Canada Related

My Canadian Citizenship Journey: 99 Days from Application to Oath Invitation

By Gopi · Last verified

I came to Canada as a permanent resident in 2019. In 2022, when I became eligible, I applied for Canadian citizenship myself, without an agent. From the day I applied to the day I was invited to my oath ceremony took just 99 days. Then I did something many people don’t know they’re allowed to do: I asked to postpone my oath, because I had a trip to India already booked. Here’s the whole journey, step by step, including what came after: my Canadian passport, surrendering my Indian passport and getting my OCI card.

In short

  • 99 days: from sending my application in May 2022 to being called for my oath (a virtual ceremony on September 1, 2022).
  • The test: I spent about 60 to 80 hours reading the official Discover Canada guide, and nothing else. My wife scored 20/20; I scored 19/20.
  • You can postpone your oath. IRCC lets you ask to reschedule, for example if you must travel. I did, and IRCC agreed.
  • In-person oath in Mississauga, December 2022, with my physical citizenship certificate handed over on the spot.
  • Straight after: Canadian passport the next day (it came within 10 days), then I surrendered my Indian passport (about 6 weeks; India doesn’t allow dual citizenship) and applied for OCI (about 6 more weeks).
  • My timeline isn’t yours: always check IRCC’s current processing times.
Video thumbnail: My 99-day Canadian citizenship timeline, including postponing my oath Watch on YouTube: My 99-day Canadian citizenship timeline, including postponing my oath

My journey, step by step

Tap through each step, or scroll if you prefer.

Step 1 of 9 · May 2022

Checked eligibility and applied

Three years after landing as a permanent resident, I checked my days in Canada with IRCC's physical presence calculator, read the eligibility rules, and filled in the application myself. A few parts were confusing, but the logic made sense once I went through it slowly. IRCC received it by the end of May.

My tip: Use the official physical presence calculator before you apply, and keep your travel dates handy.

IRCC: who can apply for citizenship (opens in a new tab)

Video thumbnail: Canada citizenship eligibility, explained Watch on YouTube: Canada citizenship eligibility, explained

Step 2 of 9 · Early June 2022

Application acknowledged

In the first week of June, IRCC confirmed they had received my documents and that my application was in process.

My tip: Add emails ending in @cic.gc.ca to your safe senders list so nothing lands in spam.

Video thumbnail: Canada citizenship checklist, step by step Watch on YouTube: Canada citizenship checklist, step by step

Step 3 of 9 · Mid-July 2022

Citizenship test

By mid-July I was invited to take the citizenship test online, with a three-week window to take it. I spent about 60 to 80 hours reading IRCC's Discover Canada guide, and nothing else. My wife studied for two days. She scored 20 out of 20; I scored 19. The result appears on screen straight away, but IRCC updates your file only after its own checks.

My tip: Stick to the official Discover Canada guide and its study questions. Coming from India, I found many topics easy to relate to.

IRCC: study for the citizenship test (opens in a new tab)

Step 4 of 9 · August 2022 (day 99)

Invited to the oath

After the test came a quiet period of background and security checks. In August I was invited to a virtual oath ceremony on September 1: 99 days after I applied.

Step 5 of 9 · August 2022

Asked to postpone my oath

I had a trip to India booked for the first week of October. If I took the oath on September 1, I'd hand in my PR card and become a citizen, but I wouldn't have a Canadian passport yet, and I'd need it, plus an Indian visa, to travel and come back. There was no guarantee how fast that would happen. The helpdesk suggested postponing my trip, but too much was already arranged, so I emailed IRCC asking to reschedule my oath and attached my travel documents. About two weeks later, IRCC agreed: they'd reschedule once I was back, and asked for my boarding passes and e-tickets.

My tip: Ask early, explain your reason clearly, and attach proof. IRCC lists travel as a reason you can ask to reschedule.

IRCC: rescheduling your ceremony (opens in a new tab)

Video thumbnail: How to use the IRCC web form for citizenship questions Watch on YouTube: How to use the IRCC web form for citizenship questions

Step 6 of 9 · October to November 2022

Travelled, came back, told IRCC

We travelled to India as permanent residents, enjoyed our time with family, came back, and told IRCC we were ready to take the oath any time.

Step 7 of 9 · December 2022

In-person oath in Mississauga

In the first week of December, I was invited to an in-person ceremony in Mississauga about a week later. As far as I knew, ours was one of the first in-person ceremonies after the COVID restrictions, when everything had gone virtual. There were 112 new Canadians from about 35 countries. We received our physical citizenship certificates right there.

My tip: If you can choose, I recommend in person. Seeing everyone around you take the oath together is something a video call can't give you.

Step 8 of 9 · The day after the oath

Canadian passport, as a priority

I applied for my Canadian passport the very next day, so that I could travel at short notice without any hassle. It arrived within 10 days.

Canadian passports (Government of Canada) (opens in a new tab)

Video thumbnail: Adult passport (Canada): how to apply, step by step Watch on YouTube: Adult passport (Canada): how to apply, step by step

Step 9 of 9 · Once my passport arrived

Surrendered my Indian passport, then OCI

India doesn't allow dual citizenship, so once I had my Canadian passport in hand, I surrendered my Indian passport, which took about 6 weeks, and then applied for my OCI card, which took about another 6 weeks. That way I could travel to India any time and stay compliant with Indian law too.

My tip: Keep your surrender certificate safe: you need it for your OCI application and Indian visas.

Consulate General of India, Toronto: passport surrender (opens in a new tab)

Video thumbnail: Surrender your Indian passport and apply for OCI: all scenarios Watch on YouTube: Surrender your Indian passport and apply for OCI: all scenarios

How I prepared for the citizenship test

My take

One official book, about 60 to 80 hours of reading, and the practice questions in that same book. I didn’t use any other material.

  • The only book I used: IRCC’s free study guide, Discover Canada. IRCC says all the test questions are based on it, and that using other material is at your own risk.
  • Practice: the guide has study questions similar to the real test.
  • The test itself: 20 multiple-choice and true-or-false questions; you need at least 15 right (75%) to pass. You take it if you’re 18 to 54 when you sign your application (IRCC test results page).
  • Our results: my wife 20/20 after two days of study; me 19/20 after about 60 to 80 hours of reading.

Yes, you can postpone your citizenship oath

My take

Many people think that once the oath invitation comes, they must take it or lose everything. That isn’t how it worked for me, and it isn’t what IRCC’s own page says.

IRCC lists reasons you can ask to reschedule your ceremony, including when you’re not available because you must travel, you’re outside Canada, you’re sick, or you can’t arrange child care for an in-person ceremony. You send the request within the 30 days after the ceremony date in your invitation, by replying to the office that invited you (preferred) or through IRCC’s web form. IRCC decides based on how many times you’ve asked and whether your reason is reasonable (IRCC).

Why I chose to postpone: at the ceremony, IRCC collects your PR card, because you’re no longer a permanent resident once you’re a citizen. Without a Canadian passport yet, travelling abroad and returning would have depended on how fast my passport and an Indian visa came through. I didn’t want that uncertainty with a family trip already booked.

The in-person ceremony, and our toddler

The day itself: security checks at the entrance, document checks, a seat number on our papers, welcome kits, and two officials guiding over 100 new Canadians to their seats.

Our invitation asked us not to bring children and to arrange child care. We had no option but to bring our toddler. As the ceremony began, she became fussy. The citizenship judge was incredibly kind: he asked me to stand at the back with her, and once she calmed down, I took the oath from the back of the room with everyone else.

A word of caution

Our day went well, but don’t rely on that. Follow what your invitation says about guests and children. IRCC asks you to stay in the ceremony room for the entire ceremony, recommends bringing a guest to help if your child attends, and says that if you can’t arrange child care, you can contact them to reschedule (IRCC).

After the oath: passport, surrender and OCI (for Indians)

My take

I treated the steps after the oath as urgent: Canadian passport first, then the Indian passport surrender, then OCI. It meant I could travel at short notice and stayed on the right side of both countries’ rules.

  1. Canadian passport, as a priority, so I could travel without hassle. I applied the day after my oath and had it within 10 days.
  2. Surrender the Indian passport. The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, doesn’t allow dual citizenship, and under the Passports Act, 1967, it’s a punishable offence to keep, renew or travel on an Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship. The Consulate General of India in Toronto says any Indian citizen who has acquired Canadian citizenship is mandatorily required to surrender their Indian passport (Consulate General of India, Toronto; BLS, the consulate’s application centre).
  3. Keep the surrender certificate. It’s needed for your OCI application, Indian visas and other consular services if you became a Canadian citizen on or after June 1, 2010.
  4. Apply for OCI, so you can travel to India whenever you need to.

In my case, the surrender took about 6 weeks and the OCI about another 6 weeks, so plan roughly three months from Canadian passport to OCI. Processing times change, so check the current ones with BLS and the consulate.

All my surrender and OCI videos are in my India guide.

All my citizenship and passport videos

Questions people ask

Can I postpone my Canadian citizenship oath?

You can ask to. IRCC lists reasons such as needing to travel, being outside Canada, being sick or not being able to arrange child care. Send your request within 30 days after the ceremony date in your invitation; IRCC decides based on your reason and how many times you’ve asked. Mine was approved about two weeks after I asked.

How long does Canadian citizenship take?

It depends on IRCC’s current processing times and your situation. Mine took 99 days from application to oath invitation in 2022, which was faster than usual. Check IRCC’s current processing times rather than relying on anyone’s personal timeline, including mine.

What do I study for the citizenship test?

IRCC’s free Discover Canada guide. IRCC says all test questions are based on it. That’s the only material I used.

Do Indians have to surrender their Indian passport after becoming Canadian?

Yes. India doesn’t allow dual citizenship, and the Consulate General of India in Toronto says anyone who has acquired Canadian citizenship must surrender their Indian passport. You need the surrender certificate to apply for OCI.

This is my personal experience in 2022, not immigration or legal advice. IRCC and Indian government rules, timelines and procedures change: always check the official pages linked above, and speak to a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer about your own case.

What next

Read the surrender certificate and OCI questions, or follow every step in my Canada guide and India guide.

Spot something outdated? Tell me in the YouTube comments on the related video, or use the contact form.