Canada · Citizenship test

Canadian citizenship test

This guide walks you through the Canadian citizenship test. You’ll see how it’s scored, what it covers and what you need on the day. When you feel ready, there’s a free 20-question practice test further down.

  • 20Questions, multiple choice or true or false, in English or French
  • 45 minTime allowed. The online timer cannot be paused
  • 15 of 20Correct answers needed to pass (75 per cent)
  • 3Chances to pass before you are invited to a hearing

Key facts

At a glance

Questions
20, multiple choice or true or false
To pass
15 correct (75%)
Time
45 minutes
Who takes it
Applicants aged 18 to 54
Where
Online, by invitation from IRCC
Fee
No test fee. It’s part of the $653 adult application fee

How it works

20 questions, 45 minutes, 3 chances

  1. You do not book the test yourself. IRCC sends you an invitation after you apply. Most people get it 1 to 3 months after IRCC confirms it has received the application.
  2. Most people take the test online. IRCC may offer it in person or by video call if you need an accommodation.
  3. Adults aged 18 to 54 on the day they sign the application take the test. Applicants aged 55 and over and children under 18 do not.
  4. The test has 20 questions. Each one is multiple choice or true or false. You choose to take it in English or French.
  5. The questions cover the rights and responsibilities of citizens and Canada’s history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols. They are based on Discover Canada.
  6. The test checks your knowledge of Canada. It does not test your English or French.
  7. You have 45 minutes. The online timer cannot be stopped. You get a warning when 5 minutes are left, and the test is submitted automatically at 45 minutes.

Topics

What’s on the test

01

Becoming a Citizen and the Oath

What citizenship asks of you, how the guide says to prepare, what happens at the ceremony, and what the Oath means.

Key points (4)
  • Canada is a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy and a federal state.
  • The citizenship test checks your knowledge of Canada and of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. It is not a language test.
  • At the ceremony you take the Oath, sign the oath form and receive your citizenship certificate.
  • In the Oath, Canadians pledge loyalty to the Sovereign, a person who represents all Canadians. They do not pledge loyalty to a flag, a document or a country.
02

Rights and Freedoms

Where Canadians’ rights come from and what the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects.

Key points (4)
  • The guide names four sources of Canadian law, among others. They are laws passed by Parliament and the provincial legislatures, English common law, the civil code of France and Britain’s unwritten constitution.
  • The four fundamental freedoms are: conscience and religion; thought, belief, opinion and expression; peaceful assembly; and association.
  • Habeas corpus is the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state. It comes from English common law.
  • In 1982, the Constitution of Canada was changed to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
03

Responsibilities of Citizenship

The duties that come with Canadian rights, and the ways Canadians serve and defend their country.

Key points (3)
  • The guide lists six responsibilities. They are obeying the law, caring for yourself and your family, jury duty, voting, helping others, and protecting heritage and the environment.
  • There is no compulsory military service in Canada. Serving in the Canadian Forces is a choice.
  • The Canadian Forces include the navy, army and air force. Canadians can also serve part time in the naval reserve, the militia or the air reserve.
04

Who We Are

Canada’s identity, its three founding peoples, the Aboriginal peoples, English and French Canada, and today’s diversity.

Key points (4)
  • The guide says Canada has the oldest continuous constitutional tradition in the world. The guide also says it is the only constitutional monarchy in North America.
  • “Peace, Order and Good Government” is a key phrase in the British North America Act of 1867.
  • Canada’s three founding peoples are the Aboriginal, French and British peoples.
  • Aboriginal territorial rights were first guaranteed by the Royal Proclamation of 1763, issued by King George III.
05

Early Canada: First Peoples to New France

Aboriginal ways of life, the first European explorers, New France and the British conquest.

Key points (4)
  • Europeans called the native peoples “Indians” because the first explorers thought they had reached the East Indies.
  • Many Aboriginal people died of European diseases, but Aboriginals and Europeans also formed strong economic, religious and military bonds in their first 200 years together.
  • John Cabot was the first to map Canada’s Atlantic shore, in 1497. He claimed the land for England.
  • The name Canada comes from kanata, an Iroquoian word meaning “village.”
06

Loyalists, War and Responsible Government

From the Loyalists and the first assemblies to the War of 1812, the end of slavery and responsible government.

Key points (4)
  • Loyalists were people loyal to the Crown who fled the American Revolution after 1776. More than 40,000 settled in Nova Scotia and Quebec.
  • The first representative assembly in what is now Canada was elected in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1758.
  • The Constitutional Act of 1791 created Upper Canada (later Ontario) and Lower Canada (later Quebec). It gave them elected assemblies and made the name Canada official.
  • In 1793, Upper Canada, led by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, became the first province in the British Empire to move toward abolishing slavery.
07

Confederation and Building the Nation

How Canada was created in 1867, how it grew from sea to sea, and the people and railway that tied it together.

Key points (4)
  • The Fathers of Confederation were leaders from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada. From 1864 to 1867, they worked together, with British support, to create a new country.
  • The British North America Act was passed in 1867. The Dominion of Canada was born on July 1, 1867. July 1 was once called Dominion Day and is now Canada Day.
  • Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick formed Canada in 1867. Newfoundland and Labrador was the last province to join, in 1949. Nunavut, created in 1999, is the newest territory.
  • Sir John A. Macdonald was Canada’s first Prime Minister. He was born in Scotland and was a lawyer in Kingston, Ontario. January 11 is Sir John A. Macdonald Day.
08

Canada at War and Between the Wars

The South African War, the First World War, women’s vote, Remembrance Day, the Depression and the Second World War.

Key points (4)
  • When Britain declared war in 1914, Canada formed the Canadian Expeditionary Force, later the Canadian Corps. More than 600,000 Canadians served, out of a population of eight million.
  • The Canadian Corps captured Vimy Ridge in April 1917. About 10,000 were killed or wounded. Many see the battle as the “birth of a nation.” April 9 is Vimy Day.
  • Dr. Emily Stowe founded the women’s suffrage movement in Canada. She was the first Canadian woman to practise medicine in Canada.
  • Manitoba was the first province to give women the vote, in 1916. Most women aged 21 and over got the federal vote in 1918. Agnes Macphail became the first woman MP in 1921.
09

Modern Canada

Postwar prosperity, Canada’s role in the world, Quebec and a changing society, and Canadian achievements in arts, sport and science.

Key points (4)
  • Oil was discovered in Alberta in 1947, starting Canada’s modern energy industry. In 1951, for the first time, most Canadians could afford adequate food, shelter and clothing.
  • Canada’s social programs include health care under the Canada Health Act and unemployment insurance (1940), now called employment insurance. They also include Old Age Security, the Canada and Quebec Pension Plans (1965) and publicly funded education.
  • In the Cold War, Canada helped form NATO, a military alliance of Western democracies, and joined the United States in NORAD.
  • Canada joined the United Nations and took part in the UN operation in the Korean War (1950-53). It has also served in many UN peacekeeping missions, such as in Egypt, Cyprus and Haiti.
10

How Canadians Govern Themselves

Canada as a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, and how laws are made.

Key points (4)
  • Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy.
  • In 1867, the British North America Act split up powers between Ottawa and the provinces. Today this law is called the Constitution Act, 1867.
  • Federal: defence, foreign policy, trade and communications between provinces, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship. Provincial: municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, and highways. Shared: agriculture and immigration.
  • Elected representatives pass laws, approve and monitor spending, and keep the government accountable.
11

Elections and Levels of Government

How federal elections work, who can vote and how, what happens after an election, and the work of local and First Nations governments.

Key points (4)
  • Fixed election date: the third Monday in October, four years after the year of the last general election. The Governor General can call an earlier election when the Prime Minister asks.
  • In each electoral district, the candidate with the most votes wins the seat and becomes the MP.
  • To vote in a federal election, you must be a Canadian citizen, be at least 18 on voting day and be on the voters’ list.
  • Your vote is secret. No one, including your family, your employer or your union, can make you tell how you voted.
12

The Justice System

Due process, the presumption of innocence, the courts, the police and where to get legal help.

Key points (4)
  • The presumption of innocence means that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
  • Elected representatives make the laws. Courts settle disputes. Police enforce the laws.
  • The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court in Canada.
  • The police keep people safe and enforce the law. You can ask them for help.
13

Canadian Symbols

The Crown, flags, emblems, Parliament, sports, official languages, anthems, honours and national holidays.

Key points (4)
  • The Crown symbolizes government: Parliament, the legislatures, the courts, police services and the Canadian Armed Forces.
  • The National Flag of Canada was first raised in 1965. Red and white have been Canada’s national colours since 1921.
  • Canada’s motto, A Mari Usque Ad Mare, means “from sea to sea”.
  • The Peace Tower (1927) remembers the First World War. The Books of Remembrance are kept in its Memorial Chamber.
14

Canada’s Economy

Canada as a trading nation, its three main types of industry, and its close trade ties with the United States.

Key points (4)
  • Canada has always been a trading nation. Without trade with other countries, Canadians could not keep their standard of living.
  • Canada’s three main types of industries are service industries, manufacturing industries and natural resources industries.
  • More than 75% of working Canadians have jobs in service industries.
  • The United States is Canada’s largest trading partner.
15

Canada’s Regions: Land, Atlantic and Central Canada

Canada’s size, oceans, regions, capital and provinces, then a close look at the Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario.

Key points (4)
  • Canada is the second largest country on earth. It is bordered by three oceans: the Pacific (west), the Atlantic (east) and the Arctic (north).
  • Ottawa, on the Ottawa River, is Canada’s capital. Queen Victoria chose it in 1857.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly point in North America, has its own time zone, and was the oldest colony of the British Empire.
  • New Brunswick is the only province that is officially bilingual (English and French).
16

Canada’s Regions: Prairies, West Coast and the North

Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta; British Columbia; and the three northern territories.

Key points (4)
  • The Prairie provinces are Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. They are known for energy resources and very fertile farmland.
  • Saskatchewan has 40% of Canada’s arable land and is the largest producer of grains and oilseeds. Its capital, Regina, is home to the RCMP training academy.
  • British Columbia, on the Pacific coast, is Canada’s westernmost province. Its capital is Victoria.
  • The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest and busiest port.
17

Your Province or Territory

What you should know about your own province or territory and community, and how to find the answers that are different for each person.

Key points (3)
  • In a province, the Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign. The Premier is the head of the provincial government.
  • In a territory, the Commissioner represents the federal government.
  • Ottawa is Canada’s capital. Each of the ten provinces and three territories has its own capital city.

Free practice test

Try 20 questions in the real format

It’s the same format as the real test: 20 questions, a mix of multiple choice and true or false. After each answer you can ask the tutor to explain it another way, or why a different answer is wrong. Anything you miss comes back at the end.

Question 1 of 20

Li is not religious and does not want to use religious words in the Oath. What can Li do?

Sample of the citizenship test: same format, 20 questions.

Test day

What you need for the online test

  • Your permanent resident card, even if it has expired, or a valid piece of ID with your photo and signature, such as a driver’s licence or health card
  • Your application number and your unique client identifier (UCI), to sign in to the online test
  • A desktop computer, laptop or tablet with a webcam, using Chrome or Safari. A mobile phone is not allowed, and neither is Chrome on an iPad, a Microsoft Surface Pro or a VPN

Before you go

  1. Study Discover Canada, the official study guide. It is free on the IRCC website.
  2. Learn the guide’s wording, and also know the dated current facts this app shows beside it, such as King Charles III as Sovereign.
  3. Know your own capital, Premier, MP and riding. Check them on official websites close to your test date.
  4. Sign in only after you get your invitation. The emailed test link expires after 15 minutes, so start soon after you ask for it.
  5. Take the test alone, in the place where you photographed yourself and your ID. Close other tabs and programs.
  6. During the test, do not use other devices or study materials, and do not use the browser’s back button.
IRCC: Citizenship testYou cannot book the citizenship test yourself. After you apply, IRCC sends you an invitation with the date or the window for your test. Check this official page for the latest rules.

Study options

Where to study

Every question on the test comes from Discover Canada, the official study guide. It’s free to read, download or listen to. Want more practice? We’ve compared the apps, websites and classes people use.

OptionPriceFree to useLinks
Official and free
Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of CitizenshipOfficial · web, PDF and eBookIRCC’s only official study guide, and every test question is based on it. Read it online, or download the PDF, a large-print PDF or an EPUB eBook. You can also order a printed copy. Parts are out of date, so know the newer facts too, like King Charles III as Sovereign.
FreeThe whole guide
Discover Canada audio guideOfficial · audioThe full guide in English or French, about 2 hours 53 minutes, read by well-known Canadians. Play it on the page, download one MP3 of about 156 MB, or get each section separately. Handy on the bus or if reading English is slow for you.
FreeThe whole guide, read aloud
Discover Canada study questionsOfficial · webIRCC’s own practice: 3 multiple-choice samples with answers, and open questions you answer from the guide. It isn’t an interactive quiz and doesn’t score you, but it shows the style of the real questions.
Free3 sample questions and a list of study questions
Apps and websites
Canadian Citizenship 2026 (Reev Tech)App · iPhone and AndroidThe most-rated citizenship app: 4.9 stars from about 42,000 ratings on the Canadian App Store, and 4.9 from about 15,400 reviews on Google Play. About 80 audio lessons, 600+ questions, 30+ timed tests and province questions. The Android version has ads.
Free download, then in-app purchases from $6.99 a week to $49.49 for lifetime accessFree to download. The listing doesn’t say how much is unlocked
Canadian Citizenship Test 2026 (Spurry)App · iPhone and Android500+ questions with explanations, province questions and full practice tests. Rated 4.8 from about 11,000 ratings on the Canadian App Store and 4.8 from about 3,000 reviews on Google Play.
Free with sample content, full access from $1.29 a weekSample questions
Canadian Citizenship (2026) (Wei Zhang)App · iPhoneRated 4.8 from about 11,000 ratings on the Canadian App Store. Has a listen mode that reads questions and answers aloud, and questions for your province. Be aware its test mode uses a 30-minute timer. The real test is now 45 minutes.
Free with adsThe app is free. Users say the full question bank is included
Canada Citizenship Test 2026 (Swetha Muktala)App · iPhone and iPadMock exams in the current format, with a 45-minute timer, plus flashcards and narrated audio of the guide. Rated 4.7 from about 1,200 ratings on the Canadian App Store. One reviewer reported wrong answers, which the developer says were fixed.
Free download, Pro $5.99, $19.99 a month or $29.99 lifetimeFree to download. The listing doesn’t say how much is unlocked
Canoo practice testWebA free 20-question test in English or French, with a 45-minute timer. You don’t need to sign up, and you can take it as often as you like.
FreeThe whole practice test
CitizenTest.caWeb · English and FrenchChapter-by-chapter practice tests, a simulator with a large question bank, and flashcards. Most of the content sits behind Premium.
Free tests, Premium for full access (price not shown until you sign up)A diagnostic test and the first practice tests
Video
IRCC: What you need to know about the citizenship testOfficial video · 5 minutesIRCC’s short walk-through of the invitation, the test day and what happens after. It’s from 2017, so some details are old. It says 30 minutes, but the test is now 45, and most people now take it online.
FreeEverything
Citizenship test practice videos on YouTubeVideo · freeMany channels read practice questions and answers aloud. Good if you learn by listening. They’re unofficial, and many still use the 30-minute rule or old facts, so check anything surprising against Discover Canada.
Free (ads)Everything
In person
Free newcomer services (IRCC finder)Official · settlement agencies across CanadaIRCC’s finder lists government-funded agencies near you. Filter by “Preparing for the citizenship test”, and by language or online and in-person classes. It’s for permanent residents, protected persons and some others. Agencies in Quebec aren’t included.
Free for eligible newcomersCitizenship test prep classes and help
Citizenship Education Circle, Toronto Reference LibraryFree class · TorontoRun by CultureLink, on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, with sessions listed to December 8, 2026. It covers the test format and content, with volunteer mentors and practice quizzes. Open to permanent residents and Convention refugees.
FreeWeekly sessions
London Public Library: Discover Canada citizenship preparationLibrary class · London, OntarioSessions based on Discover Canada, covering history, government, rights, geography and the economy. There are dates listed into 2027 at different branches. Register by phone on 519-661-4600. Other libraries run similar classes, so ask at yours.
Not listed, ask when you register-

Prices and ratings checked October 2026.

FAQ

Common questions

How many questions are on the Canadian citizenship test?

There are 20 questions. Each one is multiple choice or true or false. You need 15 right to pass, so you can miss 5. You get 45 minutes. Some older guides and apps still say 30 minutes, but IRCC’s current rule is 45.

Can I take the citizenship test online?

Yes. Most people take it online, from home or anywhere else, even outside Canada. You’ll need a computer or tablet with a webcam. You can’t use a phone. IRCC only gives the test in person or by video call if you need an accommodation.

What happens if I fail the citizenship test?

You get 3 chances. If you test online, you can try again right away, as long as you’re still inside your 30-day window. If you fail all 3, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official, where you answer 20 questions out loud.

How much does the citizenship test cost?

There’s no separate fee for the test. It’s covered by your application fee. As of October 2026 that’s $653 for an adult and $100 for a child under 18. The study guide is free too.

What book do I need for the citizenship test?

Just one: Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. It’s free from IRCC online, as a PDF, as an eBook or as audio. Every question on the test is based on it. You don’t need to buy anything.

Do I have to take the test if I’m over 55?

No. If you’re 55 or older on the day you sign your application, you don’t take the test or prove your English or French. Children under 18 don’t take it either. The test is for people aged 18 to 54.

All 20 practice questions with answersA printable list of the practice test above
  1. Li is not religious and does not want to use religious words in the Oath. What can Li do?

    Affirm the Oath instead of swearing it The Oath begins “I swear (or affirm).” To affirm means to make the same serious promise without a religious reference. Anyone may choose to affirm.

  2. Which statement about women and men in Canada is true?

    Women and men are equal under the law In Canada, men and women are equal under the law. The same laws protect them both, and the same laws apply to them both.

  3. Which name does Discover Canada use for the army’s part-time force?

    The militia The guide names the naval reserve, the militia and the air reserve. The militia is the army’s part-time force. As of October 21, 2026, National Defence calls it the Army Reserve.

  4. According to Discover Canada, what did Canada inherit?

    The oldest continuous constitutional tradition in the world Discover Canada says Canada inherited the oldest continuous constitutional tradition in the world. Continuous means the tradition has never been broken. The test uses this phrase, so learn it as written.

  5. According to Discover Canada, New France stretched between which two places?

    From Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico Discover Canada says New France stretched from Hudson Bay in the north to the Gulf of Mexico in the south. It was built by strong leaders and the fur trade.

  6. In what order did these colonies first elect assemblies?

    Nova Scotia, then Prince Edward Island, then New Brunswick Nova Scotia elected the first assembly in 1758. Prince Edward Island followed in 1773, and New Brunswick in 1785. This step-by-step growth shows how democracy developed gradually in the colonies.

  7. Who led the Métis uprising at Red River?

    Louis Riel Louis Riel led the Métis uprising at Red River after Canada took over the northwest in 1869. His forces seized Fort Garry.

  8. Who was the first woman elected to Parliament as an MP?

    Agnes Macphail Agnes Macphail became the first woman elected to Parliament as an MP, in 1921. She was a farmer and a teacher. Her election came a few years after most women won the federal vote.

  9. According to the guide, what keeps Canada’s standard of living among the highest in the world?

    Hard work and trade, especially with the U.S. Canadians have one of the highest standards of living in the world. The guide says two things keep it high: the hard work of Canadians and trade with other countries, especially the United States.

  10. How many provinces and territories does Canada have?

    Ten provinces and three territories Canada has ten provinces and three territories. The three territories are in the North and have small populations. They are not provinces, even though their governments do many similar jobs.

  11. Why is a vote on the budget important for the government?

    It is a confidence vote, so losing it can defeat the government Votes on big issues, such as the budget, are confidence votes. The government must keep the support of most MPs, which is called the confidence of the House. If most MPs vote against it on such a vote, the government is defeated.

  12. A man is arrested. Which statement about him is true?

    He keeps his legal rights, and officials must respect them A person who is arrested still has legal rights. Due process means the government must respect all of them at every step. He is also presumed innocent until proven guilty.

  13. Who adopted the maple leaf as a symbol in the 1700s?

    French-Canadians French-Canadians adopted the maple leaf as a symbol in the 1700s. It later appeared on uniforms and badges from the 1850s. Today it is Canada’s best-known symbol.

  14. What does Discover Canada say about the trading relationship between Canada and the United States?

    It is the world’s biggest bilateral trading relationship Discover Canada says Canada and the United States have the biggest bilateral trading relationship in the world. Bilateral means between two sides, here the two countries. Today Global Affairs Canada calls it the world’s most comprehensive trading relationship.

  15. Which four provinces are the Atlantic provinces?

    Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick The Atlantic provinces are Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. They are on Canada’s east coast, next to the Atlantic Ocean.

  16. When was Banff National Park created?

    1885 Banff National Park was created in 1885. It is one of five national parks in Alberta. Alberta itself did not become a province until 1905.

  17. Which city is the capital of Quebec?

    Québec City Québec City is the capital of the province of Quebec. Montreal is larger and better known, but it is not the capital.

  18. In the Oath of Citizenship, to whom do you promise to be faithful and bear true allegiance?

    King Charles the Third, King of Canada, his heirs and successors In the Oath you promise to be faithful and bear true allegiance to King Charles the Third, King of Canada, his heirs and successors. As of October 21, 2026, King Charles III is Canada’s Sovereign.

  19. In what year was Magna Carta signed in England?

    1215 Magna Carta was signed in England in 1215. Canada’s tradition of ordered liberty goes back to it.

  20. What does Discover Canada say about serving on a jury when you are called?

    It is a legal requirement The guide says serving on a jury is a privilege and also a legal requirement when you are called. The justice system depends on impartial juries made up of citizens.