# What Documents Do You Need for the Canadian Citizenship Test? (2026 Checklist) > What to bring to the Canadian citizenship test: the ID IRCC accepts, what else the online test needs, and what you don't need to bring. - Canonical URL: https://canadatest.ca/blog/documents-for-canadian-citizenship-test - Published: 2026-05-15 - Updated: 2026-10-22 - Independent; not affiliated with the Government of Canada. ## Quick Answer For the online citizenship test, [IRCC asks for one piece of ID](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/test/online.html): your permanent resident card, even if it has expired, or a valid photo ID that shows your signature, such as a driver's licence or health card. You photograph it with your webcam before the test starts. For an in-person or Microsoft Teams test, follow your invitation. > **Last verified: October 22, 2026** against IRCC's [Take the online test](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/test/online.html), [Wait for a test invitation](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/test/invitation.html) and [How the test works](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/test/how-it-works.html) pages. If you've just received your test invitation from IRCC and you're trying to figure out what you actually need to have ready on test day, the short answer is **less than you think**. The Canadian citizenship test is a closed-book, identity-verified knowledge test. IRCC isn't asking you to bring a binder of paperwork. It's asking you to confirm you are who you say you are, then answer 20 questions based on the official study guide. Everything else is over-preparation that adds stress without adding clarity. This is the no-surprises checklist for what's actually needed — broken down by online test (the format IRCC uses for most applicants) and in-person or Microsoft Teams test (arranged in some cases, such as for an accommodation) — plus the mistakes worth avoiding on test day. ## What the IRCC Test Invitation Tells You IRCC [emails your invitation](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/test/invitation.html) as a PDF attachment, if you gave an email address in your application. (If you didn't, IRCC may mail the invitation or call you.) IRCC says the invitation should have: - A **test start date and end date**: you have 30 days to take the online test - A **link to the test**, or directions for an in-person test - Your **application number** - Your **unique client identifier (UCI)** - An **email address** you can use to contact IRCC The PDF also includes instructions on what to do before, during and after the test. Read it in full at least twice: it's the authoritative version for your specific test. If anything in this article contradicts your invitation, trust your invitation. For the online test, you can take the test only between the start and end dates on your invitation. If those dates aren't 30 days apart, IRCC asks you to email the address in your invitation. Don't ignore the email; read your invitation as soon as it arrives and write the end date on your calendar. ## What ID Do You Need for the Online Test? You need one piece of ID: your permanent resident card (even if it has expired), or a valid, unexpired ID with your photo and signature on it. IRCC asks for ID to confirm your identity. The online test is closed-book and taken on your own, so the system needs to confirm the person taking it is the person who applied. IRCC's [online test page](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/test/online.html) gives these examples: - **Permanent Resident card (PR card)** — IRCC accepts it **even if it has expired**. - **A driver's licence** — if it's valid and carries both your photo and your signature. - **A health card** — if it's valid and carries both your photo and your signature. The rule for anything other than your PR card is the same: a valid, unexpired piece of ID with your photo and your signature on it. If your invitation says something different, **follow the invitation** — it's the authoritative version for your test. How the ID check works: before the test starts, you take photos of your ID and of yourself with your webcam. Make sure the information on your ID is easy to read. If your photos are blurred or unclear, IRCC says your test result may be invalid and you may have to take the test again. A few things to avoid: - **An expired ID other than your PR card.** Only the PR card is accepted after it expires. - **Not having your ID with you.** You photograph your ID with your webcam before the test, so keep it in front of you. - **A name that has changed.** If your name has changed since you applied, ask IRCC what to use before your test. For the **in-person test**, the invitation gives the details, such as the time and location. Read your specific invitation and treat it as the source of truth. ## Online Test: What Else You Need Beyond your ID, the online test has a short list of requirements. Get all of these confirmed before test day, not five minutes before you start: - **Your application number and UCI.** You sign in to the test with them, and you enter them again to confirm your identity. Both are on your invitation. - **A desktop computer, laptop or tablet with a working webcam.** Not a mobile phone, and not a Microsoft Surface Pro. The system uses the webcam for your ID and face photos at the start and takes random photos during the test. - **Chrome or Safari.** IRCC tells you to use one of those two browsers. **Don't use Chrome on an iPad** — on an iPad, use Safari. Install Chrome ahead of time if you usually use something else. - **No VPN.** Turn off any virtual private network before you start. - **A reliable internet connection.** Wired ethernet is more reliable than Wi-Fi, but Wi-Fi works if the signal is strong. Hotspot tethering from a phone is risky — if it drops mid-test, that's a real problem. - **A well-lit room.** Enough light that the webcam can clearly capture your face for identity-verification photos. We've written a full [test-day walkthrough](https://canadatest.ca/blog/canadian-citizenship-test-day-what-to-expect) covering the steps to start the test, what you'll see during it, and what happens after you submit. If you haven't read it yet, do — it's the single best way to remove surprise from test day. ## In-Person Test: What's Different IRCC invites most applicants to the online test unless an accommodation is needed. If you have been scheduled in person or on Microsoft Teams, the details live in your IRCC invitation, and you should read it as authoritative. A few things to know: - **Bring the ID your invitation asks for.** - **Only the person scheduled for the test can be in the testing room.** IRCC says you can't bring your child into an in-person test. If you need help, contact the office that sent your invitation. - **The format can differ.** [IRCC says](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/test/how-it-works.html) an in-person test can be written on paper or taken orally, and a Microsoft Teams test is oral, on a video call. An accommodation can include a Braille, large-print or oral version, or more time. The questions are still based on Discover Canada, and you still need 15 of 20 to pass. ## What You Do NOT Need to Bring This is the over-preparation list. None of the following are required, and packing them won't help you: - **The Discover Canada study guide.** The test is closed-book: IRCC tells you not to look at any study materials during the online test. For an in-person test, follow the instructions in your invitation. - **Your application receipt or AOR letter.** IRCC already has these. The online test signs you in with your application number and UCI. - **Friends or family for moral support.** Online: you must take the test alone. In person: only the person scheduled for the test can be in the testing room. - **Notes, flashcards, or any reference material.** The same rule applies to these. - **A second device "in case."** IRCC tells you not to use any other devices during the online test. Keep your phone, tablet or second laptop out of use — it creates an unnecessary integrity risk. - **Snacks, water bottles, lucky charms.** Bring them if they help you; just know IRCC doesn't expect them. A good rule of thumb: if it isn't your ID, your test invitation, or the device you're testing on, you don't need it. ## Day-of Mistakes to Avoid These are the avoidable ones: 1. **The wrong ID.** Use your PR card (expired is fine) or a valid photo ID with your signature. Any ID other than the PR card needs to be current. 2. **Name questions left until test day.** If your name has changed since you applied, ask IRCC before the test. 3. **Wrong browser.** IRCC says to use Chrome or Safari. In another browser you may see a blank screen or a message that your browser isn't supported. Install Chrome or use Safari well before test day, and bookmark the test sign-in page in it. 4. **Dead webcam.** Test it the day before. Open any video call app and confirm the webcam works. 5. **Unstable internet.** If you've had Wi-Fi drops, plug in to ethernet for test day, or find a location with a strong connection. 6. **Missing the window.** You can take the online test only between the start and end dates on your invitation. Don't push it to the last day and hope nothing goes wrong. If you [miss your first online invitation](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/test/missed.html), IRCC sends a new one automatically; if you miss a second and don't contact IRCC, it stops processing your application. If your internet drops during the online test, go back to the test as soon as possible with the most recent test link. If you can't finish, email the address in your invitation with a detailed explanation, your application number and your UCI. IRCC says you have 30 days from the start date in your invitation to contact it, and rescheduling usually takes 4 to 8 weeks but may take longer. IRCC gives you up to 3 chances to pass within your 30-day test period, so one bad attempt isn't fatal. ## Before Test Day: A Quick Final Check The week before your test, do four things: 1. **Confirm your ID**: your PR card, or a valid photo ID with your signature. 2. **Re-read your invitation email** for the dates, your application number and UCI, and any instructions. 3. **Test your webcam and browser** on the device you'll actually use. 4. **Take the [free practice test](https://canadatest.ca/free-practice-test)** to confirm you're ready. If you score below 75%, you have time to revisit weak chapters. If you score 75% or higher, you're in good shape; the real test has 20 questions instead of 10. If you're cramming in the last few days and want a focused study plan, the [7-day cram plan](https://canadatest.ca/blog/last-minute-citizenship-test-prep-7-day-cram) maps the official guide chapter-by-chapter to a daily schedule. And if you want to zoom out on the test itself, the [complete citizenship test guide](https://canadatest.ca/blog/citizenship-test-everything-you-need-to-know) covers the format, content, and what counts as passing. The documents themselves are a small piece of the test-day experience. The real prep is the studying. Get the ID sorted, get the tech sorted, and use the saved time to do one more practice run. *IRCC's requirements can change. Your test invitation is the authoritative version for your specific test.* ## Frequently asked questions **What ID do I need for the online citizenship test?** One piece of ID: your permanent resident card (even if it has expired), or a valid photo ID with your signature, such as a driver's licence or health card. **Can I use an expired PR card for the citizenship test?** Yes. IRCC accepts your permanent resident card even if it has expired. Any other ID must be valid and not expired. **Do I need to bring documents from my application?** No. For the online test you sign in with your application number and UCI, which are on your invitation. IRCC already has your application. **What do I need for an in-person or Microsoft Teams test?** Follow your invitation. It includes the details for your test, such as the time and location. --- Next step: [take the free 10-question practice test](https://canadatest.ca/free-practice-test), based on the official Discover Canada guide. No sign-up. Informational only; not legal or immigration advice. Official source for citizenship rules and fees: IRCC https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html