Entering Canada via US land border with Expired Canadian passport

[Jan_119]

Hi, I'm a Canadian citizen who acquired dual nationality through marriage. I'm living in the country of my other nationality which strictly does not allow dual citizenship. I need to visit my family in Canada but am unable to renew my Canadian passport as the government here wants all embassies to report dual citizens. I'm holding a Canadian passport which expired 15 years back and my Canadian citizenship card which has a photo of me as a child. Can I enter Canada via USA by car using only these documents? Does the new law effective 10th November 2016 requiring dual citizens to enter Canada with a valid Canadian passport apply to land travel as well? Would appreciate any advice, thanks.

 

[Natan]

In theory, you can enter Canada with those documents, but you should expect to be delayed at the border for a considerable amount of time while your identity and citizenship status are verified. If you have any valid ID, you should bring it -- the quicker your identity can be validated, the sooner the border can begin validating your citizenship status.

 

[James Russo]

As a Canadian you have to proof your status when crossing the border by your own car. ETA is only to who is landing by flight.

 

[links18]

I need to visit my family in Canada but am unable to renew my Canadian passport as the government here wants all embassies to report dual citizens.

And the Canadian embassy says what?

 

[rish888]

As a Canadian citizen you have an unconditional right to enter Canada. You can take your expired passport as proof of citizenship. A birth certificate would also be ideal if you have it. I would also recommend taking your current passport/government ID that corroborates your Canadian passport. (i.e. same name and date of birth.)

Expect a trip to secondary and maybe a delay, but rest assured as long as you have evidence that you are a Canadian citizen they are not going to send you back.

 

[screech339]

And the Canadian embassy says what?

The Canadian Embassy didn't say anything. The OP doesn't want the foreign government to know he has kept his Canadian citizenship while maintaining a second citizenship through marriage. Nothing more.

 

[screech339]

As a Canadian citizen you have an unconditional right to enter Canada. You can take your expired passport as proof of citizenship. A birth certificate would also be ideal if you have it. I would also recommend taking your current passport/government ID that corroborates your Canadian passport. (i.e. same name and date of birth.)

Expect a trip to secondary and maybe a delay, but rest assured as long as you have evidence that you are a Canadian citizen they are not going to send you back.

The issue is if he is from a country that doesn't allow dual, chances are he will have to fly to Canada. He cannot apply for eta as he is Canadian. The foreign government will know he has kept his Canadian citizenship. He may lose his gained foreign citizenship since dual is not allowed.

 

[keesio]

The issue is if he is from a country that doesn't allow dual, chances are he will have to fly to Canada. He cannot apply for eta as he is Canadian. The foreign government will know he has kept his Canadian citizenship. He may lose his gained foreign citizenship since dual is not allowed.

The OP mentioned entering Canada via car from the US. That should work, though with a bit additional scrutiny

 

[screech339]

The OP mentioned entering Canada via car from the US. That should work, though with a bit additional scrutiny

I missed that obvious part. Sorry. Even so, the OP seems pretty deceptive in trying to hide his Canadian Citizenship from his government that don't allow dual citizenship. Why did the person even bother applying for 2nd citizenship if the OP doesn't want to lose Canadian citizenship. He is going through great lengths to avoid being caught. It appears that he doesn't want to respect and follow his country laws.

 

[Natan]

An individual who acquired a nationality through marriage, may be required to possess that nationality to keep their family together, housed, clothed and fed. Such a person may be loathe to give up their Canadian citizenship. Not being in this individual's shoes, I do not presume to judge them.

 

[Natan]

An example: Myanmar does not allow dual citizenship. Rohingyas are not citizens of Myanmar and are currently being massacred in a racial cleansing campaign conducted by the Myanmar armed forces. A Canadian citizen married to a Rohingya might become a citizen of Myanmar to provide protection for their spouse and children. In the face of recent genocidal activities in Rakhine, this Canadian citizen might be working hard to get their family out of Myanmar to a safe haven. It would be foolish for such a person to give up their Canadian citizenship, their sole ticket safely out of Myanmar, simply because screech339 does not approve of their behaviour.

I could easily provide at least a dozen other situations that would justify OPs behaviour. But to be clear, OP does not need to justify their behaviour to me, or any other august member of CanadaVisa.com.

 

[screech339]

An example: Myanmar does not allow dual citizenship. Rohingyas are not citizens of Myanmar and are currently being massacred in a racial cleansing campaign conducted by the Myanmar armed forces. A Canadian citizen married to a Rohingya might become a citizen of Myanmar to provide protection for their spouse and children. In the face of recent genocidal activities in Rakhine, this Canadian citizen might be working hard to get their family out of Myanmar to a safe haven. It would be foolish for such a person to give up their Canadian citizenship, their sole ticket safely out of Myanmar, simply because screech339 does not approve of their behaviour.

I could easily provide at least a dozen other situations that would justify OPs behaviour. But to be clear, OP does not need to justify their behaviour to me, or any other august member of CanadaVisa.com.

There is a different in automatically obtaining citizenship through marriage and applying for citizenship through marriage.

If it's the first, there are laws that protect Canadian from losing it since the person did not seek 2nd citizenship. The OP doesn't need to hide his Canadian citizenship as he won't lose it. The government would only recognize the marriage citizenship since it is forced on him.

If it's the latter, the person actively seeked for a 2nd citizenship through marriage. This person wanted 2nd citizenship without giving up his Canadian citizenship whereby the government expected him to officially renounce his first citzenship by law as a requirement to obtain their citizenship. His actions of going through great lengths to hide it clearly shows that he is breaking government's laws.

 

[NewUser2018]

it fine but expect delays, also second ID like canadian drivers license, birth certificate or even canadian health card will help speed up at entry point to Canada.

when u return get yourself provincial ID and renew your pass at least 6-8 before expiry date.

 

[Natan]

There is a different in automatically obtaining citizenship through marriage and applying for citizenship through marriage.

If it's the first, there are laws that protect Canadian from losing it since the person did not seek 2nd citizenship. The OP doesn't need to hide his Canadian citizenship as he won't lose it. The government would only recognize the marriage citizenship since it is forced on him.

If it's the latter, the person actively seeked for a 2nd citizenship through marriage. This person wanted 2nd citizenship without giving up his Canadian citizenship whereby the government expected him to officially renounce his first citzenship by law as a requirement to obtain their citizenship. His actions of going through great lengths to hide it clearly shows that he is breaking government's laws.

Are you as ardent in your support of the laws that deprive the Rohingya of the protection of the Myanmar government? After all, the same law that provides for naturalizing as a Myanmar citizen also deprives the Rohingya of Myanmar citizenship, rendering them stateless and vulnerable to racial cleansing.

 

[links18]

The Canadian Embassy didn't say anything. The OP doesn't want the foreign government to know he has kept his Canadian citizenship while maintaining a second citizenship through marriage. Nothing more.

Yeah, I know. I was asking what Canadian policy is? Does Canada rat on its citizens to foreign governments, potentially putting them in harm's way? I doubt it or at the very least sincerely hope not. Canada should be treating its citizens as its citizens and its citizens only and not informing on them to foreign governments when they renew their Canadian travel documents. But has the OP even verified what official Canadian policy is in whatever country they are in or are they going on some local myth of what it is?