Canada Names 2 Groups of Applicants Exempt From Taking the Citizenship Test Based on Age

• First, the citizenship test is not required for those who are younger than 18 at the time of application signing.
• Second, the older-age requirement and the test are equally waived for applicants who are 55 years of age or older at the same stage.

“English and French are Canada’s two official languages,” the government declares.

You must demonstrate that you are proficient in either French or English if you are between the ages of 18 and 54 on the day you sign your application.

What the test requirement means for applicants

Demonstrating sufficient proficiency in one of Canada’s two official languages is a mandatory component of the citizenship process for individuals who do fall within the 18–54 age range.

This implies that before their application can move forward, the majority of working-age adults seeking Canadian citizenship must prepare for and pass the language and knowledge assessment.

All other standard requirements still apply, but applicants outside the designated age range—young people or older adults—can submit their citizenship application without having their language proficiency or civic knowledge evaluated.