What happens if you fail the Canadian citizenship test?
Last updated October 30, 2026
What happens if you fail the Canadian citizenship test?
You can try again. You have up to 3 tries to pass inside the 30 days from your invitation. If you fail all of them, you are invited to a hearing with an officer. Only a fail at the hearing means your application is refused.
Last checked: 31 October 2026
This is general information to help you prepare. Your own case is decided by IRCC.
Step 1: up to 3 tries in 30 days
The 30 day window starts on the day of your invitation. All your tries must fit inside it. A try can be online, on Microsoft Teams or in person.
The test has 20 questions. You need 15 right, which is 75%. Read more in our Canadian citizenship test guide.
An online result is not final at once. The score you see on screen is temporary. An officer reviews it, and that can take a few days or a few weeks. Save a copy of the results page, because you cannot sign in later and look it up.
Check your application status in your online account. Do not wait for an email. IRCC says it does not send email updates. The status can change to an invitation for a retest or an invitation for a hearing. You can check it at the application status page.
Step 2: the hearing
If you fail all your tries, you get an invitation to a hearing with a citizenship officer. It takes 30 to 90 minutes. The officer may ask you about three things:
- Canada. 20 oral questions. You need 15 right. These are the same kind of topics as the written test.
- Where you have lived. Questions about your time in Canada.
- Your language. Up to 9 questions in English or French. You need 6 right.
After the hearing you get a letter with the result.
Step 3: the letter
If you pass the hearing, you wait for your ceremony invitation. Read what comes next in what happens after the citizenship test.
If you fail the hearing, your application is refused. To try again, you must send a new application and pay the fees again. Check the current fee on the Canadian citizenship cost page.
What if you applied with family?
Family or group applications are processed together. If one person fails, some applications may be separated, so the others can go to the ceremony alone. To ask for this, email the address in the "Rescheduling" part of your invitation.
Other results you may see
A result can also be "invalid". This can happen if the officer finds or suspects cheating. It can also happen if a technical problem stops IRCC from confirming who you are or what you scored. Use a quiet room, a working webcam and a steady connection, and do not look anything up during the test.
What to do after a fail
Take a day to rest. Then look at what went wrong. Was it a topic you skipped? Was it the clock? Was it nerves?
Go back to the book the test is based on, Discover Canada. Study the chapters where you lost marks. Then do full 20 question mocks with a timer, so the real format feels normal. Our study guide shows how to plan the days before your next try.
Most people pass. In 2022 and early 2023, about 9 in 10 test takers passed. One bad day does not decide the result.
Ready for the next try?
You can take a free 20 question practice test now, or see the prices if you want more full mocks.
Questions people ask
- How many times can you take the Canadian citizenship test?
- You have up to 3 tries inside the 30 days that your invitation gives you. The tries can be online, on Microsoft Teams or in person.
- What happens if you do not pass the Canadian citizenship interview?
- If you fail the hearing, your application is refused. You have to apply again and pay the fees again.
- Do you lose your fee if you fail the test?
- Failing the test alone does not end your application. The fees matter only if you fail the hearing and must reapply.
- Does the hearing include a language check?
- Yes. You may be asked up to 9 questions in English or French, and 6 must be right.