Dual citizens need a Canadian passport to enter country

Canadians who hold dual citizenship with another country will soon be required to use their Canadian passport when returning here — a change that may have caught many of the nearly one million dual citizens by surprise.

“Starting September 30, 2016, all air travellers will need to have appropriate documents to travel to Canada before they can board their flight. Canadians, including dual citizens, will need to show proof they are Canadian citizens and use the right travel documents,” reads the Government of Canada website.

The government warns online that Canadian citizens travelling without a Canadian passport, temporary Canadian passport or a Canadian emergency travel document may not be allowed to board their flight into Canada. The policy change is part of a wider move towards an electronic screening system meant to increase border security.

Also at the end of September, Canadians will no longer be eligible to use the electronic travel authorization system introduced last year that requires air passengers to submit biographic, passport and other personal information through the immigration department to be prescreened for entry to Canada. When the new policy comes into effect, holders of a Canadian passport will be expected to use that for entry instead.

Right now Canadians can use their passport from another country to enter this one as long as they provide proof of Canadian residency, including a driver’s licence or citizenship card.

At least 2.9 per cent of Canadians, or 944,700 people, hold multiple citizenships, according to the 2011 census. The most common country for multiple citizenships is the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, France and Poland.

The new policy on passport use only applies to entry into Canada by air and excludes land and sea arrivals.

Daily Brew

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