FYI - American-Canadian Dual Citizens

[MericaEh]

Just wanted to share my experience travelling outside of and coming back to Canada on an American passport. Many have previously mentioned that you need a Canadian passport to return to Canada; well, this is not completely true for American Canadians where you can totally use your American passport to return to Canada with no issues at all. When back in Canada make sure to mention to the border control agent that you're a Canadian citizen. It would also be a good idea to keep digital copy of your citizenship certificate on your phone just in case. Thought this could come in handy for some especially with the current passport backlog/delays in Canada. I'm actually thinking I can save the $160 application fee and maybe wait till my current passport is about to expire before I get a Canadian one since apparently it's not really needed.

 

[HarveyKeck]

Just wanted to share my experience travelling outside of and coming back to Canada on an American passport. Many have previously mentioned that you need a Canadian passport to return to Canada; well, this is not completely true for American Canadians where you can totally use your American passport to return to Canada with no issues at all. When back in Canada make sure to mention to the border control agent that you're a Canadian citizen. It would also be a good idea to keep digital copy of your citizenship certificate on your phone just in case. Thought this could come in handy for some especially with the current passport backlog/delays in Canada. I'm actually thinking I can save the $160 application fee and maybe wait till my current passport is about to expire before I get a Canadian one since apparently it's not really needed.

Thanks for this post, it is quite helpful. When you returned to Canada, did the agent ask for any proof of Canadian citizenship?

 

[Mthornt]

I've also had this question... I have Oath next month with trips coming up soon after. I don't know if I'll have time to get my Canadian passport in time, and have been worried about making the trips. This is helpful, I'd be interested to hear the experiences of others on this subject and what kinds of questions duals may get at the border.

 

[lingow]

This is great to know. Did you fly or drive? Did they actually check your certificate?

 

[trumprefugee]

There is even this official section on US-Canada dual citizens saying that we can enter Canada just on our US passports but we would still need to carry proof of Canadian citizenship. I wonder if just a scanned copy of the certificate of citizenship would suffice so that we don't have to carry the actual paper copy?

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/dual-canadian-citizens-visit-canada.html

Canadian-American dual citizens
To fly to Canada, you need

• either your valid U.S. passport or your valid Canadian passport
• to meet the basic requirements to enter Canada

If you travel with just your valid U.S. passport, you

• will need to carry identification that shows your Canadian citizenship
• may be asked to go through immigration screening

Even though you only need one of your passports to enter Canada, you should travel with both. Having both passports makes travel between Canada and the United States easier. Your passports prove

• your citizenships
• that you have the right to enter Canada and the U.S. without immigration screening

 

[Slm1003]

I've also had this question... I have Oath next month with trips coming up soon after. I don't know if I'll have time to get my Canadian passport in time, and have been worried about making the trips. This is helpful, I'd be interested to hear the experiences of others on this subject and what kinds of questions duals may get at the border.

I crossed by car at the Queenston-Lewiston bridge this past Sunday. I presented mine and my son’s US passports and had our citizenship certificates in my passenger seat. While the border officer was asking the normal questions, I turned to grab the certificates and he just said “oh, you have your Canadian paperwork there, ok great. You’re good to go” before I could even pick them up. It was super easy to cross and took no longer than when I had my PR card!

 

[Mthornt]

I crossed by car at the Queenston-Lewiston bridge this past Sunday. I presented mine and my son’s US passports and had our citizenship certificates in my passenger seat. While the border officer was asking the normal questions, I turned to grab the certificates and he just said “oh, you have your Canadian paperwork there, ok great. You’re good to go” before I could even pick them up. It was super easy to cross and took no longer than when I had my PR card!

That's great to hear. I have a month in between oath and first trip afterwards so I hope I can find a way to get the passport, otherwise I'll be prepared with the citizenship document.