What is the "head tax"?
Quick answer: Race-based entry fee charged for Chinese entering Canada. In our practice tests 74% of 84 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Fee charged for anyone entering Canada after 1900”.
Why is this the correct answer?
The "head tax" was a race-based entry fee imposed on Chinese immigrants entering Canada from 1885 to 1923. The Canadian government formally apologized for this discriminatory policy in 2006.
Study Tip
The "head tax" refers to a specific type of fee that was imposed on a particular group of people entering Canada. This fee was enacted in the late 19th century as part of a larger policy aimed at regulating immigration.
What should you know about this topic?
The head tax was a race-based entry fee charged to Chinese immigrants coming to Canada. It began in 1885, the same year the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed, and the fee was later raised several times. Thousands of Chinese workers had helped build the railway through dangerous mountain terrain in British Columbia, yet once the work was done, the government tried to limit Chinese immigration.
Discover Canada describes the head tax as an example of how Canada has not always lived up to its ideals. Other examples include the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923, which almost completely stopped Chinese immigration until it was repealed in 1947, and the turning away of the Komagata Maru, a ship carrying Sikh, Muslim and Hindu passengers from India, in 1914. The fee rose from 50 dollars at first to 500 dollars by 1903.
In 2006 the Government of Canada formally apologized for the head tax. Today Canadians of Chinese origin are a large and important part of the country's population, and many Chinese communities across Canada trace their roots back to railway workers and early settlers. For the test, connect this question to the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, immigration history and the importance of fairness and equality for all.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- A tax imposed on beer beginning in 1867: This is not a real historical fact; the head tax had nothing to do with alcohol.
- Fee charged for anyone entering Canada after 1900: The head tax applied only to Chinese immigrants, starting in 1885, not to all newcomers.
- Fee charged for moving westward in the early 1900s: Canadians did not pay to move west; the government actually encouraged settlement of the Prairies.
What is the most common mistake?
The head tax was not a general immigration fee or a tax on goods. It targeted one group, Chinese immigrants, because of race.
How can you remember the answer?
Picture the last spike of the railway in 1885 next to the head tax in 1885: Chinese workers built the railway, then were charged to enter.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
74% of 84 practice answers from about 59 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Fee charged for anyone entering Canada after 1900", chosen 11% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 58th hardest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canada's History chapter is 68% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Canada's History questions.
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Test yourself with questions from Canada's History. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canada's History section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 61 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.