Living with two citizenships

Canada fully welcomes dual citizenship—but whether you can actually hold it depends on your home country's rules. The practical reality is simpler than most people think: Canada asks nothing of you, but your birth country might ask everything.

Canada's Open Door: No Limits, No Renunciation

Canada places zero restrictions on dual, triple, or multiple citizenship. This has been the law since 1977, when Parliament removed old provisions that used to strip citizenship from Canadians who naturalized elsewhere. Today, when you take the oath of Canadian citizenship at a naturalization ceremony, IRCC does not ask you to renounce any other passport, sign renunciation papers, or pledge exclusive allegiance to Canada. The oath itself contains no clause requiring you to abandon other ties.

You do not apply for dual citizenship as a separate status—there is no special form or process. If you become a Canadian citizen and your home country permits it, you simply hold both passports. Both countries recognize you as their citizen, and you enjoy full rights in each (subject to each country's laws).

The Critical Question: Does Your Home Country Allow It?

This is the part that matters. Canada allows dual citizenship, but your home country may not. Some countries automatically revoke your original citizenship the moment you acquire another, or they simply refuse to recognize your Canadian status. Before you apply for Canadian citizenship—especially before you take the oath—you must confirm your home country's rules.

Countries That Do Not Allow Dual Citizenship

Several major nations strictly prohibit dual citizenship. If you are a national of one of these countries, taking the oath of Canadian citizenship may automatically terminate your original citizenship—a permanent loss.

• China: Acquiring Canadian citizenship automatically terminates Chinese nationality under Chinese law. You must surrender your Chinese passport and apply for a visa to visit China.
• India: Does not permit dual citizenship, but offers Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status—a permanent visa-like status that grants most rights except voting and holding government office. OCI is not full citizenship.
• Japan: Requires dual nationals to choose one nationality by age 22. If you are a Japanese citizen and acquire Canadian citizenship, you are treated as having given up Japanese citizenship.
• Singapore: Does not allow dual citizenship and requires proof of renunciation before granting naturalization.
• Indonesia: Does not permit dual citizenship for adults. Children of mixed-nationality parents may hold dual status until age 18, then must choose.

Other countries with restrictive policies include the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and various others. The list and specific rules change over time, so do not rely on what a friend from your country experienced years ago.

How to Check Your Home Country's Rules

The safest source is your country's embassy or consulate in Canada. Contact them directly and ask: 'If I acquire Canadian citizenship, will I lose my [home country] citizenship?' Get the answer in writing if possible. You can also search the official government website of your home country for citizenship laws, though embassy staff can clarify ambiguities.

Dual Citizens Must Enter Canada on a Canadian Passport

Once you become a Canadian citizen, you face one strict rule: you must enter Canada by air using a valid Canadian passport. You cannot use a visa, an eTA (electronic travel authorization), or any other country's passport to board a flight into Canada. This rule has been in place since November 2016 as part of Canada's Electronic Travel Authorization system. Border officials verify your documents at check-in, and you will face delays, additional screening, or denial of boarding if you try to use a foreign passport.

The only exception is for dual Canadian-U.S. citizens, who have slightly different entry rules. If you arrive at the border by land or sea with another country's passport, you may also face complications, so it is safest to always carry your Canadian passport.

This rule applies even if you hold a valid passport from another country. Canada treats all dual citizens the same way: if you are Canadian, you must use Canadian travel documents to enter Canada.

The Path from Oath to Passport: Timeline and Order

After you are granted citizenship, there is a specific sequence. Getting confused about this order can delay you unnecessarily.

Step 1: Receive Your Citizenship Certificate

You attend your citizenship ceremony in person at an IRCC office or courthouse (some offices offer virtual ceremonies, though you must still be in Canada). At the end of the ceremony, after taking the oath, you receive your citizenship certificate. This is the official proof that you are now a Canadian citizen. You receive it the same day.

Step 2: Apply for Your Canadian Passport

The citizenship certificate is not a travel document. To travel outside Canada, you need a passport. After you receive your certificate, you can apply for your first Canadian passport. This is a separate application process from citizenship.

To apply for your first Canadian passport, you will need your citizenship certificate, a government-issued photo ID, two personal references, and a guarantor (someone with their own valid Canadian passport who has known you for at least two years). You can choose a 5-year or 10-year passport.

Processing time for a Canadian passport is typically 10 to 20 business days from submission, not including mailing time. Plan accordingly if you have travel plans.

Practical Considerations for Dual Citizens

Tax and Financial Obligations

As a Canadian resident, you must report your worldwide income to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), regardless of your other citizenships. Some countries—notably the United States—also tax their citizens on worldwide income. If you hold dual citizenship with the U.S., you may face both Canadian and U.S. tax obligations. Consider consulting a cross-border tax specialist.

Consular Protection Abroad

If you are a dual citizen and you are in a country where you also hold citizenship, Canada cannot provide consular protection. For example, a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen arrested in the United States would deal with U.S. authorities; the Canadian consulate has no jurisdiction. Be aware of this when traveling to your other country of citizenship.

Other Countries' Rules When You Visit

Your other country may require you to use its passport to enter and exit. Some countries require an exit visa on that passport. Others require you to register your Canadian citizenship upon arrival. Dual citizenship can trigger enhanced screening at borders. Research the specific entry, exit, and registration rules of any country where you hold citizenship before you travel.

What If You Later Want to Renounce Canadian Citizenship?

Canadian citizenship is permanent by law—you cannot lose it automatically by living abroad, acquiring another nationality, or any other circumstance. The only way to lose it is to formally renounce it. You can renounce Canadian citizenship only if you are a citizen of another country (or will become one upon renunciation). You must be at least 18 years old and not subject to a declaration by the Governor in Council. Minors cannot renounce on their own.

If you renounce Canadian citizenship, you receive a certificate of renunciation and cease to be a Canadian citizen. If you later want to live in Canada again, you would need to reapply for permanent residence and live in Canada for at least one year before applying to resume citizenship. This is a serious step with lasting consequences.

Key Takeaways

• Canada permits dual (and multiple) citizenship with no limits. You never have to choose.
• Your home country's rules are separate and may prohibit dual citizenship. Check with your embassy before applying.
• Once you are a Canadian citizen, you must use a Canadian passport to enter Canada by air. No exceptions for foreign passports or visas.
• After your citizenship ceremony, you receive your certificate that day. Then apply for your Canadian passport separately.
• Dual citizens have all the same rights and responsibilities as single-citizenship Canadians, including voting, healthcare access, and tax obligations.
• If you later choose to renounce Canadian citizenship, it is permanent unless you reapply after one year of PR residence in Canada.