Prepare for the citizenship ceremony

The citizenship ceremony is your final step to becoming a Canadian citizen.

During your ceremony, you will:

• take the Oath of Citizenship
• get your citizenship certificate
• sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form

We will send you a ceremony notice if you meet all of the conditions to:

• become a Canadian citizen or
• get your Canadian citizenship back

The notice will tell you when and where we are holding your ceremony. The events take place all across the country and at all times of the year. Community groups often host the ceremonies.

There are also special ceremonies, including on Canada Day and during Citizenship Week.

What to expect

At the citizenship ceremony:

• a citizenship judge or presiding official will:
  • preside over the ceremony
  • lead the Oath of Citizenship
• many people will take the oath with you
• we’ll give you the words to:
  • the Oath
  • our National Anthem, O Canada
• you’ll read the words to the Oath as a group
• you’ll sing our National Anthem, in English or French, or bilingually, as a group

If you want to swear the Oath on your holy book, bring it with you.

Once you have taken the Oath of Citizenship, you will be a Canadian citizen. We’ll give you your citizenship certificate as your proof that you’re a Canadian citizen. It will show the date that you became a citizen. Keep it in a safe place.