What to Bring to Your Citizenship Ceremony

Forgetting a document is the one thing that can hold you up on ceremony day. The list is short, but the rules on identification are specific. This is IRCC's list, from its page on what to bring to the ceremony, checked on 23 September 2026.

Everyone brings

• Your ceremony invitation
• One proof of permanent residence: your permanent resident (PR) card, even if it has expired, or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688)

For a minor, the PR card is needed even if the minor does not attend.

Adults: two pieces of ID

Adult applicants bring two pieces of identification, and at least one must show both your photo and your signature. IRCC's examples of accepted ID include:

• your PR card
• an original passport or other travel document
• a government-issued foreign ID
• a health card
• a driver's licence
• an age of majority card
• a Certificate of Indian Status
• a senior citizen's card
• a document issued after 1 January 1994 by Quebec's Registrar of Civil Status

Two conditions catch people out. If one of your two pieces is the PR card, the other must be issued by the federal government or a provincial or territorial government. And a foreign ID that is not in English or French needs a translation with an affidavit from the translator.

Minors: two pieces of ID

Minor applicants also bring two pieces of ID, but they do not need a photo or signature. Accepted examples include a passport, the PR card, a school ID card, a health card, a Certificate of Indian Status, government-issued foreign ID, and for a child under school age, a hospital or immunization record. The same PR-card rule applies: if one is the PR card, the other must be issued by a Canadian government.

Parents and guardians who applied for a minor: one piece of ID

The parent or guardian brings one piece of ID from a list much like the adult list: PR card, passport, government-issued foreign ID, health card, driver's licence and similar.

If you have an old Record of Landing

If you became a permanent resident before 28 June 2002 and still have your Record of Landing (IMM 1000), bring it. IRCC's advice is to keep your Record of Landing or Confirmation of Permanent Residence afterwards, because you may need it later when applying for benefits such as Old Age Security.

A simple way to get it right

• Put the invitation and your proof of permanent residence in one envelope the night before
• Check that at least one ID shows your photo and signature
• If you are using your PR card as ID, make sure the second one is government-issued in Canada
• Check nothing has expired, other than the PR card, which may be expired

The ceremony itself asks nothing more of you than this. If a family member is still preparing for the test, our free practice questions are organised by chapter of Discover Canada.