Dual Citizenship in Canada: Can You Keep Your Other Passport?

Canada has allowed dual citizenship since 1977. When you become a Canadian citizen, Canada does not ask you to renounce any other citizenship. You can hold two, three, or more citizenships under Canadian law.

Being a dual citizen does not reduce your rights in Canada. You can vote, run for office, get a Canadian passport, and live and work anywhere in Canada, the same as any other citizen. Canadian citizenship can only be lost in limited situations, for example if it was obtained by fraud or if you formally renounce it.

If you are becoming a citizen through naturalization, see our guide to applying for citizenship. If you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, you may already be a citizen; see citizenship by descent.

Most adults become citizens by applying, passing the citizenship test, and taking the oath at a ceremony. Your other citizenship is not discussed at the ceremony, and you are not asked to hand in your other passport.

This is the key question, and only your other country's law can answer it. Countries generally fall into three groups:

Rules change, and details matter, such as whether you became Canadian as a child or an adult. Before you apply, check with your country's embassy or consulate in Canada, or with its official government website. India, for example, offers Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status to many former citizens, which is not citizenship but gives long-term visa rights.

If losing your first citizenship would affect property, inheritance, military service, or family matters, get legal advice in that country.

To fly to Canada, dual Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport. Canadian citizens are not eligible for an eTA, so you cannot use your other passport and an eTA to board a flight to Canada.

Exception: Canadian-US dual citizens can travel to Canada with a valid US passport.

If you arrive by land, the border officer needs proof that you are a Canadian citizen, such as a Canadian passport or citizenship certificate.

When you travel to your other country of citizenship, that country usually expects you to use its passport. Carry both passports if you hold both, and use each one where it applies.

• Consular help may be limited. If you are in your other country of citizenship, that country may treat you only as its own citizen. Canadian officials may be unable to help you in the same way they help other Canadians.
• Obligations in your other country may still apply, such as military service, tax filing, or exit permits. For example, US citizens remain subject to US tax filing rules even if they live in Canada.
• Some countries don't recognize dual citizenship and may not let you enter on a Canadian passport if they consider you their citizen.

The Government of Canada's travel advice site has a page on dual citizenship with more details.

Your citizenship certificate is your main proof of Canadian citizenship. Keep it safe; you will need it to apply for your first Canadian passport.

A Canadian passport is also proof of citizenship for travel, but it expires. If you were born in Canada, your Canadian birth certificate proves citizenship. If you were born abroad to a Canadian parent, you may need to apply for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship).

Some people need to give up Canadian citizenship because another country requires it, for example to take up a job or citizenship there. You can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to renounce. Renunciation is a formal process; you must usually be an adult, hold or be about to hold another citizenship, and not live in Canada. Think carefully, because getting Canadian citizenship back later is not automatic.