How to request a citizenship accommodation
When you apply for citizenship, you can request an accommodation for certain requirements if you need it for accessibility or another reason.
An accommodation will help you to meet a citizenship requirement.
On this page
Types of accommodation
Here are some of the accommodations you can request:
Medical, physiological, psychological or cognitive conditions (including disabilities)
Depending on your situation, we can give you
- a Braille, large-print, or oral version of the test
- more time to take the test
- wheelchair access at an in-person test or ceremony
- sign-language interpretation at a citizenship ceremony or a language hearing
You may bring your own personal assistance, such as
- a care attendant
- a service animal
- a sighted guide
We may also invite you to take the test or go to the ceremony in person.
If you cannot take the test online
We may invite you to take the test in person or with Microsoft Teams if you
- have a weak or unreliable Internet connection
- have no access to an electronic device or webcam
- cannot use the supported browsers for the test (Chrome or Safari)
Face covering (online test)
Your face must be fully visible through your webcam during the online test.
We may invite you to take the test in person or with Microsoft Teams if you can’t remove your face covering.
How to request an accommodation
When you submit your application
In your online or paper application
- tell us if you need an accommodation
- specify the type of accommodation you need
After you submit your application
You may request an accommodation after you’ve submitted your application (if you didn’t mention it in your application).
Test accommodation
If you need an accommodation for the test, contact us and include
- a detailed explanation of what you need
- any supporting documents, if applicable
- your application number
- your unique client identifier (UCI)
How to contact us
Option 1 (recommended): Wait for your invitation and request an accommodation
Contact the email address in the Accommodation section of your invitation.
- To find out when you’ll get your invitation, check your application status regularly.
- If the “Citizenship test” section of the citizenship tracker has an “In progress” status, it means you’ll get your invitation soon.
Option 2: Send us a web form
You can also request a test accommodation by sending us a web form.
Oath accommodation
If you need an accommodation for the oath, contact us and include
- a detailed explanation of what you need
- your application number
- your unique client identifier (UCI)
How to contact us
Option 1 (recommended): Wait for and reply to your ceremony invitation
Reply to the email address that sent you the ceremony invitation.
- To find out when you’ll get your invitation, check your application status regularly.
- If the “Citizenship ceremony” section of the citizenship tracker has an “In progress” status, it means you’ll get your invitation soon.
Option 2: Send us a web form
You can also request a ceremony accommodation by sending us a web form.
Other accommodations
Depending on your situation, we may invite you to a citizenship appointment. For example, you may have to attend a language hearing (to assess your English or French language skills) or an interview.
If you need an accommodation for your appointment, contact us and include
- a detailed explanation of what you need
- your application number
- your unique client identifier (UCI)
How to contact us
Option 1 (recommended): Reply to your invitation
Reply to the office that sent you the invitation.
Option 2: Send us a web form
You can also request an accommodation by sending us a web form.
If you need a waiver (exemption)
If you have a situation that prevents you from meeting a requirement, you can request a waiver instead of an accommodation. You can request a waiver for these requirements:
- Citizenship test and language requirement: Your situation must meet the waiver criteria.
- Oath of citizenship: We’ll only give a waiver if a mental disability (like an intellectual or a developmental disability) prevents an applicant from understanding the oath.
- For example, they don’t understand that taking the oath makes them a Canadian citizen.
If we approve your waiver request, you don’t need to meet the requirement (for example, you don’t need to take the test).
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