Dual Citizenship

[Mel H]

I am getting my ducks in a row to apply for Citizenship and want to find out if I can be a citizen of more than 2 countries. I am a British and South African citizen at this stage. I called the South African consulate and they say you can be a citizen of more than 2 countries as long as all countries approve.

Does anyone know if Canada has restrictions in this regard? Really struggling to get through to the Call Centre.

Thanks,

Mel

 

[screech339]

I am getting my ducks in a row to apply for Citizenship and want to find out if I can be a citizen of more than 2 countries. I am a British and South African citizen at this stage. I called the South African consulate and they say you can be a citizen of more than 2 countries as long as all countries approve.

Does anyone know if Canada has restrictions in this regard? Really struggling to get through to the Call Centre.

Thanks,

Mel

There are no restrictions on a number of citizenship a person can hold. If a country allow dual citizenship, it basically means you can hold any number of citizenship. One person can be born up to 3 citizenships. A child born in Canada to two difference foreign national parents, hence 3 citizenships.

 

[mathlete]

I am getting my ducks in a row to apply for Citizenship and want to find out if I can be a citizen of more than 2 countries. I am a British and South African citizen at this stage. I called the South African consulate and they say you can be a citizen of more than 2 countries as long as all countries approve.

Does anyone know if Canada has restrictions in this regard? Really struggling to get through to the Call Centre.

Thanks,

Mel

To retain your South African citizenship you must apply for permission ahead of obtain another citizenship to do so. No special action is required from the British or Canadian side of things.

I don't know why you would care to maintain your South African citizenship but subject to consular approval you may.

 

[alphazip]

One person can be born up to 3 citizenships.

The rest of your information is correct, but this part is not. A person can hold more than 3 citizenships. Here's a simple example: Liam was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and holds an Irish & British passport. He marries a woman from Italy and they move to Canada, where she gives birth. The child will be: Irish, British, Italian, Canadian. However, even four is not the limit.

 

[mathlete]

The rest of your information is correct, but this part is not. A person can hold more than 3 citizenships. Here's a simple example: Liam was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and holds an Irish & British passport. He marries a woman from Italy and they move to Canada, where she gives birth. The child will be: Irish, British, Italian, Canadian. However, even four is not the limit.

My nephew was just born in Canada. Wife is American, Dad is South African and German, he is all 4.

 

[screech339]

The rest of your information is correct, but this part is not. A person can hold more than 3 citizenships. Here's a simple example: Liam was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and holds an Irish & British passport. He marries a woman from Italy and they move to Canada, where she gives birth. The child will be: Irish, British, Italian, Canadian. However, even four is not the limit.

If you read my post, I said that there is no restrictions on the number of citizenship a person holds. The example I made was to show how one person can get 3 citizenship at time of birth from the example I provided. The child can get even more citizenships under certain circumstances.

 

[alphazip]

My nephew was just born in Canada. Wife is American, Dad is South African and German, he is all 4.

Congrats to the parents! The only downside is that the boy will be tethered to U.S. taxation and reporting requirements for the rest of his life.

 

[Mel H]

Thanks so much everyone! That's a huge help!

 

[mathlete]

Congrats to the parents! The only downside is that the boy will be tethered to U.S. taxation and reporting requirements for the rest of his life.

Yeah I know. He can renounce when he turns 18 though so I don't think it's a giant big deal.

 

[screech339]

Yeah I know. He can renounce when he turns 18 though so I don't think it's a giant big deal.

Not a big deal to renounce US citizenship or no big deal in filing US taxes, cannot open TFSA, or RESP (taxable in US), filing FATCA, Canadian spouse must report all accounts if the child has joint account to spouse, etc etc. A lot more headache than it's worth.

 

[mathlete]

Not a big deal to renounce US citizenship or no big deal in filing US taxes, cannot open TFSA, or RESP (taxable in US), filing FATCA, Canadian spouse must report all accounts if the child has joint account to spouse, etc etc. A lot more headache than it's worth.

Not a big deal to renounce. Filing US taxes is a big deal.

 

[screech339]

Not a big deal to renounce. Filing US taxes is a big deal.

Well, if you have 2 grand ready to put down. Hard to do that when you are still in school.

 

[mathlete]

Well, if you have 2 grand ready to put down. Hard to do that when you are still in school.

Cheaper than a lifetime of accountant fees

 

[Kess]

Not a big deal to renounce. Filing US taxes is a big deal.

My husband will renounce the moment the IRS starts bugging him for money (after he gets his Canadian citizenship of course). It's currently a pain to try to make sure we don't open the wrong type of account under his name (like a TFSA). Someone mentioned RESP's, I better look into that since I'm 38 weeks pregnant and was planning one for our daughter (who I'm not going to apply for US Citizenship for).

 

[screech339]

My husband will renounce the moment the IRS starts bugging him for money (after he gets his Canadian citizenship of course). It's currently a pain to try to make sure we don't open the wrong type of account under his name (like a TFSA). Someone mentioned RESP's, I better look into that since I'm 38 weeks pregnant and was planning one for our daughter (who I'm not going to apply for US Citizenship for).

If your child will be American, you are better off not opening RESP since it is taxable to US. Even if the child renounce American at 18, the child must pay any tax on RESP before being granted ability to renounce. Got to be cleared with IRS first before granted.