What Is the Oath of Citizenship? Full Wording, Ceremony & What to Expect (2026)

The Oath of Citizenship is the final step to becoming a Canadian citizen. After you pass the citizenship test and meet every other requirement, you take the Oath at a citizenship ceremony — and the moment you finish, you are officially Canadian. Here is the exact wording, when you take it, and what to expect on the day.

What is the Oath of Citizenship?

The Oath of Citizenship is a formal promise of allegiance that every new citizen aged 14 and older must make to become Canadian. You say the Oath out loud at a citizenship ceremony, in person or virtually. It is the precise legal moment your citizenship takes effect — not the day you pass the test, and not the day your application is approved.

What is the exact wording of the Oath of Citizenship in 2026?

The version in the box above is the current official Oath. Two details often surprise applicants:

• It names King Charles III. Since the accession of King Charles III in September 2022, the Oath refers to “His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of Canada,” replacing the earlier reference to Queen Elizabeth II.
• It recognizes Indigenous and treaty rights. In June 2021, the Oath was amended to explicitly affirm “the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples” — fulfilling the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 94.

You may either swear the Oath (a religious form) or affirm it (a secular form, with no reference to God). Both have identical legal effect — the choice is entirely yours.

When do you take the Oath of Citizenship?

The Oath comes at the very end of the citizenship journey. The usual order is:

1. Submit your application and meet the residency requirement (1,095 days within 5 years)
2. Pass the citizenship test (required for applicants aged 18–54)
3. Receive an invitation to a citizenship ceremony
4. Take the Oath of Citizenship at the ceremony
5. Receive your Canadian citizenship certificate

Applicants 14 and older must take the Oath. Children under 14 become citizens without taking it.

What happens at a Canadian citizenship ceremony?

The ceremony usually lasts about an hour and is led by a citizenship official (a judge or an IRCC officer). You will:

• Check in and confirm your identity
• Listen to a short address about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship
• Recite the Oath of Citizenship together, led by the official, in English or French
• Sign the Oath or Affirmation form
• Receive your citizenship certificate
• Sing the national anthem, “O Canada”

Ceremonies may be held in person or over video. Either way, the Oath is the heart of the event.

Do you have to memorize the Oath for the citizenship test?

No. The citizenship test never asks you to recite the Oath, and you do not need to memorize it. The test draws entirely from the Discover Canada guide — history, government, rights, and geography. At the ceremony you read the Oath aloud from a card or screen, so there is nothing to memorize in advance. That said, understanding what the Oath means — allegiance to the Crown, obeying the law, and respecting Indigenous and treaty rights — reflects exactly the kind of civic knowledge the test rewards.

Can you take the Oath by affirmation instead of swearing?

Yes. If you prefer not to swear a religious oath, you can affirm instead. The affirmation removes the religious framing but carries the same legal weight, and no one will question your choice. You simply tell the ceremony official your preference beforehand.

Related: See the full path in Canadian Citizenship Application 2026: Eligibility, Test & Oath, or download the official guide in Discover Canada Study Guide PDF — Free Download.