Flying into Canada as a Dual Citizen

[supremecomplex 8]

Hi all - 

 

(Mods: please feel free to move if this isn't in the right place).

 

I'll be traveling to visit my family in Canada for the first time since the pandemic hit and now that I'm a US citizen (making me a dual citizen, yay!) My question is: do I use my US passport or my Canadian passport when entering Canada? Has anyone else experienced this? My connection is in Canada, but my first flight from where I live puts me at immigration as I land in Canada. My thinking is that I would have to enter Canada with my US passport, but also show them that I'm a Canadian citizen with my Canadian passport? And then when coming back to the US, just to show my US passport when returning. I'll be bringing both just in case, but I want to make sure I use the right one when going through immigration. 

 

Another side question: is it required for me to show my US/Canadian passport while flying in Canada? 

 

Any help would be great - thank you! 

 

Edited June 29, 2022 by supremecomplex

[Ontarkie 14,228]

4 minutes ago, supremecomplex said:

Hi all - 

 

(Mods: please feel free to move if this isn't in the right place).

 

I'll be traveling to visit my family in Canada for the first time since the pandemic hit and now that I'm a US citizen (making me a dual citizen, yay!) My question is: do I use my US passport or my Canadian passport when entering Canada? Has anyone else experienced this? My thinking is that I would have to enter Canada with my US passport, but also show them that I'm a Canadian citizen with my Canadian passport? And then when coming back to the US, just to show my US passport when returning. I'll be bringing both just in case, but I want to make sure I use the right one when going through immigration. 

 

Another side question: is it required for me to show my US/Canadian passport while flying in Canada? 

 

Any help would be great - thank you! 

 

Canada doe snot require you to use the Canadian passport.  I only have the US passport and always enter with it. It does display the Country of birth as Canada so they can see it right there. 

But since  you have your Canadian passport just use it. 

Edited June 29, 2022 by Ontarkie

[Soulmates513 3]

When I travelled to Canada and showed them my Canadian passport along with the US, the guy smiled and said, "We don't need that, you can put it away." lol  So I wouldn't bother even showing it, take it if you feel more comfortable but the US passport is all you need for entering Canada and coming back to the US.  Have a wonderful and safe trip!

Edited June 29, 2022 by Soulmates513

[Mozillaman 7]

These replies are old advice. Canada now requires dual-citizens to enter on their Canadian passport, and recommends US/Canada dual citizens to have a Canadian passport. If you don't you may be added additional questions or need secondary inspections. This was lightly enforced starting in November 2016 but in the past couple of years has become much more enforced. See here, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/dual-canadian-citizens-visit-canada.html

Edited June 30, 2022 by Mozillaman
Clarity

[Ontarkie 14,228]

14 hours ago, Mozillaman said:

These replies are old advice. Canada now requires dual-citizens to enter on their Canadian passport, and recommends US/Canada dual citizens to have a Canadian passport. If you don't you may be added additional questions or need secondary inspections. This was lightly enforced starting in November 2016 but in the past couple of years has become much more enforced. See here, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/dual-canadian-citizens-visit-canada.html

Nope I traveling just to Canada just 6 months ago and just used my US passport. The link you posted even says a US passport is all you need too. 

Canadian-American dual citizens

To fly to Canada, you need

• either your valid U.S. passport or your valid Canadian passport

Edited June 30, 2022 by Ontarkie

[Mozillaman 7]

2 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

Nope I traveling just to Canada just 6 months ago and just used my US passport. The link you posted even says a US passport is all you need too. 

To fly to Canada, you need

• either your valid U.S. passport or your valid Canadian passport

Make sure to keep reading:

If you travel with just your valid U.S. passport, you 

• will need to carry identification that shows your Canadian citizenship
• may be asked to go through immigration screening

[Ontarkie 14,228]

7 minutes ago, Mozillaman said:

Make sure to keep reading:

If you travel with just your valid U.S. passport, you 

• will need to carry identification that shows your Canadian citizenship
• may be asked to go through immigration screening

Again keep reading

Even though you only need one of your passports to enter Canada, you should travel with both. 

 

Regardless, it seems they are not very strict with having both.  I've never been asked to show anything other then my US passposrt. The US passport also shows country of birth as Canada. Maybe this is implied more towards those that are returning residents. As when you click on the link that is the first thing it brings up. 

[Idlewild 26]

I called CBSA and asked this very question, as I just became a Canadian citizen.  I was told without any ambiguity that I HAD TO USE MY CANADIAN PASSPORT for air-travel entry to Canada, no exceptions.  Land travel is OK without the passport. 

 

In reality, I suspect it is a little bit of a gray area depending on which officer you get. 

 

Give CBSA a call and see what they say, and report back here.

[Kai G. Llewellyn 838]

On 6/29/2022 at 2:35 PM, supremecomplex said:

Hi all - 

 

(Mods: please feel free to move if this isn't in the right place).

 

I'll be traveling to visit my family in Canada for the first time since the pandemic hit and now that I'm a US citizen (making me a dual citizen, yay!) My question is: do I use my US passport or my Canadian passport when entering Canada? Has anyone else experienced this? My connection is in Canada, but my first flight from where I live puts me at immigration as I land in Canada. My thinking is that I would have to enter Canada with my US passport, but also show them that I'm a Canadian citizen with my Canadian passport? And then when coming back to the US, just to show my US passport when returning. I'll be bringing both just in case, but I want to make sure I use the right one when going through immigration. 

 

Another side question: is it required for me to show my US/Canadian passport while flying in Canada? 

 

Any help would be great - thank you! 

 

You can use either, but I think they'd prefer a Canadian one, as it helps them confirm your citizenship faster. I don't have a Canadian passport yet and I'm entering with a UK Passport and a Green Card despite being a citizen. Once you're in front of a CBSA officer, they have to let you in no matter what per S.6 of the Charter as you are a citizen. Either passport is acceptable to be boarded to a flight to Canada. Those Canadian citizens who do not have a US Passport or LPR card MUST use a Canadian passport to fly to Canada otherwise they will be denied boarding. Canadian citizens cannot get an eTA on a foreign passport.

 

I've noticed that CBSA will only want to do further immigration screening/citizenship confirmation IF you are doing something that goes beyond a standard visit (i.e. if you're coming to study/work in Canada, or stay for a long period of time) or they want to check for admissibility, which again wouldn't apply to you if you're a citizen, but they'd have to make sure you were one first.

Edited July 5, 2022 by Kai G. Llewellyn