Not every applicant is called for an interview — it typically comes up if there are questions about your application, or if you didn't pass the written knowledge test after two attempts. Here's what the process generally looks like.
Depending on your file, this may be a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge. Either way, their role is to verify the information in your application and, where relevant, assess your knowledge of Canada directly through conversation rather than a written test.
Despite the formal-sounding name, applicants who've been through it commonly describe it as conversational rather than like a formal exam. You may be asked about your physical presence in Canada, your application details, and general knowledge questions drawn from the same official study guide the written test uses.
You'll typically be notified of the outcome by letter. If the interview goes well, you'll move forward toward the citizenship ceremony. If there are still concerns about your eligibility, your application could be refused at this stage, at which point reapplying is generally the next step if you want to continue pursuing citizenship.
Detailed chapter notes explain the "why" behind each fact — which helps far more in an interview setting than flashcards alone.
Study free →This article describes the general interview/hearing process as of July 2026 based on publicly available information and is not legal advice. Individual cases vary — always confirm your specific situation with IRCC or at canada.ca.