The Oath of Citizenship: Its Words and Meaning

Taking the oath is the moment you become a Canadian citizen. It is short, and you repeat it after the presiding official, but it is worth knowing before the day, both the words and what they commit you to.

The words

This is the oath as IRCC publishes it on its page about what to expect at the ceremony, checked on 23 September 2026:

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.

IRCC encourages you to repeat it in both English and French if you can, as a sign of your commitment to Canada's two official languages.

What has changed

If you learned the oath from an older source, two things are different. It names King Charles the Third, and it now includes a commitment to observe a Constitution that recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Discover Canada's own oath chapter notes both changes.

What it means

Allegiance to the King

Discover Canada explains why Canadians pledge loyalty to a person rather than to a flag or a document. In a constitutional monarchy, the Sovereign represents all Canadians, and stands for the Constitution, the flag and the country together. The guide's phrase is that Canada is personified by the Sovereign, just as the Sovereign is personified by Canada. The King is Canada's head of state; the Prime Minister leads the government.

Observing the laws and the Constitution

The oath commits you to obey Canada's laws, including the Constitution. That is the same rule of law that applies to everyone in Canada, including those who govern.

The rights of Indigenous peoples

The Constitution recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. By naming them, the oath makes respecting those rights part of what you promise.

Your duties as a citizen

The last line is a promise to fulfill the responsibilities of citizenship. Discover Canada lists them, among others: obeying the law, taking responsibility for yourself and your family, serving on a jury when called, voting, helping others in the community, and protecting Canada's heritage and environment.

Swearing or affirming

You can swear the oath or affirm it, and they carry the same weight.

• Swearing is for people who want to refer to a religious belief. You may bring your holy book to the ceremony.
• Affirming is for people who do not want to refer to a religious belief.

Practise it

IRCC encourages you to practise the oath and O Canada before the ceremony. The oath's chapter of Discover Canada is also one of the chapters the test draws on. Our practice questions on the oath and its study notes cover it.