Question Period Note: VIDEO OATH CEREMONIES

Status update of video oath ceremonies.

PROPOSED RESPONSE:
• Since April 2020, IRCC has been conducting video oath ceremonies as a means of adapting to the global pandemic, while continuing to render services to IRCC clients.
• In the month of April 2022, 25,415 applicants took the oath of citizenship in virtual oath ceremonies. This is a significant increase compared to April 2021: 5,629 clients took the oath that month.
• On average, 6,350 clients were scheduled to take the Oath of Citizenship per week in April 2022.

BACKGROUND
• IRCC launched virtual ceremonies in April 2020, with proper safeguards in place to maintain clients’ privacy and ensure security.
• In line with its modernization agenda, IRCC continues to conduct ceremonies virtually, bringing the Citizenship Program closer to a complete digital processing model; some limited in-person events continue to be scheduled in certain offices, for example for clients requiring accommodation and for selected special events.
• Between April 1, 2020 and April 30, 2022, more than 300,000 people took the Oath of Citizenship in almost 14,000 ceremonies using a virtual platform. The Department is inviting on average about 3,000 applicants per week to participate in citizenship ceremonies.

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