Can I hold dual citizenship if I immigrate to Canada?

While many immigrants to Canada eventually become Canadian citizens, they often aim to obtain dual citizenship to retain the benefits of their home country citizenship.

What is dual citizenship?

Dual citizenship means an individual legally holds passports from two different countries at the same time. This status grants them the legal rights and responsibilities of being a citizen in both their home country and Canada.

Note: Dual citizens must always adhere to the laws specific to whichever country they reside in at that time.

Dual Citizenship: Pros and Cons

There are various reasons why Canadian immigrants might want to maintain dual citizenship after becoming Canadian citizens. These include:

Pros:

• Dual Passports: The ability to hold two passports simultaneously.
• Access to Rights and Programs: Eligibility for, and access to, rights and programs available to citizens of both countries.
• Simplified Travel: Easier travel between both countries of citizenship and potentially their allied nations.
• Examples: Access to Canada’s social programs, some of which are only available to citizens, and the ability to own property in either country.

Cons:

• Taxation Rules: Dual citizens might have to comply with taxation rules in both countries, potentially leading to double taxation.
• Other Obligations: Obligations such as military service in one country could complicate the new life an immigrant is trying to build in Canada.

Can I be a Dual Citizen?

An immigrant’s ability to be a dual citizen primarily depends on the rules and regulations of their home country.

While Canada allows foreign nationals to retain their original citizenship when obtaining Canadian citizenship, immigrants can only become dual citizens if their country of origin also permits it.

Therefore, immigrants considering Canadian citizenship are advised to first consult the rules and regulations of their home country to fully understand the implications for their current citizenship status.

Here’s a summary of whether immigrants from Canada’s top 10 new permanent resident (PR) source countries can maintain dual citizenship if they apply to become Canadian citizens:

India: Immigrants from India cannot hold dual citizenship upon becoming Canadian citizens. According to Indian law, applying for Indian citizenship after acquiring foreign citizenship or continuing to hold an Indian passport is a punishable offense. However, Indian nationals who become Canadian citizens can pursue an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) designation.

United States of America (USA): The USA permits dual citizenship for American nationals who become Canadian citizens. American citizens can pursue Canadian citizenship without affecting their status in the USA.

China: Immigrants from China cannot hold dual citizenship as it is not legally recognized in China. The Government of Canada advises Chinese nationals to travel to China with a valid Canadian passport and to present themselves as Canadians to foreign authorities.

Philippines: Immigrants from the Philippines can maintain dual citizenship. Filipino-born Canadians who were born before 1973 can apply to retain or regain their local citizenship if they had at least one Filipino parent. Canadian-born individuals with at least one Filipino parent at birth are already considered dual citizens.

Here’s a summary of the dual citizenship status for immigrants from several key countries when they apply to become Canadian citizens:

Afghanistan

• Dual Citizenship: Not recognized.
• Implications: Afghan officials may refuse Canadian consular services to Canadian citizens considered to be Afghan citizens.

Nigeria

• Dual Citizenship: Recognized for Nigerian-born immigrants who become Canadian citizens. However, Canadian citizens cannot become naturalized in Nigeria later on.

Pakistan

• Dual Citizenship: Not recognized.
• Implications: Although there is an agreement with Canada, Pakistani-born immigrants must revoke their Pakistani citizenship upon obtaining Canadian citizenship.

Cameroon

• Dual Citizenship: Not recognized.
• Implications: Cameroonian officials may refuse Canadian consular services to Canadian citizens considered to be Cameroonian citizens.

Iran

• Dual Citizenship: Not recognized.
• Implications: Iranian authorities may refuse Canadian consular services to Canadian citizens considered to be Iranian citizens. Canadian-Iranian citizens must use their Iranian passport to enter and exit Iran, and there may be restrictions on leaving Iran.

Eritrea

• Dual Citizenship: Not recognized.
• Implications: Eritrean authorities may refuse Canadian consular services to Canadian citizens considered to be Eritrean citizens.

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