The Canadian federal government has published the exact wording of the oath that immigrants must recite before they are officially granted Canadian citizenship in 2026. The oath is a mandatory part of the citizenship ceremony, during which candidates also sing the national anthem, O Canada.
Full Text of the Canadian Citizenship Oath
According to the Canadian government’s official guidance, the English version of the oath reads: “I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of Canada, His Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, including the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.”
The oath commits new citizens to loyalty to the Canadian Crown, obedience to Canadian law, and respect for the constitutional rights of Indigenous peoples. Candidates are encouraged to practise the oath before the ceremony and to repeat it after the presiding official in both English and French, as a mark of respect for Canada’s two official languages.
National Anthem and Ceremony Details
Following the oath, all those present sing a bilingual version of O Canada. Each candidate may choose to sing in English, French, or both. The English portions of the anthem used at the ceremony are: “O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.”
The government noted that many people typically take the oath together at the same ceremony, making it a collective moment of commitment to Canadian values and identity.
Citizenship Test Pass Mark
In related news, Canada has announced the minimum score foreigners must get to pass the citizenship test. According to the government, the test contains 20 questions in either multiple-choice or true-or-false format. Applicants must answer at least 15 of those 20 questions correctly to pass, which works out to a score of 75%.
Additionally, Canada has previously mentioned two categories of foreigners exempted from taking the citizenship test. These requirements are part of the broader process for obtaining Canadian citizenship in 2026.
