Dual Citizenship Canada: What is it and How Does it Work?

Dual citizenship is legal in Canada. You can be a Canadian citizen and a citizen of another country at the same time. You don’t need to renounce your Canadian citizenship. Instead, you can obtain dual citizenship by birth, naturalization, or descent.

However, the legal process is different in other countries. Some allow their citizens to hold dual nationalities, while others don’t. This article will explore the requirements, steps, and benefits of dual citizenship and the impact on current citizenship status.

Dual Citizenship Canada – Key Takeaways

Canada allows dual citizenship. You can hold Canadian citizenship alongside another country’s citizenship without renouncing either, as long as your home country permits it.

You can obtain Canadian dual citizenship through birth on Canadian soil, naturalization (living in Canada for 3 of the last 5 years), citizenship by descent, or through investment-linked residency programs.

Key benefits include the right to live and work in both countries without visas or work permits, access to Canada’s public healthcare and social services, and the ability to vote in Canadian elections.

The Canadian passport ranks among the world’s most powerful, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 180 destinations globally.

Canadians looking to obtain U.S. citizenship can do so through birthright, family sponsorship, naturalization after holding a green card, employment visas, or the EB-5 Investor Visa program.

Does Canada allow dual citizenship?

Yes, Canada allows dual citizenship, meaning you can hold more than one nationality without losing your Canadian citizenship. A dual citizen can have multiple citizenships simultaneously and not renounce their home country’s nationality.

Canadians can acquire dual citizenship from another country or keep a previous nationality if the other country allows dual citizenship. A dual citizen can enjoy the rights and benefits of both countries.

The benefits of having dual citizenship in Canada include:

• Travel mobility: The freedom to travel between Canada and the other country of citizenship without a visa
• Public education: Access to quality education and lower tuition fees
• Market access: Better job opportunities
• Tax benefits: Access to healthcare and social services
• Voting privileges: After you obtain citizenship, you may also be able to vote in elections in both countries

Benefits of Canada Dual Citizenship

1. Freedom of Movement and Residency: As a dual citizen, you have the right to live, work, and study in both Canada and your other country of citizenship without visas or the restrictions that apply to foreign nationals.
2. Powerful Canadian Passport: The Canadian passport ranks 15th on our Global Passport Index, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 180 destinations worldwide, ranking it among the world’s most powerful passports.
3. Access to Healthcare and Social Services: Dual citizens can access Canada’s public healthcare system alongside employment insurance, child benefits, and pension programs.
4. No Forced Renunciation: Canada does not require you to give up your existing nationality when obtaining Canadian citizenship, making it one of the most dual-citizenship-friendly countries in the world. (Note: whether you can keep your original citizenship depends on your home country’s rules.)
5. Expanded Career Opportunities: You can pursue employment in both countries without needing work permits or employer sponsorship, significantly widening your professional options across borders.
6. Voting Rights and Civic Participation: Canadian dual citizens have the right to vote in federal and provincial elections and are eligible to run for public office, giving them a full political voice in Canada while potentially retaining the same rights in their other country of citizenship.

How to Get Dual Citizenship in Canada

To become a dual citizen in Canada, you must be a Canadian citizen. You get dual citizenship when the Government of Canada and another country allow you to have citizenship. Foreign nationals can get dual citizenship in Canada through: citizenship by birth, naturalization, descent or ancestry, and residence by investment programs.

Canadian citizenship by birth

Canada recognizes birthright Citizenship under “jus soli”. Children of dual citizens can obtain Canadian citizenship under dual citizenship laws. For example, a child born in Canada to U.S. citizen parents would gain Canadian citizenship and could claim U.S. citizenship through their parents.

Naturalization through residency

To become a Canadian citizen, individuals must meet naturalization criteria set by the Government of Canada. They also must meet the permanent resident status, which includes living in Canada for three of the last five years, speaking English, and passing a citizenship test. If allowed by their home country, they can retain their original citizenship.

Citizenship by descent or ancestry

Canadian citizenship by descent is granted to a first-generation child born abroad to Canadian citizens, enabling dual citizenship if the other country also offers it. When applying for citizenship through descent, citizens must provide proof of their parent’s Canadian status at the time of birth. The Government of Canada issues a Certificate of Citizenship as official proof.

Residence by investment

When applying for citizenship in Canada from another country, foreigners must first secure permanent residency. Canada citizenship by investment programs offer an additional path to permanent residency, which can pave the way to Canadian citizenship. Many foreign nationals seek dual citizenship by making economic contributions to a new country. One of the most popular programs is the Canada Startup Visa, designed to attract innovative entrepreneurs.

Dual Citizenship Canada Requirements

To get dual citizenship in Canada, foreign nationals must:

• receive a permanent resident status
• have lived in Canada for three out of the last five years
• proof of filed taxes, if you need to
• pass a citizenship test to become a Canadian citizen
• provide language proof with high language skills
• demonstrated good moral character

In many cases, individuals who already hold citizenship in another country may be eligible for applying for citizenship in Canada without giving up their original nationality. However, it’s important to check whether your home country allows dual citizenship, as some nations require you to renounce your previous citizenship.

Dual Citizenship Application Process in Canada

Applying for dual citizenship is similar to a standard procedure for applying for citizenship, as the Canadian government doesn’t have a separate process for dual nationality.

You can start the application process for dual citizenship if:

• You have a permanent resident status and are 18 years of age or older.
• You are a minor with permanent residency with one parent who is a Canadian citizen or one parent who is simultaneously applying for Canadian citizenship.
• Or you are a minor with permanent residency who does not have one parent who is a Canadian citizen or one parent who is applying for Canadian citizenship at the same time.
• Pay the processing fee and the right-of-citizenship fee.

Review the official Application for Canadian Citizenship channels and check for additional information before applying for citizenship in another country.

Note: Any unfulfilled conditions related to your dual citizenship Canada application could cause delays in processing times. These factors can include: missing documents, failing the citizenship test, not meeting the residency requirements, pending background checks, etc. Check with local authorities for country-specific information to know what you are missing when applying for citizenship to acquire dual citizenship.

Can you have dual citizenship between the U.S and Canada?

Yes. Both the United States and Canada permit dual citizenship, meaning you can hold both citizenships simultaneously without being required to renounce either. You become a dual citizen by obtaining citizenship in the second country while retaining your first. For example, a U.S. citizen who naturalizes in Canada after meeting the residency, language, and citizenship test requirements automatically holds both citizenships without any additional steps.

How to obtain U.S Citizenship as a Canadian?

Canadians can obtain U.S. citizenship with the following methods:

• By birthright. Any child born on U.S. soil automatically receives U.S. citizenship, regardless of their parent’s nationality. For example, if a Canadian gives birth in the U.S., the child born is a U.S. citizen by birth, and the child may also be eligible for dual Canadian citizenship through their Canadian parent(s).
• Family sponsorship. Family-sponsored immigration lets Canadian citizens sponsor their spouse or immediate family for a U.S. green card. After three years of residency, they can apply for U.S. citizenship. U.S. citizens can also sponsor Canadian family members.
• Naturalization. After becoming a green card holder, Canadians can apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization after three to five years, depending on their status.
• Employment. Canadians can obtain U.S. citizenship through employment, usually with a TN visa or employer-sponsored green card. The visa is often granted for three years and can be extended if needed. Canadians can apply for U.S. citizenship after obtaining a green card and holding it for five years.
• Investment. The investment route also allows Canadians to invest in the U.S. through the EB-5 Investor Visa, gaining permanent residency and eventually applying for U.S. citizenship. The basic requirements are a minimum capital investment of $800,000 or $1,050,000 in a non-Targeted Employment Area (TEA) project.

Taxation for Canada Dual Citizenship

Canada taxes by residency, not citizenship. So, if you live outside Canada, you will not have to pay taxes in Canada, even though you’re Canadian. You only become liable for Canadian taxes once you establish residency in the country. The U.S. works differently. The United States taxes based on citizenship, not residency. This means U.S. citizens must file a U.S. tax return regardless of where they live in the world. For U.S.-Canadian dual citizens based in Canada, this means filing returns in both countries.

However, the U.S. and Canada have a double taxation treaty that allows dual citizens to offset taxes owed to one country against taxes already paid to the other, so you are not taxed twice on the same income. In practice, most U.S.-Canada dual citizens do not end up owing U.S. taxes, as tools such as the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit typically reduce or eliminate U.S. liability.

How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments. 

We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.