Here’s what you can expect during your virtual citizenship ceremony in Canada

Virtual citizenship ceremonies have become the norm in Canada.

These ceremonies were traditionally held in person, but over the pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) started conducting virtual ceremonies to abide by social distancing regulations and reduce the backlog.

Despite the lifting of pandemic restrictions, virtual ceremonies have become more common than in-person ones. Between January and September 2023, IRCC facilitated an average of 52 in-person citizenship ceremonies and 224 virtual citizenship ceremonies each month.

The citizenship ceremony is a special event for anyone aspiring to become a Canadian citizen. During the ceremony, eligible applicants sing the Canadian national anthem and take the Oath of Citizenship in front of a judge and their loved ones. The Oath of Citizenship is an official promise to abide by Canada’s laws and uphold the duties of being a Canadian citizen. Once you take this oath, you will be a Canadian citizen.