Dual Citizenship in Canada: What You Need to Know

One of the questions new applicants ask most often is whether becoming a Canadian citizen means giving up their original citizenship. In Canada, the answer is generally no.

Canada's policy: dual citizenship is fully permitted

Canada has permitted dual and even multiple citizenship since 1977, and does not require new citizens to renounce any other citizenship they hold as a condition of becoming Canadian. You can become a Canadian citizen while remaining a citizen of your country of origin, as long as that other country also allows it.

The other side of the equation: check your origin country's rules

Whether you actually end up holding dual citizenship depends equally on the laws of your country of origin. Some countries automatically revoke citizenship when a person naturalizes elsewhere, or require an explicit renunciation, or have other restrictions. Canada's permissive policy cannot override another country's own citizenship laws, so it is worth checking your origin country's specific rules directly.

Practical implications of holding dual citizenship

As a dual citizen, you can generally travel using either passport, though Canadian consular protection abroad can be limited in your other country of citizenship, since that country may treat you primarily as its own national while you are there. Tax obligations can also apply in both countries depending on their specific rules, which is worth checking with a tax professional if relevant to your situation.

This connects to Bill C-3 and citizenship by descent

Because Canada permits multiple citizenship, the citizenship-by-descent changes under Bill C-3 (covered in our dedicated guide) can result in people holding Canadian citizenship alongside one or more other citizenships they already had, without having to choose between them.