VIRTUAL CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY

Immigration law

The Canadian Citizenship Ceremony is a significant occasion where you officially become a Canadian citizen. Those who pass the citizenship test and interview will be invited to attend this ceremony.

At the event, all applicants must sing the Canadian national anthem and recite the Oath of Citizenship in either English or French in front of a judge. Upon finishing these steps, they will receive their Canadian citizenship.

These ceremonies used to take place in person, but during the pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) switched to virtual ceremonies to follow social distancing rules and help reduce the backlog.

Canada's virtual citizenship ceremony happens over Zoom, where you can officially become a citizen without ever having to change out of your pajamas. These ceremonies usually feature a whole crowd of future citizens and last about 1.5 hours-just enough time for your cat to make a surprise appearance on camera. Plus, family and friends can join you in the room, so you can finally prove to them that you’re not just “the person who keeps talking about Canada.”

Even though pandemic restrictions are a thing of the past, virtual ceremonies have outnumbered in-person ones like a cat meme in a group chat. Between January and September 2023, IRCC hosted an average of 52 in-person citizenship ceremonies and a whopping 224 virtual ceremonies each month. Clearly, more people are opting for the comfort of their couch over uncomfortable folding chairs.

Citizenship ceremonies are significant events that take place daily in Canada. They serve as an important ritual celebrating an individual’s dedication to their new country, as well as the nation's promise to support them in return.

Canada’s virtual citizenship ceremony is held via Zoom. Most of these ceremonies involve several participants and last up to 1.5 hours. You can have family and friends with you in the same room. A Presiding Official, such as a citizenship judge, along with an IRCC representative, will conduct the ceremony and administer the oath.

It’s important to dress appropriately, with business attire recommended. Traditional or religious clothing and head coverings are also permitted.

You must be in Canada to take the Oath of Citizenship. If you're outside the country on that date, you’ll need to contact IRCC and explain your situation in detail.

You can anticipate receiving an email or phone call from IRCC one to two weeks before your ceremony. This invitation will include the date and time of the ceremony, details on what to bring, instructions for rescheduling if necessary, and the Zoom link.

To join a video oath ceremony, you'll need some essential gear: internet access and a device-like a computer, tablet, or phone that can handle audio or video. If you’re still stuck with a flip phone and dial-up, it’s time to upgrade. Just grab a modern device and download Zoom. Trust me, your future self will thank you and so will your Wi-Fi.

IRCC suggests picking a simple background for your virtual citizenship ceremony. Make sure your camera is steady and shows your head and shoulders. Zoom's virtual backgrounds aren’t a good idea, but you can show off Canadian items or wear red and white.

You will get a checklist of items to have ready for your video oath ceremony. This includes your PR card (even if it's expired) or you’re Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), plus your record of landing if you became a PR before June 28, 2002.

You will also need two pieces of ID; one can be your PR card, while the other should be a Canadian federal, provincial, or territorial ID like a health card or driver’s license. Don't forget a good pair of scissors for cutting up your PR card during the session. If you’d like, you can bring a holy book for the Oath of Citizenship and your phone for a selfie at the end of the ceremony.

On the big day, just click the Zoom link at the scheduled time and dive into the session. Don’t forget to turn on your audio and video-unless you want to channel your inner mystery guest. Trust me, they want to see your face, not just hear your voice echoing like a ghost.

The virtual ceremony has two parts: the registration phase and the video oath phase.

The first phase happens in a separate Zoom Room, where an IRCC official will verify your identity. You will need to cut your PR card in front of the camera and answer a few questions, including how you'd like to receive your citizenship certificate.

After registration, you will return to the main room for the oath ceremony, which is the central part of the citizenship event.

During the ceremony, a judge will welcome you and explain what it means to be a Canadian citizen. Then, you’ll recite the Oath of Citizenship and sing the national anthem with the other participants (so it might be a good idea to practice both beforehand).

At the end, you'll have a chance to take a selfie with the judge on the screen to commemorate the occasion, but keep in mind that photos and recordings are not allowed at any other time during the event.

If you get disconnected, you can try to reconnect using the same Zoom link and passcode. If that does not work, you will need to contact IRCC to reschedule for another time.

After the ceremony, you will need to sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form and email it to IRCC right away. This form will be provided to you before the ceremony. If you prefer a printed version, make sure to scan or take a photo of the signed form.

Alternatively, you can sign the form electronically. Once it's signed, email the document to IRCC as a PDF or JPG.

Once IRCC processes your form, you'll receive your Canadian citizenship certificate, which serves as proof of your citizenship. You can choose between two delivery options: an e-certificate available in the IRCC portal within five business days of them receiving your signed form, or a paper certificate that will arrive by mail, taking about two to four weeks.

After you get your certificate, you can use it to apply for a Canadian passport. If you haven’t received your paper certificate after six weeks, you should reach out to IRCC.

Just a friendly reminder: your citizenship certificate is not a travel document, so if you're planning to jet off somewhere, you’ll need to apply for a Canadian passport. Unless you plan to swim there-though I hear the swim team is pretty exclusive.

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VIRTUAL CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY