Dual citizen kids - Canadian passport?

[sciencenerd 56]

For those of you who have kids with both Canadian and American citizenship, have you kept an up-to-date Canadian passport? Since you have to enter the US using your American passport, that one isn't optional for us, but Canada doesn't have that same requirement (correct?). We were just noticing the Canadian passport fees were going up significantly in July and wondering if we should get our 1 year old daughter a passport before then. She currently has a Canadian citizenship certificate and an American passport. Since she can travel on her American passport, is there any benefit to getting a Canadian passport? Would getting her the cheap one now make things easier for her in the future even if we don't keep it up to date? It looks like it would only cost a little over $20 plus passport photos now compared to $100 in July, but I don't want to waste $20 if there's no real benefit (I don't really see her needing it during the 3 year validity of an infant passport).

Even for those of you dual citizens without kids, do you keep your own Canadian passports up to date or do you just use your American passport?

Thank you!

[Ms Hogan 295]

I haven't moved yet but when we do I will be keeping both passports current for all of us since we will be crossing back and forth frequently.

Your daughter being that young should still be eligible for one free replacement before the age of 3. AND keep in mind that when the prices go up there will also be a 10 year version available instead of just 5!

[GandD 5,966]

You could go to Cuba with a Canadian passport, so there's that.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Until our baby girl gets older, we're just going to maintain her US passport. I think it's just a little ridiculous to renew the American passport every 5 years, and the Canadian passport every 3 years. I don't see any real benefit in doing that.

[Ms Hogan 295]

Until our baby girl gets older, we're just going to maintain her US passport. I think it's just a little ridiculous to renew the American passport every 5 years, and the Canadian passport every 3 years. I don't see any real benefit in doing that.

You don't have to renew her Canadian passport every 3 years indefinitely, it will only be this first one that will expire. The next one will be for 5 years.

[gad33 47]

You could go to Cuba with a Canadian passport, so there's that.

Apart from the law.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

You could go to Cuba with a Canadian passport, so there's that.

Uh - I wouldn't do that once you're dual. Yes, I understand you'd be using your Canadian passport, but going to Cuba is a no-no for US Citizens which you'd also be (whether you're showing your passport or not)

[GandD 5,966]

You could go to Cuba with a Canadian passport, so there's that.

Ok, so the guys who responded are correct. I did a little more research and found that you would be violating the US law even if you used your Canadian citizenship/passport. The odds of it being an issue are low BUT it would be considered ILLEGAL in the US. Sorry for the bad advice.

Edited February 4, 2013 by GandD

[newacct 688]

Just curious, is it illegal to be travelling with both Passports?

Why would it be? I travel with multiple passports all the time (I only use one of them though).

If you are asking about using one passport on one part of a trip, and another on another part of a trip, it might lead to questions, but as long as you are consistent (entering and leaving a country on the same passport), it's okay. In some unfortunate cases, people might even be forced by the laws in respective countries to use different passports for different parts of the trip.

[neiks 19]

Kids only have US passports. Oldest has a Canadian birth certificate and youngest has his Canadian citizenship card. That is all that is required to prove Canadian citizenship for both and those documents do not expire.