You have moved through the application process to become a Canadian citizen and are now so close to the end! Once you have your Citizenship Ceremony, you can register to vote, apply for your passport, and so much more.

Key Points

Have a list of all the required documents that you need to bring to the Citizenship Ceremony and check it twice before leaving for your ceremony.

You will receive an invitation to your Citizenship Ceremony after you pass the Citizenship Test and Interview stage.

Everyone who is 14 years or older must attend a ceremony to take the Oath of Citizenship. Children under 14 are welcome but not required to attend, and parents will receive certificates for their children.

In this post, we will walk you through the required paperwork and schedule for a typical Canadian Citizenship Ceremony. Here, you will find the answers to your questions and remove any anxiety that may be surrounding the big day.

There is no need to worry about what you need to bring to your Citizenship Ceremony or might forget. This list should answer all your questions!

What do you need to bring with you?

All the necessary paperwork and legal identification outlined by the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for registration. You can find an up-to-date list on the Government of Canada website.

Your ceremony notice or invitation

A signed copy of the Permission Release and Consent form (included with the notice)

Permanent Resident Card if you have one or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM5292 or IMM5688)

Record of Landing (IMM 1000) if you became a permanent resident before June 28, 2002

2 pieces of personal identification (ID)

One piece of ID must have both your photograph and signature (Examples include a driver’s license, health card or permanent resident card)

Any ID that is from another country must be issued by the government

If any pieces of ID not in English or French, you must provide a translation with a signed affidavit from the translator

Minors are not required to show identification with a signature

All your passports and travel documents, current and expired, that you have listed on your application form

Don’t forget your camera!

Make sure to take as many photos as possible and record videos before and after the ceremony to remember the remarkable day! There are professional photographers at some in-person ceremonies, but not at each one. Unfortunately, you will not know if there are photographers present until you arrive at the ceremony.

Virtual ceremonies on the other hand never have professional photography. There is a moment near the end of the virtual ceremonies, where the presiding official and any special guests will appear on your screen for approx. 30 seconds to 1 minute. At this time, you can take screenshots on your computer or selfies with the screen.

Your Invitation

You will receive an invitation notice for your Citizenship Ceremony 1 or 2 weeks before the date. This information will have the time, the date, and the link if the ceremony is virtual or the address if the ceremony is in-person. If you provided an email address with your account, the invitation will be sent via email. Check your account regularly for any updates because if you see that the Citizenship Ceremony section has an “In Progress” status, you have been scheduled for a ceremony and the invitation is being sent via email or letter mail.

You can check that the correct email address is on file by logging in to your account and updating the information in your profile. Be sure to check your junk or spam file looking for any emails ending in this address: @cic.gc.ca.

If you are unable to attend the date of the Ceremony, you can request to have it rescheduled. You must provide a reason explaining why you are unable to attend. You can email or write a letter to the office that sent you your invitation if it is within 30 days of the notice arriving. There is a web form you can fill out by clicking here if you receive the invitation and know you require a new ceremony date if you have more than 30 days notice.

Tip: It is highly recommended that you research the address of your in-person ceremony ahead of time to find out about parking or public transit to ensure you arrive and register on time.

Bring a Friend or Family Member

Check IRCC guidelines for details specific to your ceremony. Sometimes you may be able to bring more than one guest, but the usual guideline is one guest per new citizen. You will find this information either in your invitation or in your portal.

What happens on the day of your ceremony?

In preparation for your Citizenship Ceremony, there may be questions and even some nerves. To make things simpler, here’s a short timeline of what to expect!

Registration

When you arrive, the first thing to do is sign in. Here, you will present all the necessary documents and identification as requested by the IRCC.

Oath of Citizenship

Once everyone present has been registered and directed to the seating area, a judge will walk you through the Oath of Citizenship. Oftentimes, they say the oath in both English and French slowly.

Certificate

After taking the oath, you will be given your Certificate of Citizenship and sign the citizenship form.

National Anthem

The ceremony will conclude when you finish singing the Canadian National Anthem for the first time as a Canadian citizen.

If you attended a Citizenship Ceremony with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, you can see the highlights and download any photographs for free here!

For more information on what happens after your citizenship ceremony, click here.