Taking the Canadian citizenship test online

Last reviewed August 13, 2026 · Reviewed by the MapleTest editorial team

Independent study tool · Not affiliated with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Unless you arrange an accommodation, your citizenship test will happen in a browser tab: IRCC invites most applicants to test online and gives them 30 days of access from the invitation. The knowledge side is unchanged from the standard format; what is different is everything around it, from the browser you are allowed to use to the photos your webcam takes while you work. All requirements below come from IRCC's online-test instructions, re-read on 13 August 2026.

Online is the default format

IRCC says it invites most citizenship applicants to take the online test unless an accommodation is needed, with a link to the test included in the invitation email. You can sit it anywhere with a good connection; IRCC spells it out: you don't need to be in Canada to take the online test, and a public library or a public computer is explicitly allowed.

The clock rules are strict and worth internalizing before test day: Once the timer starts, you won't be able to stop it, the test hands itself in when time runs out, and a warning appears at the 5-minute mark.

Devices, browser, and room

IRCC's hardware list is short and non-negotiable. You must use:

• a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet with a webcam, running Chrome or Safari.

And you must not use:

• a mobile phone,
• Chrome on an iPad,
• a Microsoft Surface Pro, or
• a virtual private network (VPN).

The room matters as much as the machine. Pick a spot with good lighting so the system can see you clearly, and clear the background of anything showing your personal information, such as a framed diploma. Keep one piece of ID within reach: your PR card qualifies even if it has expired, or use a valid photo-and-signature document like a driver's licence or health card.

Signing in and ID photos

Sign in only after your invitation arrives, using your application number and unique client identifier (UCI). The system emails you a test link that expires after 15 minutes; if it lapses, sign in again for a fresh one.

Before the questions begin you photograph your ID and yourself through the webcam. Traditional or religious clothing, head coverings, and reading or prescription glasses are all fine, as long as your face stays clearly visible. Take the photos in the same place you will sit the test, because IRCC checks that they match.

The rules while you test

IRCC is transparent about the monitoring: we'll use your webcam to take random photos to confirm your identity and ensure you're working alone, and those photos are compared against your test photo and the ones in your application. During the 45 minutes you must work alone, keep your face in frame, and leave every other tab, window, program, and device untouched. Study materials stay closed, and even the browser back button is off limits.

When something goes wrong

IRCC's own troubleshooting list covers the three failures people actually hit, and every path ends the same way: if the fix does not work, email the address in your test invitation.

• A 403 error at sign-in. Turn off your VPN, disable browser extensions, or switch device or connection; IRCC even suggests waiting a few hours and trying again.
• A you can't take the test right now message. Usually it means you signed in before your invitation, outside your 30-day access period, or with a mistyped application number or UCI.
• A blank screen or unsupported-browser warning. Update Chrome or Safari, clear cookies and cache, disable extensions, or move to another device.

In person or on Microsoft Teams

If you request an accommodation, IRCC contacts you to arrange a different format. Depending on your situation that is a test written on paper, alone or with other test takers, taken orally, or run over Microsoft Teams. The chances and the languages do not change: every format comes with the same 3 chances and a choice of English or French.

Whichever format you land in, the preparation is identical, and the calmest way into it is familiarity: run a free practice test until the countdown stops feeling like an opponent.

This page explains taking the Canadian citizenship test online and is for study and preparation only. It is general information, not immigration advice, and does not determine your eligibility for citizenship. For official rules and any updates, rely on Canada.ca; official IRCC guidance controls if anything here differs.