The Citizenship Hearing: What to Expect

A hearing is what IRCC arranges when the written test has not worked out three times. It sounds more serious than it is. It is a conversation with a citizenship official that covers the same ground as the test, in a different format. Here is what IRCC says happens, from its page about test results and next steps, checked on 23 September 2026.

When you are invited to one

You get three chances to pass the citizenship test within your 30-day test period. If you fail all three, IRCC invites you to a hearing with a citizenship official.

A hearing is not the same thing as an interview, and the two are easy to confuse:

• An interview can happen after you pass the test, depending on your case. IRCC uses it to verify your identity, authenticate photocopies of your documents and check that you are eligible. It does not necessarily end in a final decision.
• A hearing follows three failed attempts at the test. It is where your knowledge of Canada, and possibly your residence and language, are assessed in person.

What the official may ask

Depending on the type of hearing you are invited to, the official may ask you questions orally in three areas.

• Your knowledge of Canada. These are similar to the test questions. IRCC says the oral knowledge test has 20 questions and you must pass 15, the same proportion as the written test.
• Your residence in Canada. The official may ask about the time you have lived here.
• Your language skills in English or French. The official can ask up to 9 questions, and you must pass 6.

How long it takes

IRCC says the hearing lasts 30 to 90 minutes. It helps IRCC verify whether you are eligible for Canadian citizenship.

What happens afterwards

After the hearing, IRCC sends you a letter with the results.

• If you pass, you wait for your invitation to the citizenship ceremony, exactly as someone who passed the written test does.
• If you fail, IRCC refuses your application. You would need to apply again and pay the fees again if you still want to become a citizen.

IRCC also says you will not receive status updates by email, so check the online application status tracker to see where your application stands.

How to prepare

The content is the same as the written test, but answering aloud is a different skill from choosing an option on a screen. A few things help:

• Practise answering questions out loud, in full sentences, rather than only recognising the right option
• Go back to the chapters of Discover Canada that cost you points on your three attempts, rather than the whole guide
• If language is a concern, practise speaking about everyday topics in English or French, since the official is assessing whether you can hold a basic conversation
• Keep your application details and any documents about your time in Canada organised, in case residence comes up

Our study guide reduces each chapter to the facts it is tested on, and the free practice questions are grouped by chapter so you can find the weak ones quickly. Saying each answer aloud before you check it is a simple way to turn the same questions into practice for an oral format.