Portage Study Guide
← Full citizenship guideThe Canadian Citizenship Test — What to Expect
A straightforward, sourced guide to the test format, who needs to take it, what it covers, and how to prepare. Every fact below links back to the official IRCC page that backs it.
What is the citizenship test?
IRCC · Citizenship testThe Canadian citizenship test is a written exam administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It tests your knowledge of Canada's history, values, institutions, and symbols — everything every new citizen is expected to have lived with for a few months before applying.
20
Questions
45 minutes
Time limit
75%
Passing score
Who needs to take it?
IRCC · Who can applyMost adults applying for Canadian citizenship must take the test. Specifically:
- ✓Permanent residents aged 18 to 54 at the time of applying
- ✓Applicants who have met the physical presence requirement (1,095 days in Canada over the last 5 years)
- ✓Applicants who have filed Canadian income taxes for any 3 of the last 5 years (if required to file)
Applicants under 18 or 55 and older are exempt from the knowledge test — but minors are typically included in a parent's application and still need to meet the other requirements.
What topics are covered?
Discover Canada (IRCC)Every question is drawn from Discover Canada — the official IRCC study guide. The book is short (≈68 pages) but dense, and it covers the 18 subject areas below — the 20 test questions can come from any of them:
What test day actually looks like
IRCC · Online test instructionsFour phases over roughly an hour, all from home.
- STEP 1
Get the invite
Once IRCC has reviewed your application, they email you the invitation as a PDF attachment — most people get it 1 to 3 months after their AOR. It sets a fixed start and end date, and you have 30 days to take the test inside that window. You can't book the test yourself or ask for the invitation earlier.
- STEP 2
Set up your space
Quiet room, no other people, no notes. Laptop or tablet (not a phone). Webcam on. Chrome or Safari only — no Chrome on iPad, no Surface Pro, no VPN.
- STEP 3
45 minutes, 20 questions
Multiple choice and true/false, in English or French. The 45-minute timer runs continuously and does NOT pause if you disconnect — you can rejoin via the same link, but the clock keeps ticking. You need 15 correct to pass.
- STEP 4
Score on screen — but save it
The result page shows your score immediately. That score is temporary, not official: an officer reviews the online test afterwards to make it official, which takes a few days to a few weeks. IRCC sends no confirmation email and you cannot sign in to view the result again, so print or email the page to yourself before you close it. Don't pass and you can retake — up to two more attempts within the same 30 days.
How the online citizenship test works
Test format
IRCC · Online test instructionsThe test is taken online at home. You need a computer, laptop or tablet — not a mobile phone — with a working webcam and the latest version of Chrome or Safari. Chrome on iPad, Microsoft Surface Pro, and VPNs are explicitly not supported.
Questions are multiple choice or true/false. The test is offered in English or French — your choice. The 45-minute timer runs continuously: it cannot be paused, and keeps running if you disconnect (you can rejoin via the same link).
You have up to 3 attempts within 30 days of your test start date. You need 15 correct to pass. If all three attempts fail, IRCC will contact you about next steps — typically a hearing where they re-assess your application.
What you need on test day
IRCC · Online test instructions- ✓One piece of ID: your PR card (even if expired) or a valid government-issued ID with your photo and signature
- ✓Your application number and your Unique Client Identifier (UCI) — both from your IRCC account
- ✓The email address you most recently provided to IRCC
- ✓A computer or tablet (not a mobile phone) with a working webcam and microphone
- ✓Latest Chrome or Safari browser — not Chrome on iPad, not Microsoft Surface Pro, no VPN
- ✓A stable internet connection fast enough for videoconferencing — the 45-minute timer continues even if you disconnect
How to apply for citizenship
IRCC · Apply for citizenshipApplications are submitted online through the IRCC portal. You'll need to demonstrate language proficiency, prove your physical presence (1,095 days in 5 years), file Canadian taxes for any 3 of the last 5 years, and pay the fee — all before a test is scheduled.
For the full official process and current fees, see canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship.
Where every fact on this page comes from
Each section above links to the canada.ca page that backs it. The full list:
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