Your Online Citizenship Test Glitched: Is Your Attempt Burned? Webcam and ID Problems, Explained
Your webcam freezes. The screen stalls. Your ID will not scan. In that moment, one fear takes over: did I just lose my one shot at the citizenship test? Take a breath. Here is how the online test actually works, and what counts as a real technical failure versus a forfeited attempt.
How the online citizenship test works
The Canadian Citizenship Test is often taken online from home, and it is self-administered. There is no live person sitting with you. Instead, you are supervised remotely through your webcam, which is why your camera and identity check matter so much.
To take it, you generally need:
- A working webcam so you can be seen throughout the test
- A suitable device, usually a computer or tablet · phones are typically not accepted
- A stable internet connection that will not drop mid-test
- Acceptable government photo ID that you hold up clearly to the camera when asked
These requirements change over time, so always confirm the current rules on the official IRCC page before your test date.
Technical failure vs. forfeited attempt
This is the part people get wrong, and it causes most of the panic.
A genuine technical failure is not your fault. Examples:
- Your internet connection drops
- The testing platform itself errors out, freezes, or crashes
- The page fails to load through no action of your own
When something like this happens, IRCC can often let you redo the test because the system, not you, caused the problem.
A forfeited attempt is different. You can lose your attempt if:
- You close the test window or navigate away
- You run out of time before finishing
- You cannot verify your identity because your ID is unacceptable, unclear, or you cannot present it
In short: a dropped connection is usually recoverable · giving up, timing out, or failing ID verification usually is not. So your goal is to remove every avoidable risk before you start.
Set up to avoid problems
A few minutes of prep prevents most disasters.
- Test your webcam and microphone beforehand so you know they work
- Use a computer or tablet, plugged in or fully charged
- Get on the most stable connection you have, ideally wired or close to your router
- Close other apps and browser tabs that hog bandwidth or could pop up
- Ask people in your home to stay off heavy downloads or streaming during your test
- Have your photo ID ready in hand, clean and well lit, so you can hold it steadily to the camera
- Sit in a quiet, well-lit room with the ID details facing the lens
The smoother your setup, the less likely the platform glitches in the first place.
The moment something goes wrong
If your screen freezes or your ID will not verify, do not panic and do not start clicking randomly.
- Stay calm and do not close the window. Closing it can turn a recoverable glitch into a forfeited attempt.
- Note the exact time the problem started, and what you were doing.
- Take a screenshot if you can, capturing any error message word for word.
- Wait a moment to see if the connection or page recovers on its own.
- Write down what you saw: a frozen video, a loading spinner, an "ID not accepted" message, anything useful.
This small record becomes your evidence later. It shows the failure was technical, not you walking away.
How to contact IRCC afterward
If you believe a true technical issue interrupted your test, contact IRCC as soon as possible.
- Use the official IRCC contact channels listed on their website
- Reference your application details and the date and time of the test
- Explain what went wrong, calmly and factually, and attach your screenshots if you have them
- Ask how to redo the test if it was a system failure
Be honest and specific. IRCC reviews these situations, and a clear, accurate account of a genuine platform error gives you the best chance at a redo.
One last reminder: ID and technology requirements are updated from time to time, so check the official IRCC page for the current details before test day rather than relying on what a friend did last year.
Rehearse before the real thing
Most test-day panic comes from facing the format for the first time under pressure. The fix is simple: do a low-stakes practice run first so your setup, your nerves, and the question style all feel familiar before it counts.
Run through questions on the same kind of device, in the same room, at the same time of day you plan to test. By the time the real test loads, the only new thing will be the stakes.
Practise the Canadian Citizenship Test free on Citizen Pass and Take a free practice test →.