Do my kid need a Canadian passport when we travel from US to Canada by car?

[Rubytang]

Hi, My kid is a 6 year-old Canadian who born outside of Canada. We haven't got his Canadian citizenship or passport. I just sent his Canadian first Canadian citizenship application outside of Canada 2 days ago.But my kid is a dual citizen of Canada and Taiwan. I know I can't take him into Canada by air without his Canadian passport. I have kid's valid Taiwan passport. Before we got his Canadian citizenship, could I take my son from US to Canada by car? Kid and I haven't seen kid's father since he worked in Canada last year. He doesn't have enough vacation to come back to Taiwan. We miss him so much. So can anyone hlpe us or who has the familiar situation like mine?

Ruby, a depressed mom and wife.

 

[Rubytang]

Kid and I will plan to stay in Canada for 2 months. And we will purchase round way ticket to US. Again thank you for anyone who is willing to share information. Thank so much.

 

[links18]

What is the child's claim to Canadian citizenship? The child would probably be allowed into Canada, but entry back to US is always at discretion of CBP officer. Does child have any status in the US?

 

[Rubytang]

What is the child's claim to Canadian citizenship? The child would probably be allowed into Canada, but entry back to US is always at discretion of CBP officer. Does child have any status in the US?

My kids have a Taiwan passport and I'll apply ESTA for US entry. They are Canadian according to the description on CIC website. We just sent kids' Canada citizenship application to CIC. And I saw a news on CBC said that a 5-year-old boy has dual citizenship of Canada and Japan. He wasn't allowed to fly home to Vancouver without Canadian passport. So they went home from US by land. In this similar situation, I need to double check is it okay that I take kids to Canada by land from US with his Taiwan passport and ESTA. I am taking care of these young kids by myself. I don't want to take any risk. Thank you again for your replying.

 

[picklee]

You are correct that you cannot fly wto Canada without passport. If kid is flying on Taiwan passport, then kid will require ETA to enter Canada by air.

Yes, you can enter Canada by land from U.S. with Taiwan passport. Providing proof that you have applied for citizenship for kid may be useful going into Canada, but there should be no problem for kid to enter Canada on Taiwan passport, whether by air or land.

 

[screech339]

You are correct that you cannot fly wto Canada without passport. If kid is flying on Taiwan passport, then kid will require ETA to enter Canada by air.

Yes, you can enter Canada by land from U.S. with Taiwan passport. Providing proof that you have applied for citizenship for kid may be useful going into Canada, but there should be no problem for kid to enter Canada on Taiwan passport, whether by air or land.

The kid cannot apply for ETA since the child is Canadian by law, regardless if the child has citizenship certificate or not.

 

[Godzilla9]

You are correct that you cannot fly wto Canada without passport. If kid is flying on Taiwan passport, then kid will require ETA to enter Canada by air.

Yes, you can enter Canada by land from U.S. with Taiwan passport. Providing proof that you have applied for citizenship for kid may be useful going into Canada, but there should be no problem for kid to enter Canada on Taiwan passport, whether by air or land.

This is not correct. If the child is a Canadian citizen, he/she cannot enter Canada by air with Taiwan passport if he/she has ETA. This is true if the Canadian authorities know that they child is a Canadian citizen. Example of this is when the parent is a Canadian citizen and gave birth to the child in the US. The parent can apply to get citizenship certificate for the child but until then the child is not a Canadian citizen de-jure, so does not have to present his/her Canadian passport and Taiwan passport is sufficient.

Read this page and subsequent "Find Out" page, you will find them very useful. Also, bear in mind these all relate to traveling by air.

 

[links18]

This is not correct. If the child is a Canadian citizen, he/she cannot enter Canada by air with Taiwan passport if he/she has ETA. This is true if the Canadian authorities know that they child is a Canadian citizen. Example of this is when the parent is a Canadian citizen and gave birth to the child in the US. The parent can apply to get citizenship certificate for the child but until then the child is not a Canadian citizen de-jure, so does not have to present his/her Canadian passport and Taiwan passport is sufficient.

Read this page and subsequent "Find Out" page, you will find them very useful. Also, bear in mind these all relate to traveling by air.

Child is Canadian at birth by law (de jure). Possession of citizenship certificate or not.

 

[Godzilla9]

Child is Canadian at birth by law (de jure). Possession of citizenship certificate or not.

The Canadian government will know whether the child is a citizen or not after processing the application for citizenship certificate. By being born to a Canadian citizen abroad will not make the child to be treated as a Canadian citizen if you (or the child) did not specifically apply to identify his/her status. The CBSA officer will not conduct research on whether the child is a de-facto Canadian or not (or whether the child is a first generation of Canadians born abroad or not).

 

[links18]

The Canadian government will know whether the child is a citizen or not after processing the application for citizenship certificate. By being born to a Canadian citizen abroad will not make the child to be treated as a Canadian citizen if you (or the child) did not specifically apply to identify his/her status. The CBSA officer will not conduct research on whether the child is a de-facto Canadian or not (or whether the child is a first generation of Canadians born abroad or not).

No, it is up to you to demonstrate your (or your child's) Canadian citizenship to CBSA, but that doesn't change the fact that legally you are Canadian

 

[picklee]

The kid cannot apply for ETA since the child is Canadian by law, regardless if the child has citizenship certificate or not.

Whether the kid is citizen de jure or not is a moot point if it hasn't been proven, which is obviously a critical point here. IRCC needs to make the determination. OP can't expect to fly on a Taiwanese passport without ETA, just because she knows that the kid is Canadian de jure and the authorities ought to know that too.

In fact, until citizenship is proven and assessed by IRCC, the kid can absolutely apply for ETA using Taiwan passport. IRCC issues special authorizations to recent (non U.S.) dual citizens who do not have a passport for this purpose.

Simply put, if you do not have a Canadian passport, then you need an ETA or special authorization. It's really bad advice to say otherwise.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

The point of whether the kid is Citizen de jure or not is a moot point if it hasn't been proven, which is obviously a critical point here. IRCC needs to make the determination. OP can't expect to fly on a Taiwanese passport without ETA, just because she knows that the kid is Canadian de jure and the authorities ought to know that too. In fact, until citizenship is proven and assessed by IRCC, the kid can absolutely apply for ETA using Taiwan passport. IRCC issues special authorizations to recent (non U.S.) citizens who do not have a passport for this purpose.

The child is Canadian, regardless of whether they have proof of citizenship or not. Therefore, the child does NOT qualify for an eTA.

 

[picklee]

The child is Canadian, regardless of whether they have proof of citizenship or not. Therefore, the child does NOT qualify for an eTA.

Most likely OP needs special authorization rather than ETA.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Most likely OP needs special authorization rather than ETA.

They don't need anything if they are entering by car from the US.

 

[picklee]

They don't need anything if they are entering by car from the US.

A fair point. My original reply was for the situation of arriving by air.