What do you need to know about the Canadian citizenship test?
The Canadian citizenship test has 20 multiple-choice questions, a 45-minute time limit, and requires 75% (15/20) to pass. It is self-administered online (not proctored). Most prepared applicants pass — IRCC allows up to 3 attempts. All questions come from the Discover Canada study guide. Applicants aged 18–54 must take it.
What Do You Need to Know About the Canadian Citizenship Test?
Everything you need to know about the Canadian citizenship test and how to prepare.
About the Citizenship Test
The official IRCC citizenship test has 20 multiple-choice questions. You must answer at least 15 correctly (75%) to pass. The test is drawn from a database of 300-400 questions maintained by IRCC.
You have 45 minutes to complete the 20 questions. As of March 2026, IRCC has officially expanded the time limit from the old 30-minute standard to 45 minutes.
As of March 9, 2026, IRCC has made the self-administered online test the default method for all applicants aged 18 to 54. In-person tests and Microsoft Teams tests may still be used for applicants with accommodation needs, technical difficulties, or at officer discretion.
You now have up to three attempts to pass the online test. This was expanded from the previous two-attempt limit. If you fail all three attempts, you will be referred to a citizenship hearing with a citizenship officer.
Yes. The citizenship test consists entirely of multiple-choice questions — each question has four options and you select one answer. There are 20 questions in total and you need 15 correct (75%) to pass.
No. The online citizenship test is self-administered — you complete it alone on your own device at home, without a live proctor watching in real time. However, IRCC can audit results and flag anomalies. The test must be completed in a single session within the 45-minute time limit.
IRCC does not publish an official pass rate. Based on IRCC annual report data, the large majority of prepared applicants pass the test. With up to three attempts now available (expanded from two in March 2026), most applicants ultimately succeed. Applicants who study the full Discover Canada guide consistently outperform those who do not.
Applicants aged 18 to 54 at the time of signing their citizenship application must take the test. Applicants under 18 or 55 and older are exempt from the test requirement.
The test covers: Canadian rights and responsibilities, Canadian history, government structure, federal elections, the justice system, Canadian symbols, the economy, geography and regions, and questions specific to your province or territory.
The official study guide is 'Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship,' published by IRCC. It is available as a free PDF download from the Government of Canada website. All test questions are based on this guide.
Eligibility & Application
You must: be a permanent resident, have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) within the 5 years before applying, have filed taxes for at least 3 years, demonstrate adequate knowledge of English or French (for ages 18-54), and pass the citizenship test.
As of June 2026, citizenship grant processing takes approximately 13 months from application to decision. There are currently about 326,000 applications in the queue. Processing times are calculated based on actual applicant outcomes, not targets.
The application fee for adult applicants (18 and older) is $630 CAD, which includes the processing fee ($530) and the right of citizenship fee ($100). For minors under 18, the fee is $100.
Using BecomeACitizen.ca
Yes! We offer 200+ practice questions completely free with no sign-up required. We also have a Pro plan ($9.99 CAD one-time) with 1,400+ questions, French translations, and detailed explanations.
No. IRCC does not publish the actual test questions. Our questions are practice questions based on the content of the official Discover Canada study guide. They closely mirror the format, difficulty, and topics of the real test to help you prepare effectively.
No. BecomeACitizen.ca is an independent study tool and is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the Government of Canada.
Yes! Premium questions include full French translations. You can toggle between English and French using the language button (FR/EN) in the navigation bar.
We recommend: (1) Study the Discover Canada guide first, (2) Use our chapter-by-chapter study mode to reinforce key topics, (3) Take timed mock tests to build confidence, (4) Use our Exam Simulator for a realistic test experience, and (5) Focus on weak areas using our spaced repetition review system.
Curious about pass rates, grant volumes, and topic difficulty? See full Canadian citizenship test statistics 2026 →
Looking for specific answers? See the most-asked citizenship test questions and answers →
Information on this page is based on official IRCC guidelines as of June 2026. Always verify current requirements at canada.ca.