Change in Citizenship (Other than Canada) after becoming Permanent Resident

[dubbyv]

Hello fellow members!

Scenario: Applied for Express Entry in November 2020 --> Application Approved in June 2022 --> soft landing in September 2022 | Until this point I was a citizen of Country X and I was living in country Y from past few years.

Now in Nov 2022 I was granted the citizenship of country Y. ----> Citizenship changed from X -> Y

Questions:
1. I want to understand, how this change in citizenship effects my Permanent Residency in Canada.
2. Do I need to apply for PR card again? (No references to PR card for passport)
3. Any other action items needed due to this change in situation.
4. IF new PR card is not required. Can I enter Canada with my PR card and Country Y's passport now?

Requesting inputs from senior members or anyone who has been in similar situation.

Thank you!!

 

[Indian Canada hunter]

Have you got PR card?

 

[dubbyv]

Have you got PR card?

@Indian Canada hunter

yes I got it

 

[armoured]

Hello fellow members!

Scenario: Applied for Express Entry in November 2020 --> Application Approved in June 2022 --> soft landing in September 2022 | Until this point I was a citizen of Country X and I was living in country Y from past few years.

Now in Nov 2022 I was granted the citizenship of country Y. ----> Citizenship changed from X -> Y

Questions:
1. I want to understand, how this change in citizenship effects my Permanent Residency in Canada.
2. Do I need to apply for PR card again? (No references to PR card for passport)
3. Any other action items needed due to this change in situation.
4. IF new PR card is not required. Can I enter Canada with my PR card and Country Y's passport now?

Requesting inputs from senior members or anyone who has been in similar situation.

Thank you!!

Did you give up the nationality you originally had? If you still have original nationality, no issue.

PR status is not linked to nationality, but it is shown on your card.

So: the biggest issue you are likely to face is that airlines might not be easily convinced that you-are-you. And they get to decide whether to let you on plane. You can likely get around that by having copious documentation and copies of old documents (incl citizenship renunciation), etc - no guarnatees but I think you should not have a problem. If you can't board a plane, you should not have trouble at a border crossing - if you can get to USA.

CBSA/IRCC systems should be able to identify you based on name dob and other biographical. (A bit harder if you are John Smith though)

Second issue (minor): trying to get a straight answer from IRCC whether you can/need to change PR card and how to do it. Call them and see. Seriously, this may be hard to figure out. Due ot the above, I'd recommend changing if possible. (Do it from within Canada while living here would be my advice).

Otherwise there is no impact I can think of, although you might have occasional inconviences (documents!).

 

[dubbyv]

Did you give up the nationality you originally had? If you still have original nationality, no issue.

PR status is not linked to nationality, but it is shown on your card.

So: the biggest issue you are likely to face is that airlines might not be easily convinced that you-are-you. And they get to decide whether to let you on plane. You can likely get around that by having copious documentation and copies of old documents (incl citizenship renunciation), etc - no guarnatees but I think you should not have a problem. If you can't board a plane, you should not have trouble at a border crossing - if you can get to USA.

CBSA/IRCC systems should be able to identify you based on name dob and other biographical. (A bit harder if you are John Smith though)

Second issue (minor): trying to get a straight answer from IRCC whether you can/need to change PR card and how to do it. Call them and see. Seriously, this may be hard to figure out. Due ot the above, I'd recommend changing if possible. (Do it from within Canada while living here would be my advice).

Otherwise there is no impact I can think of, although you might have occasional inconviences (documents!).

1. Yes original Country doesn't allow dual citizenship, so the passport is invalid the day i became citizen of another country (as I understand)

2. The PR card shows COB (Country of Birth), so either way it's not going to change. I don't think airlines would create many issues (but yes good advice to keep all old passport and related documentation to prove). Only thing I am concerned about is canada would let me re-enter with newpassport and same PR card or not.

Thanks for your inputs though, I would try my best to get some answers out of IRCC.

 

[armoured]

1. Yes original Country doesn't allow dual citizenship, so the passport is invalid the day i became citizen of another country (as I understand)

Do you still have it? Has it been physically invalidated? Because the airline is probably not going to care as long as it looks like it's still valid. (Note, only for purpose of travelling to Canada)

2. The PR card shows COB (Country of Birth), so either way it's not going to change. I don't think airlines would create many issues (but yes good advice to keep all old passport and related documentation to prove). Only thing I am concerned about is canada would let me re-enter with newpassport and same PR card or not.

PR Card has a field for nationality. This is not a limitation for Canadian purposes, doesn't have to match - but the airlines get to decide whether PR card holder and passport holder are one and the same.

Canada will not care as long as documents match etc. You can expect them to ask a question or two at border - and they may make a note about your changed nationality - but just tell them the truth. It may take a bit longer esp first time but otherwise - it really is not an issue. But the rule is they SHALL admit you if they are satisfied you are a PR* (and they don't play games with this, the officers know this part.)

Airlines - it could go either way, but the issue is who makes the decision (often someone who doesn't know much) AND that their incentive is to not take a chance (it costs the airline money if the person they carry to Canada is inadmissible and has to be taken out of country). Perhaps won't be a problem but a bit more random.



*Note, if you changed your nationality, name, date of birth no longer matches, something different about place of birth, your height and eye colour are totally off, etc, it may be harder to convince them.