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Dual Citizenship
Canada recognizes dual citizenship, but not all
countries do.
Dual citizenship (or dual nationality) may be an important issue if your client is a citizen of more than one country. Canadian law permits a Canadian to have more than one nationality. However, your client’s Canadian citizenship may not be recognized in the country of his or her second citizenship, where authorities may not recognize Canada’s right to provide your client with consular assistance. This situation is especially likely if your client does not use a Canadian passport when entering the second country. Where permitted by the laws of the country in question, the Government of Canada encourages Canadians to use their Canadian passport when travelling abroad and to present themselves as Canadian citizens to foreign authorities.
A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s license or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.
Clients who have concerns about dual citizenship should consult the consular publication Dual Citizenship: What You Need to Know.
A True Story
Born in South Korea, Paul was adopted as an infant by Canadian parents. Years later, when the family decided to revisit Paul?s birth country, they were shocked to learn that he was still considered a Korean citizen and that he was subject to military service. Little did they know that Korea did not recognize dual citizenship or that Paul had to renounce his Korean citizenship by the age of 18 to be exempted from military duty.
