The citizenship test
Online citizenship test: is your setup ready?
Choose your device and browser, say whether your webcam works and whether a VPN is on: the checker lists what to fix before the test starts.
Is my device ready for the online test?
Ready for the test
Yes
| To fix | nothing |
| Timer, no pause | 45 minutes |
| ID | PR card, even expired, or photo ID with signature |
The Canadian citizenship test is now taken online by default, at home, under webcam supervision. When IRCC invites you, a period of 30 days opens, and you can sit the test up to 3 times within it. The technical rules are strict: a desktop, laptop or tablet with a working webcam; not a mobile phone, not a Surface Pro, and not Chrome on an iPad; Chrome or Safari as the browser; and no VPN. You need identification: your permanent resident card, even if expired, or another photo ID that shows your signature. The 45-minute timer cannot be paused and warns you when five minutes remain. You must be alone, with no other device, browser tab or notes. The score appears as soon as you submit, but it is unofficial until an officer reviews the session, which can take days or weeks; the result is then Pass, Fail or Invalidated. If you miss the online test, IRCC sends a new invitation the first time; a second miss requires a written reason, or the application may be treated as abandoned. Other formats exist on request: in person or orally by video.
Questions, counts and fees by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How questions and dates are built
The setup checklist
| Item | Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Device | desktop, laptop or tablet with a webcam | mobile phone, Surface Pro |
| Browser | Chrome or Safari | other browsers; Chrome on an iPad |
| Network | direct connection | VPN |
| ID | PR card (even expired) or photo ID with signature | ID without photo or signature |
| Room | alone, quiet, face visible | other people, other devices, extra tabs, notes |
The checker at the top of the page covers device, browser, webcam and VPN. Room conditions are up to you: clear the desk, close every other program and tab, silence and put away your phone, and make sure nobody will walk in for the next 45 minutes.
The day before
Run through the setup at the same hour and in the same room you plan to use. Restart the computer, install pending updates so none starts during the test, and close messaging apps that might pop up notifications. Check the lighting: a lamp in front of you works better than a window behind you, which turns your face into a silhouette. Charge the laptop or tablet and keep the charger plugged in. Put your ID on the desk. These steps take a quarter of an hour and remove most causes of a stressful start or an invalidated session.
During the test
You answer 20 questions, multiple choice or true or false, in English or French. The timer runs for 45 minutes without a pause button and warns you when five minutes are left. Keep your face in the camera frame throughout. Reading aloud, looking away for long periods or leaving the room can all look like breaches when the session is reviewed. Our timed mock test uses the same clock, so you can learn your pace beforehand.
After you submit
A score appears immediately, but IRCC treats it as unofficial. An officer reviews the session, which can take from a few days to a few weeks, and records the result as Pass, Fail or Invalidated. Invalidated means the session broke the rules, so it is the one result you control completely through your setup. If you pass, IRCC may invite you to an interview; if you fail, you can try again within the same 30-day period while attempts remain. The pass mark page explains scores and attempts in detail.
If you miss it
Missing the online test once is not fatal. IRCC automatically sends a new invitation, which opens a new 30-day period with 3 chances again. A second miss is different: you have to email IRCC with the reason, and without a reason the application may be considered abandoned. For in-person or video tests, IRCC asks for an explanation or reschedules once automatically, and that new date is final. The rules are on IRCC's missed test page.
Prepare the content as well as the computer
The technical side takes an evening; the knowledge side takes weeks. Work through the practice sets chapter by chapter and read the explanations in the question bank. Full requirements and the system check are on IRCC's online test page, and the format is described on its how the test works page.