Canadian Citizenship Test: Format, Pass Mark, and Rules

The Canadian citizenship test has 20 questions, each multiple choice or true or false. You have 45 minutes, the test is in English or French, and you need at least 15 correct answers (75%) to pass. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) bases every question on Discover Canada, the official study guide.

This guide explains each rule, what can differ from one applicant to another, and where to check the official details. The rules come from IRCC's website and were checked on October 9, 2026. Your own test invitation is the final word for your test.

The test at a glance

Who has to take the test

In most cases, you have to take the citizenship test if you are 18 to 54 years old on the day you sign your citizenship application. The date that counts is the day you sign, not the day you are invited or take the test.

You don't take the test if you are under 18 or 55 and older on that day, or if you asked for and received a waiver. (IRCC's test page describes the exemption as "over 55", but its eligibility page limits the test to "adults 18 to 54 only".)

What the test covers

The test checks what you know about Canada: the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and Canada's history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols. Because IRCC bases all the questions on Discover Canada, the guide is the complete list of what you need to study.

The test has no questions about your English or French. Language can come up elsewhere: if you are invited to an interview, the officer will note how well you communicate in English or French, and some hearings include language questions.

Format, time limit and passing score

• 20 questions, each multiple choice or true or false.
• 45 minutes. On the online test, the timer can't be paused once it starts. You get a warning when 5 minutes are left, and the test is submitted automatically at 45 minutes, even if you haven't finished.
• Passing score: 15 out of 20. You can answer up to 5 questions incorrectly and still pass.

Forty-five minutes for 20 questions gives you a little over two minutes per question, so there is usually time to read each question carefully.

How you are invited

You can't book the test yourself. IRCC sends you an invitation within a few weeks or months of the day you submit your citizenship application; the wait depends on your situation and current processing times.

If you gave an email address in your application, the invitation arrives by email as a PDF attachment. Check your junk or spam folder for messages from addresses ending in @cic.gc.ca or @canada.ca. The invitation includes:

• a test start date and end date (for the online test, a 30-day period),
• a link to the test, or directions for an in-person test,
• your application number and unique client identifier (UCI),
• an email address for questions and rescheduling.

How the online test works

IRCC invites most applicants to take the test online, unless they need an accommodation. You can take it from anywhere, including outside Canada, at any time during the 30-day period in your invitation.

You need:

• a desktop computer, laptop or tablet with a working webcam, using Chrome or Safari,
• a reliable internet connection and a well-lit place (a public library or public computer is allowed),
• your permanent resident card (even if expired), or a valid ID with your photo and signature, such as a driver's licence or health card.

You can't use a mobile phone, Chrome on an iPad, a Microsoft Surface Pro or a VPN.

On test day:

1. Sign in with your application number and unique client identifier (UCI).
2. Request the test link by email. It expires after 15 minutes; if it does, sign in again and use the newest link.
3. Take a photo of your ID and of yourself. Religious or traditional clothing, head coverings and glasses are fine, but your face must be clearly visible.
4. Start the test. The 45-minute timer begins and can't be paused.

During the test:

• Work alone, in the same place where you took your photos.
• Don't use other devices, study materials, other tabs or programs, or your browser's back button.
• Make sure nothing behind you shows personal information, such as a diploma.

Your webcam takes random photos that IRCC compares with your test and application photos. If there are technical problems or signs of cheating, the test can be invalidated, and IRCC will ask you to take it again.

Other test formats

Some applicants take the test in person (on paper or orally) or orally by Microsoft Teams video call, and other formats such as Braille are available as accommodations. If you need an accommodation and didn't ask for one in your application, you can still request it after you receive your invitation. For in-person and Teams tests, IRCC contacts you to schedule a specific date and time.

Your result

When you submit the online test, your score appears right away, but it is unofficial. IRCC doesn't send a confirmation email, and you can't sign in to see the score again, so print the results page or use the button on it to email it to yourself.

An IRCC officer then reviews your online test to make the result official, which can take a few days or a few weeks. For in-person and Teams tests, you get your official score right after the test.

Retakes, and what happens if you don't pass

You have up to 3 chances to pass, in every format.

• Online test: all 3 chances fall within the 30-day period in your invitation. If you fail, sign in again and retake the test. You can't sign in before or after that period.
• In person or on Microsoft Teams: if you fail, IRCC sends you a new invitation for another time.

After an unsuccessful attempt

• Save your score before you close the results page, as described under "Your result" above.
• Check your window. For the online test, note how many days remain in your 30-day period. Your remaining chances must be used within it.
• Review before you retake. Our suggestion, not an IRCC rule: spend your time on the chapters you found hardest rather than retaking straight away, for example with topic quizzes and a full practice test.

If you fail all 3 attempts

IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official. Depending on the type of hearing, the official may ask you questions orally:

• about your knowledge of Canada (20 questions, similar to the test; you must answer 15 correctly),
• about your residence in Canada,
• to assess your English or French (up to 9 questions; you must answer 6 correctly).

The hearing lasts 30 to 90 minutes, and IRCC sends you the result by letter. If you pass, you wait for your invitation to the citizenship ceremony. If you fail, IRCC refuses your application, and you would have to reapply and pay the fees again to continue.

After you pass

Depending on your case, IRCC may invite you to an interview, for example to verify your identity or documents. IRCC then invites you to the citizenship ceremony.

If you need to reschedule

If you can't take the test during your 30-day period, email the address in the rescheduling section of your invitation. Include a detailed reason, your application number and your UCI. Rescheduling usually takes 4 to 8 weeks, and can take longer.

How to prepare

Because every question comes from Discover Canada, preparing means knowing the guide well enough to recall the facts without looking.

1. Get the official guide. It is free from IRCC to read online, download as a PDF or eBook, listen to as audio, or order on paper. IRCC also publishes practice questions.
2. Study one chapter at a time. Read the chapter, or CitizenPro's lesson for it, then check yourself with that chapter's topic quiz.
3. Go back to what you missed. Retest weak chapters a few days later instead of rereading the whole guide.
4. Try a full practice test. CitizenPro's practice test uses the official format: 20 questions drawn from across all the chapters, a 45-minute timer and a passing score of 15. It is unofficial practice, and its questions are CitizenPro's own, not IRCC's.
5. Check your setup early. A few days before your test, check your device, browser, webcam, lighting and ID against IRCC's requirements.

For a daily plan built from your practice results, use CitizenPro's Smart Guide. For a step-by-step study routine, see A Simple Practice Flow.

Official sources

• Citizenship test: How the test works (IRCC)
• Citizenship test: Study for the test (IRCC)
• Citizenship test: Wait for a test invitation (IRCC)
• Citizenship test: Take the online test (IRCC)
• Citizenship test: Test results and next steps (IRCC)
• Canadian citizenship: Who can apply (IRCC)
• Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship (IRCC)

CitizenPro is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada.