate in person
- Symbolism: The judge typically shakes each new citizen's hand individually
The citizenship certificate
You do not receive the official citizenship certificate after the test. It is issued only after you take the oath. Expect:
- Online oath: Certificate mailed 2-6 weeks after the ceremony
- In-person oath: Certificate handed to you at the ceremony itself (immediate)
Keep this certificate safe. It is the document you need for a Canadian passport application, and a replacement costs $75 + a 4-6 month wait to reissue.
What you can and cannot do while waiting for the oath
Between the test and the oath, your legal status is permanent resident — not yet a citizen. Practical implications:
- Travel: You can travel internationally on your home-country passport. You still need a valid PR card (or PRTD) to re-enter Canada by air. Do not let your PR card expire before the oath.
- Voting: You cannot vote in federal, provincial, or municipal elections yet. Wait for the oath.
- Canadian passport application: You cannot apply yet. Wait for the citizenship certificate.
- Cross-border driving (Canada-US): PR cards do not work as US re-entry documents — you still need your home-country passport.
- Job applications requiring citizenship: You can mention that you are "pending citizenship" but technically you are not a citizen until the oath.
Keep your file up to date
In the post-test wait, update IRCC immediately if:
- You move — even a few blocks. The oath invite (online or in-person) goes to your most recent address.
- Your email changes — online oath invites arrive only by email.
- Your marital status changes — marriage, divorce, separation can affect citizenship in narrow cases.
- You leave Canada for extended travel — make sure you can return for the ceremony date.
Update via the [Change of address / contact info webform](https://secure.cic.gc.ca/enquiries-renseignements/canada-case-cas-eng.aspx) — same form regardless of the change.
If you failed the online test
About 4% of first-time test takers fail. If you did:
- Your application stays open. Failure on the test does not refuse the application — it just delays it.
- A second test is scheduled within 4-8 weeks. The format depends on IRCC's current backlog — sometimes another online test, sometimes a written in-person test.
- The second test is free — no fees.
- If you fail the second test, you are scheduled for a citizenship interview with an officer. This is an oral test — the officer asks 4-8 questions on the same Discover Canada material, and you answer verbally.
- Only about 0.3% of applicants eventually have their application refused for failing all three steps (test → retake → interview). The vast majority pass on the retake with another 2 weeks of focused study.
Use the waiting period to [practice more](/practice-test) — your weak chapter is usually history, government structure, or Indigenous peoples. The cheat-sheet post is a useful concentrated review:
- [Practice tests](/practice-test) — 600+ CitizenPass questions
- [Discover Canada study guide](/study-guide) — official source material
- [What happens if you fail](/blog/what-happens-if-you-fail-citizenship-test) — detailed retake process
After the oath — what comes next
The minute the oath is administered, you are a Canadian citizen. The post-ceremony milestones:
- Apply for a Canadian passport — first-time application via form PPTC 153, fee $120 (5-year) or $160 (10-year), ~10-20 business days. See [how to apply for your first Canadian passport](/blog/how-to-apply-for-canadian-passport-first-time).
- Update your CRA / Service Canada records — your SIN remains the same, but your status on file changes.
- Register to vote in federal elections — automatic if you were registered as a PR, but check your registration at [elections.ca](https://elections.ca).
- Update your driver's licence, health card, banking, and employer records — most do not require a citizenship change, but some employers ask.
- If your old country does not permit dual citizenship, consider the implications carefully — China, India, Saudi Arabia, and several others automatically revoke their citizenship when you naturalize in Canada.
Related reading
- [What happens after passing the citizenship test (in-person path)](/blog/what-happens-after-passing-citizenship-test) — the equivalent flow if you took the test at an IRCC office
- [Online vs in-person citizenship test](/blog/online-vs-in-person-citizenship-test) — the comparison if you are choosing between formats
- [Ceremony walkthrough](/ceremony) — the prep mode with countdown, oath text, and checklist
- [Citizenship application tracker](/citizenship-application-tracker) — how to read the PR Portal status codes
- [After citizenship: what to do next](/after-citizenship) — passport, voting, taxes, traveling
Just got your ceremony invitation?
See our complete guide to everything you need to do after the ceremony — passport, voting, travel credit cards, and your new rights.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1When do I find out if I passed the online citizenship test?
**Instantly.** The moment you submit your final answer, the system shows a green pass screen (15+ correct out of 20) or a red fail screen. There is no manual review of the test itself — only of any cheating flags raised during proctoring. Take a screenshot for your records, although IRCC stores the result automatically against your file.
2How long until my online account updates after the test?
Most applicants see the test step flip to 'Completed' on the **PR Portal** or the **Citizenship Application Tracker** within **24-72 hours**. The overall application status moves to 'Decision Made' or 'In Process — Ceremony Pending'. If it has been more than **5 business days** and the portal still shows the test as pending, log a webform query — occasionally the proctor's session-close report is delayed.
3Do I get a paper certificate after the online test?
**No paper certificate is issued for the test itself.** What you get after the test is the **knowledge-test step** marked complete. The **citizenship certificate** is only issued after you take the **oath of citizenship** at the ceremony. After the online or in-person ceremony, IRCC mails the certificate within 2-6 weeks.
4What is the next step after passing the online test?
The next milestone is the **oath ceremony invitation**. For online testers, this is currently arriving **2-8 weeks** after the test as a Zoom invite for an online oath. You can request an **in-person oath** if you would prefer one (in-person ceremonies typically take 4-12 weeks to schedule). At the ceremony you take the oath in either English or French, sign the oath form, and become a Canadian citizen at the moment the oath is administered.
5Can I travel after the online citizenship test but before the oath?
Yes, but you are **still a permanent resident** until the oath. You need a **valid PR card** for re-entry by air. If your PR card has expired or will expire before the ceremony, apply for a **Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD)** at a Canadian mission abroad before traveling back. Once you take the oath, you become a citizen and the PR-card requirement no longer applies — but until that moment, treat yourself as a PR.
6What if I fail the online citizenship test?
There is **no penalty** for failing. Your application stays open. IRCC schedules a **second test (free)** within **4-8 weeks** — sometimes as a paper retake, sometimes online again. If you fail the second test, you are scheduled for a **citizenship interview** with an officer (an oral test, not a written one). Roughly **4%** of first-time test takers fail; almost everyone passes on the second attempt with another 2 weeks of study.
7Can I take the online oath ceremony, or do I have to go in person?
Both options exist. **Online ceremonies** (Zoom, group format with a Citizenship Judge) are currently the default for applicants who took the online test, with shorter wait times (2-8 weeks). **In-person ceremonies** at local IRCC offices are available on request — wait 4-12 weeks. Some applicants prefer in-person for the symbolic weight (national anthem, judge's handshake, families present). Either way you become a citizen at the moment the oath is taken.
8What if I want to bring a family member to my oath ceremony?
For **online oath ceremonies**, the Zoom call admits the applicant only — but other family members can typically watch alongside you on the same screen. For **in-person oaths**, family members can attend and watch, sometimes from a designated public area. Photography rules vary by ceremony — wait for the IRCC officer to confirm before recording.