How Long Citizenship Takes: From Application to Oath

Nobody can give you one exact figure for how long citizenship takes, because it depends on your application and on IRCC's current workload. But IRCC does say a good deal about each stage, and the stages run in a fixed order. Here they are, from IRCC's own pages, checked on 23 September 2026.

The overall figure

IRCC publishes the current processing time for a citizenship grant through its processing times tool. It changes as the queue changes, so check it on the day rather than relying on a number you read elsewhere.

1. Submitting, and the AOR

An online application reaches IRCC the moment you submit it, and you get an immediate confirmation email. That email is not the acknowledgment of receipt (AOR). IRCC first checks that the application is complete, then sends the AOR. A paper application has to arrive by mail before that check starts. IRCC's page on checking your application status explains this.

If the AOR does not come, the application may be incomplete and on its way back to you, or under further review.

2. The test invitation

IRCC says most people get their test invitation 1 to 3 months after receiving the AOR, and longer if the application is non-routine. You cannot book the test yourself or ask for an invitation. When it arrives, you have a 30-day window to take the online test, with three chances to pass.

3. The official result

The online score appears immediately but is unofficial. An officer reviews it, which IRCC says takes a few days or a few weeks. In person or on Microsoft Teams, the score is official right away.

4. Possibly, an interview

Depending on your case, IRCC may invite you to an interview to verify your identity, documents and eligibility. Not everyone gets one.

5. The ceremony invitation

After IRCC approves the application, it invites you to the ceremony, sending the invitation at least one week before the date. The wait before that depends on processing times and your situation.

6. The certificate

A paper certificate is handed to you at an in-person ceremony, or mailed two to four weeks after a virtual one. An electronic certificate is available in the IRCC Portal within five business days of IRCC receiving your signed oath form.

What slows an application down

• an incomplete application, which comes back before it is processed
• a non-routine file
• missing the test without contacting IRCC, which can lead to the application being abandoned
• failing all three test attempts, which adds a hearing

Using the time you have

The stretch between AOR and invitation is the most useful study time you will get: a known start and an end one to three months away. Our test timeline turns a date into a week-by-week plan, and our free practice questions let you check each chapter as you go.