Canadian Passport Required: Canada Changes Entry Rules For Dual Citizens

OTTAWA, Canada - Dual citizen Canadians must show a Canadian passport to enter the country under tightened entry rules effective September 30.

In years past, the government said that dual citizens often entered Canada using their foreign passports backed up by a citizenship card or a provincial driver’s licence to confirm they were Canadian citizens. Now, this practice will end for dual citizens flying into Canada.

Without a proper Canadian passport, Canadian citizens will not be allowed to enter the country as part of a new electronic travel authorization system.

In a new advisory, the Canadian government warned that “Canadian citizens will need to have appropriate documents to travel to Canada before they can board their flight. A valid Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel document that provides proof that you are a citizen and have the right to enter Canada without being subjected to immigration screening. Make sure that the expiry date of the passport is well beyond your planned return date”.

Travelers were advised that the only valid documents to enter the country are “a valid Canadian passport, a Canadian temporary passport, or a Canadian emergency travel document”.

The government also noted that although the electronic travel authorization system was put into effect earlier in 2016, it hasn’t been fully strictly enforced until now.

Visa-exempt foreign nationals, meanwhile, traveling to Canada have been shown leniency until the new system is fully online.

“A new entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), is now in effect for visa-exempt foreign nationals traveling to or transiting through Canada by air. To make sure travelling to Canada stays easy and stress-free, leniency will be shown to travelers who are caught unawares until September 29, 2016.”

American-Canadian travelers will be exempt from the Canadian-passport-only rule and can enter Canada with a United States passport.

“American citizens, including American-Canadian citizens, must carry proper identification and meet the basic requirements to enter Canada. You do not need a Canadian passport, a Canadian visa or an eTA to fly to Canada if you are travelling with a valid US passport.”

How to renew your Canadian passport

To renew your Canadian passport, your current passport must:

• Be valid or expired for no more than one year maximum,

• Have the same name, sex, date of birth and place of birth that you would like to appear on your new passport,

• Have been issued with a 5-year or 10-year validity,

• Not be damaged,

• Not have been reported lost or stolen, and

• Have been issued when you were at least 16 years of age.