Canadian Citizenship Glossary
The words you will meet while studying for the citizenship test and tracking your application, defined in plain language. Use the search to find a term in an instant.
37 terms
A
- Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR)
- A notice from IRCC confirming your citizenship application was received and is complete. It marks the official start of processing.
- Application package
- The set of forms and documents you submit to apply for citizenship. The main form for an adult is the CIT 0002.
B
- Biometrics
- Fingerprints and a photo collected by IRCC to confirm identity. They are mainly required for immigration rather than citizenship.
C
- Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)
- The scale used to measure French and English. Applicants aged 18 to 54 must prove a level of at least CLB 4.
- Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Part of Canada's Constitution that guarantees the fundamental rights and freedoms of everyone in Canada.
- Citizenship ceremony
- The official event where candidates take the oath, receive their certificate and become Canadian citizens.
- Citizenship certificate
- The official document that proves Canadian citizenship. It is given at the ceremony and is used, among other things, to apply for a passport.
- Citizenship test
- A 20-question multiple choice exam based on Discover Canada. You need at least 15 correct answers (75%) to pass.
- Confederation
- The union of the first provinces that created the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867.
- Constitution
- The set of basic rules that organize Canada's government and protect rights. It includes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
D
- Discover Canada
- The official study guide published by IRCC. It is the only source of the questions on the real citizenship test.
- Dual citizenship
- Holding citizenship in two countries at once. Canada allows dual citizenship.
E
- Eligibility
- The set of conditions you must meet to apply for citizenship: permanent resident status, physical presence, language and knowledge.
G
- Governor General
- The representative of the monarch at the federal level in Canada. They carry out the Crown's duties on the sovereign's behalf.
I
- Indigenous peoples
- The first inhabitants of Canada, grouped into three broad categories: First Nations, Metis and Inuit.
- IRCC
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the federal department that manages citizenship applications and runs the test.
L
- Language requirement
- The need to show adequate knowledge of French or English, required for applicants aged 18 to 54.
- Levels of government
- Canada has three levels: federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal. Each has its own responsibilities.
M
- Member of Parliament (MP)
- A person elected to represent a riding in Canada's House of Commons.
- Multiculturalism
- The Canadian policy that recognizes and values the diversity of cultures within the country.
N
- Naturalization
- The process by which a permanent resident becomes a Canadian citizen after meeting the requirements.
O
- Oath of Citizenship
- The solemn declaration made at the ceremony. Taking the oath is the final step before you become a citizen.
P
- Passing score
- The score needed to pass the citizenship test: 15 correct answers out of 20, which is 75%.
- Permanent resident (PR)
- A person allowed to live in Canada permanently without being a citizen. Permanent resident status is required before applying for citizenship.
- Physical presence
- The number of days actually spent in Canada. You need 1,095 days of physical presence in the 5 years before you apply for citizenship.
- Prime Minister
- The head of government of Canada. They lead the executive and are usually the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons.
- Processing time
- The estimated time to process an application. IRCC's service standard for citizenship is about 12 months from the acknowledgement of receipt.
- Prohibitions
- Situations, often tied to a criminal record, that can prevent a person from getting citizenship for a set period.
- Protected person
- A person recognized as a refugee or in need of protection in Canada. Some of their time before permanent residence can count toward physical presence.
- Provinces and territories
- Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. Knowing their capitals is useful for the test.
R
- Remembrance Day
- November 11, a day that honours Canadians who died in war. The poppy is its symbol.
- Residency obligation
- The rule that requires a permanent resident to be in Canada at least 730 days out of 5 years to keep their status.
- Responsible government
- The principle that a government must keep the confidence of a majority of elected members to stay in power.
S
- Sovereign (monarch)
- Canada's head of state. The country is a constitutional monarchy whose sovereign is currently King Charles III.
- Sponsor
- A person who agrees to financially support a relative's immigration to Canada. Sponsorship relates to immigration, not citizenship.
T
- Test invitation
- A notice from IRCC giving the date, time and format of your citizenship test, sent after your application is first processed.
U
- Unique Client Identifier (UCI)
- An 8 or 10 digit number assigned by IRCC to identify your file across your applications.