AUGUST 2025 - CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS
- Thread starter novemberrain
- Start date
May I know is it normal for background verification to take a very long time to complete? thanks
I saw many of the cases are getting their background verification completed very shortly after the AOR
14 Aug 2025 - Application Submitted via the portal
09 Oct 2025 - AOR Received Sydney Office
11 Oct 2025 - Registered Progress Tracker
24 Dec 2025 - Citizenship Test update to in progress
26 Dec 2025 - Citizenship Test Invitation in portal
29 Dec 2025 - Citizenship Test Invitation email from Team 2
01 Jan 2026 - Citizenship Test completed
02 Jan 2026 - Ghost Update in Portal
15 Jan 2026 - Citizenship Test marked completed in portal (portal timeline 12 Jan 2026)
I saw many of the cases are getting their background verification completed very shortly after the AOR
14 Aug 2025 - Application Submitted via the portal
09 Oct 2025 - AOR Received Sydney Office
11 Oct 2025 - Registered Progress Tracker
24 Dec 2025 - Citizenship Test update to in progress
26 Dec 2025 - Citizenship Test Invitation in portal
29 Dec 2025 - Citizenship Test Invitation email from Team 2
01 Jan 2026 - Citizenship Test completed
02 Jan 2026 - Ghost Update in Portal
15 Jan 2026 - Citizenship Test marked completed in portal (portal timeline 12 Jan 2026)
Yes, it’s normal for background verification to take a longer or shorter time depending on each applicant’s file. Some people get it completed shortly after AOR as you mentioned, especially if they have straightforward travel history and no complications.
Others take longer due to things like international travel, security checks, police certificates from multiple countries/specific countries, or internal IRCC team working. So even if many cases seem fast, a longer wait doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem — it’s just part of how IRCC processes files individually. I wish there was a simple way to know how it's done but everyone's case is a unique one
Congratz!
Out of curiosity, if the ceremony is online, it could be done when you are outside of country, no?
No, you should be in Canada to take citizenship oath. Many who have tried got caught thanks to their ip/vpn giving away. Some get away with it, but it's not a risk worth taking. The following link says clearly that you need to be in Canada. And if you aren't, you can let them know and they will inform you how to proceed (safer)
Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...itizen/citizenship-ceremony/when.html#wb-cont
- Sep 6, 2022
- 440
- 323
- Category........
- CEC
- Visa Office......
- Kitchener
- NOC Code......
- 22221
- App. Filed.......
- 9-11-2022
- AOR Received.
- 10-11-2022
It seems like a lot of people think that they can take oath online outside of Canada.
The answer is NO, haha.
When you take oath, they will either take your PR card (in-person oath) or have you cut your PR card in 4 pieces (online oath), so no, you must be in Canada to take the oath. They also clearly state this on the website as well hehe
I see. No I wasn't trying to encourage taking it outside of the country but for example the citizenship test was also online and it was okay to take out of country and I didn't check the rules yet since I am not at that stage yet and that's why I asked here.
In my opinion, I would even prefer the oath ceremony to be in-person.
I just got my test completed today on the tracker 15mins ago . Test invite December 29 , Test taken December 3 . Team 2
Almost at the finish line! 
Type: Online Application
Location: Toronto
Physical Presence Days: 1117
Application Type: Individual
Application sent: August 8
AOR: October 6
Language skills: Completed (January 14, updated in tracker on January 16)
Physical Presence: Completed (January 14, updated on January 16)
Invitation to Test: December 23
Citizenship test: January 2
Background verification: Completed
Prohibitions: Completed (January 14, updated on January 16)
Citizenship ceremony: In Progress (January 16, updated on January 20)
Oath scheduled: February 6
Type: Online Application
Location: Toronto
Physical Presence Days: 1117
Application Type: Individual
Application sent: August 8
AOR: October 6
Language skills: Completed (January 14, updated in tracker on January 16)
Physical Presence: Completed (January 14, updated on January 16)
Invitation to Test: December 23
Citizenship test: January 2
Background verification: Completed
Prohibitions: Completed (January 14, updated on January 16)
Citizenship ceremony: In Progress (January 16, updated on January 20)
Oath scheduled: February 6
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You are also in the Toronto area, right?
Would have been cool to be in the same ceremony!
I hope you get your rescheduled oath very soon (or appropriately soon per your travels, lol)
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