Canadian Citizenship Ceremony and Oath Explained

If you have cleared your citizenship test and are waiting for the big day, you probably have a hundred questions running through your mind. What will happen at the ceremony? What exactly is the citizenship oath Canada requires? When will you receive your citizenship certificate Canada? This guide walks you through everything, step by step, so you walk into your ceremony feeling confident and fully prepared.

What Is the Canadian Citizenship Ceremony?

The citizenship ceremony is the final legal step in becoming a Canadian citizen and one of the most meaningful. It is a celebration of belonging, commitment, and the shared values that unite Canadians.

For Indian immigrants who have spent years building their lives in Canada, going through Express Entry, getting their PR, completing the physical presence requirement, and passing the citizenship test, this ceremony is the finish line. It is emotional, dignified, and something most new citizens remember for the rest of their lives.

For most citizenship applicants, the citizenship ceremony is the last step before becoming a Canadian citizen.

Two Formats: In-Person vs Virtual

IRCC currently offers two types of citizenship ceremonies. The format you attend is determined by IRCC and mentioned in your official invitation.

Canada’s virtual citizenship ceremony takes place over Zoom. Most virtual ceremonies include multiple individuals and last up to 1.5 hours. Family and friends can be present in the room with you.

For Indian expats living in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary, virtual ceremonies have become increasingly common and are still widely used in 2025 and 2026.

What to Bring to Your Citizenship Ceremony?

Whether your ceremony is in-person or virtual, IRCC expects you to have specific documents ready.

You may use your PR card, foreign passport or ID, and Canadian health card or driver’s licence to fulfil the two-piece identification requirement.

You cannot wear scented products such as perfumes and colognes as they may cause headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and skin irritation for others. Business attire appropriate for the occasion is recommended.

Step by Step: What Happens at an In-Person Ceremony

Here is exactly what you can expect when you walk in for your in-person citizenship ceremony.

Step 1: Registration and Identity Verification
At your designated time and location, you will be directed to the registration table for identity and Canadian citizenship eligibility verification, and to submit your PR card and signed consent form.

Step 2: Waiting for All Candidates to Register
Before the ceremony starts, you must wait in the ceremony room until all candidates are registered, even if you have already been registered yourself.

Step 3: The Citizenship Oath and O Canada
At the ceremony, you will swear the words of the citizenship oath and sing the national anthem, O Canada. This is the heart of the entire ceremony.

Step 4: Sign the OAC Form
During the ceremony, you are asked to sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form. Signing this form confirms that you took the oath.

Step 5: Receive Your Certificate and Congratulations
New citizens receive their certificate and are congratulated. A reception may take place afterwards and media may be present.

Step by Step: What Happens at a Virtual Ceremony

If your invitation is for a virtual ceremony, the process is slightly different but equally meaningful.

Step 1: Join via Zoom at Your Scheduled Time
On the date and time indicated in your invitation, use the link provided to attend the ceremony via the videoconference specified. Your invitation will include your seat number. Replace your screen name with this number to protect your privacy.

Step 2: Private Identity Check
During this phase, you will be invited to a private room to verify your identity, at which point you must temporarily remove any face coverings or medical masks. Your eligibility for citizenship will be reviewed, and you will be observed as you cut up your PR card.

Step 3: Main Ceremony — Oath and Anthem
Once all candidates are registered, you will be let in to the virtual ceremony room, where a presiding official and an IRCC official will oversee the video and administer the oath, as well as the singing of O Canada.

Step 4: Sign and Submit the OAC Form
Before ending the virtual ceremony, IRCC will give you important instructions, including how to sign and submit the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form included in your invitation. You must sign this form on the day you take the oath, not the day before or after.

Step 5: Photo Opportunity
At the end of the ceremony, you will get the opportunity to take a selfie with the judge on screen for personal use, to mark the special occasion. It is not permitted to take pictures or recordings at any other time during registration or the ceremony.

The Canadian Citizenship Oath

The citizenship oath Canada requires is one of the most important moments of the entire ceremony. IRCC encourages you to repeat it after the presiding official in both official languages if you can, as a symbol of your commitment to respect Canada’s two official languages, English and French.

Here is the current oath text as it appears on Canada.ca:

“I swear (or affirm) That I will be faithful And bear true allegiance To His Majesty King Charles the Third King of Canada His Heirs and Successors And that I will faithfully observe The laws of Canada Including the Constitution Which recognizes and affirms The Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples And fulfill my duties As a Canadian citizen.”

You can swear or affirm the oath. Swearing is for people who want to refer to their religious belief. If you want to swear the oath, you can bring your holy book to the ceremony. Affirming is for people who do not want to refer to a religious belief.

For many Indian immigrants, whether Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, or Christian, bringing a holy book is a personal and deeply meaningful choice.

What You Get After the Ceremony?

Once you have taken the oath, IRCC processes your citizenship and issues your citizenship certificate Canada. This is your official proof that you are a Canadian citizen.

A Canadian citizenship certificate proves that you are a Canadian citizen. You will get either an electronic or a paper certificate. At the ceremony, IRCC will ask you to confirm your choice of certificate format. Your certificate will show the date that you became a citizen.

E-Certificate vs Paper Certificate

Your e-certificate will be available in the IRCC Portal within 5 business days of IRCC receiving your signed and dated Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form.

The paper certificate will arrive by mail and can take anywhere between two to four weeks after receipt of the signed Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form.

Important: A citizenship certificate is evidence of your Canadian citizenship but it does not prove your identity and is not a passport or travel document. A border agent at an airport will not accept a citizenship certificate as a passport replacement. To travel abroad and return to Canada, you must have a valid passport or travel document.

Once you have your citizenship certificate, your next step will typically be applying for a Canadian passport.

What Happens If You Miss Your Ceremony?

Life happens — a medical emergency, a flight delay, an unavoidable family situation. Here is what IRCC says about missed ceremonies.

If you did not contact IRCC to reschedule and missed your ceremony, in some situations IRCC will automatically reschedule your ceremony and you will get a final invitation with the new time, date, and link or location. In other situations, IRCC will start the process to abandon and close your application. They will refund the right of citizenship fee if you are an adult. If you still want to be a Canadian citizen, you must start again with a new application.

The lesson here is simple: if you know you cannot attend, contact IRCC as early as possible.

Ceremony Wait Times in 2025 and 2026

Many Indian applicants who have passed their test ask how long they will wait for the ceremony. The honest answer is that wait times vary depending on where you live.

As of 2025, many applicants report waiting months even after all requirements are met. Increased numbers of immigration applicants transitioning to citizenship, processing slowdowns in certain provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, and administrative reviews for applicants with complex travel or residency histories are all contributing factors.

If you are waiting and feeling anxious, check your IRCC account tracker regularly. Updates can appear without an email notification, so do not rely on email alone.

Rights You Gain After the Ceremony

Once you become a Canadian citizen, you gain a new set of rights that are not available to permanent residents.

As a Canadian citizen, you have the right and responsibility to vote. After you become a Canadian citizen, you do not need to tell IRCC if you change your address.

Once you are a citizen, you no longer need to maintain or renew your PR card.

Practical Tips for Indian Expats Attending the Ceremony

A few things worth keeping in mind, especially if you are an Indian immigrant attending your first citizenship ceremony.

Practice O Canada beforehand
Most people know the words after the citizenship test, but nerves can play tricks on the day itself. Run through it a few times at home.

Dress formally
Indian traditional wear is absolutely welcome and is commonly seen at citizenship ceremonies across Canada. There is no rule that says you must wear Western clothes.

Bring your family
Guests are welcome at in-person ceremonies. For virtual ceremonies, your family can sit together with you in the same room and share the moment.

Choose the e-certificate if speed matters to you
Five business days is significantly faster than the two to four weeks needed for a paper version, and it is equally valid for all purposes including passport applications.

Do not wear strong perfume or cologne
IRCC explicitly asks all attendees to avoid scented products out of consideration for others in the room.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I bring my family to the ceremony?
  Yes. For in-person ceremonies, family and friends are welcome as guests. For virtual ceremonies, they can be present in the same room with you.
• Do I need to memorize the citizenship oath?
  No. The presiding official will lead the oath and you repeat after them. Practicing it beforehand, however, makes the moment feel more personal and meaningful.
• Can I wear Indian traditional clothes to the ceremony?
  Absolutely. Business attire is recommended but traditional and religious dress is fully accepted by IRCC.
• What happens to my PR card after the ceremony?
  At an in-person ceremony, you submit it during registration. At a virtual ceremony, you are required to cut it up on camera during the identity verification step.
• Is the e-certificate accepted for a Canadian passport application?
  Yes. Both the e-certificate and the paper certificate are valid proofs of citizenship. Neither is a passport or an identity card, but both work for passport applications.

Related Reading on IndianExpats.ca

If you are on your journey to Canadian citizenship, these articles on IndianExpats.ca will help you at every stage.

Canadian Citizenship Test Guide for Indian Applicants

Express Entry Guide for Indian Professionals

OCI Card Requirements for Indians Living in Canada

CRS Score and How to Improve It as an Indian Applicant

The Canadian citizenship ceremony is not just paperwork. It is the moment years of hard work, sacrifice, and planning crystallize into something real and permanent. The citizenship oath Canada asks you to take is a genuine commitment, and the citizenship certificate Canada issues you afterwards opens doors that were previously closed as a permanent resident. If you are an Indian expat working toward this milestone, know that the ceremony itself is beautiful, well organized, and absolutely worth every step it took to get there.