The Online Citizenship Test: Webcam, Teams or In Person, and How to Prepare

Which test formats exist

IRCC names three formats:

• Online: the default for most applicants. You take it wherever you are with the link in your invitation, a webcam monitors you, and you have 30 days to complete it.
• In person: offered as an accommodation. The test can be on paper, alone or with other test takers, or oral. IRCC schedules a date, time and place.
• Microsoft Teams: also an accommodation. It is an oral test over a scheduled video call.

You ask for an accommodation in your application, or after you receive your invitation if you did not ask earlier, and IRCC then contacts you. In every format you have 3 chances to pass and you can take the test in English or French. Applicants who are 18 to 54 on the day they sign the application must take the test in most cases.

Your invitation

You cannot book the test yourself. IRCC says to wait for the invitation, which usually arrives 1 to 3 months after the acknowledgement of receipt. It comes by email from an address ending in @cic.gc.ca or @canada.ca, so check your junk folder.

The invitation is a PDF with instructions for before, during and after the test. It contains the start and end dates (an online test runs for 30 days), the test link or directions for an in-person test, your application number and UCI, and the email address to contact IRCC. You can test at any time in the 30-day period, including weekends and holidays, but you cannot sign in before or after it. IRCC says the invitation usually arrives at least 2 to 3 business days before the start date. If that window has passed with nothing in your inbox, you can email IRCC with an explanation, your application number and your UCI.

What you need for the online test

IRCC lists these requirements:

• identification: your permanent resident card (even if expired), or a valid photo ID showing your photo and signature, such as a driver's licence or health card
• a desktop computer, laptop or tablet with a webcam; phones are not allowed, and neither are Chrome on an iPad, a Microsoft Surface Pro or a VPN
• the Chrome or Safari browser
• a reliable internet connection
• good lighting so the webcam can see you clearly

You do not need to be in Canada, and a public library or public computer is acceptable. Try the setup a day early: check the camera, the browser and the connection, and turn off any VPN and browser extensions.

Rules during the test

During the test the webcam takes photos at random moments. They are checked against your test photo and your application photos, to confirm who you are and that nobody is helping you. For the test to be valid you must:

• take it alone
• take it in the same place where you took your ID and face photos
• remove items with personal information from the background, such as diplomas
• close all other tabs, windows and programs, and keep your face fully visible

You must not use other devices, look at study materials or use the browser's back button. IRCC says the test may be declared invalid, and you may have to retake it, if there are technical problems or signs of cheating. You may wear traditional or religious clothing, head coverings and glasses as long as your face is clearly visible.

How test day runs, step by step

1. Sign in only after you have your invitation, with your application number and UCI, and accept the privacy notice and terms. 2. Select "Email me the test link." The link goes to the email on your application (or your representative's). It can take a few minutes, and it expires after 15 minutes. If you asked for several, use the most recent one. 3. Confirm your identity by entering your application number and UCI again. 4. Take photos of your ID and of yourself. Blurred photos may invalidate the test. 5. Select "Start the test." The 45-minute timer starts and cannot be stopped.

The test submits itself when time runs out, and you get a warning with 5 minutes left. If you are disconnected or close the test by mistake, the timer keeps running, so sign in again or use the most recent link as soon as possible.

If something goes wrong

IRCC has a list of common problems. A few examples:

• A 403 error when you sign in: turn off your VPN and extensions, try another device or connection, or wait a few hours.
• "You can't take the test right now": you may have signed in before the invitation, outside your 30-day period, or with a wrong application number or UCI.
• No test link: check spam for an @cic.gc.ca address, add the sender to your safe list, request it again and turn off your VPN. If it still does not arrive, email the address in your invitation.
• Webcam will not connect: try a different device. If you cannot get back within 45 minutes, email the address in the invitation with your application number and UCI. IRCC says rescheduling usually takes 4 to 8 weeks.

After the test has started, photos cannot be retaken. For Microsoft Teams problems, IRCC says to reply to your invitation email with a detailed explanation, your application number and your UCI. If technical problems or an emergency stop you from finishing, you may need an interview with an officer or a retake by videoconference.

Your result

After you submit an online test, the result page shows your score right away. IRCC says this score is temporary and not your official result. An officer reviews it to make it official, which can take a few days or a few weeks. In-person and Teams tests give an official score right after the test and no unofficial result.

IRCC will not send a confirmation email after the online test and you cannot sign in later to see the result. Print the page or use the buttons at the bottom to email it to yourself, to the address on your application. Your application status shows In progress until the result is reviewed and Completed after a pass or fail, and IRCC does not send email updates, so check the tracker.

If you do not pass, you can try again within the same 30 days, up to 3 times in total. Read what happens if you fail for the next steps, including a hearing after three failed attempts.

If you miss the test

For an online test, IRCC automatically sends a new invitation after the first missed test, with a new 30-day period. If you miss the second one, email the address given in your invitation with a detailed reason, your application number and your UCI. IRCC says that missing both tests without contacting it means the application is abandoned. For in-person and Teams tests the steps differ, and IRCC recommends explaining the absence within 30 days of the missed date. Read the IRCC page for your format.

A plan for the last 48 hours

These are our own suggestions, based on the rules above, not IRCC advice:

• Check your invitation for the end date and plan a time with a margin, since the 45 minutes cannot be paused.
• Test the camera, browser and connection, and choose a quiet room with steady light.
• Put your ID within reach and clear the wall behind you.
• Close other programs the evening before, and turn off any VPN.
• Review weak topics in short sessions instead of cramming. Our tips on test anxiety help if nerves are the concern.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the online test on my phone?

No. IRCC says phones are not allowed. Use a desktop computer, laptop or tablet with a webcam.

How long do I have to take the online test?

The invitation gives a 30-day period. Once you start, you have 45 minutes, and the timer cannot be stopped.

Is my online score final?

No. IRCC says the score you see is temporary until an officer makes it official.

What if I need an accommodation?

Ask for it in your application or after you get your invitation. IRCC then contacts you about the format, such as in person or Microsoft Teams.

Do I need to be in Canada to take the online test?

IRCC says you do not need to be in Canada for the online test.