New Canadian citizens could soon take oath online, skip citizenship ceremony

Ottawa proposed amendments to the Canadian citizenship regulations that, if passed, would allow new Canadian citizens to skip out on the citizenship ceremony and take their citizenship oath online.

The federal government is asking for public feedback on the proposed amendments that would allow for the oath to be administered via a ” secure online solution, without the presence of an authorized person” which would lead to potential citizens receiving their citizenship faster, with media reports suggesting that three months of wait time could be eliminated by the amendments.

“Many clients have to take time off work to attend citizenship ceremonies, and this time off is not necessarily paid by employers…This proposal would also benefit clients by providing greater flexibility in client service and promote inclusivity by allowing them to take the Oath of Citizenship in a manner that works best and at a time that is most convenient for them during the allocated time frame,” a policy analysis statement published in the Canada Gazette stated.

It may be pertinent to note that the country first started virtual citizenship ceremonies held over video conference calls back in 2020 due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The amendments, however, would not make it mandatory for newer citizens to take the oath online, as they would still have the option to Oath of Citizenship in front of a judge, as has been done before.