Travelling after Oath Ceremony

[jermainedeffo]

Hi

I am a UK passport holder / citizen. I need to travel back to the UK after the Oath Ceremony before I receive my Canadian passport (and possibly before I receive my citizenship certificate). A few questions:

1. Is it possible to return to Canada without a Canadian passport / citizenship certificate?
2. Is it possible to return to Canada with a citizenship certificate?
3. If the answer to either of the above is yes, do I need to do anything in particular to be able to return?

Thanks

 

[sanko]

1. No.
2. Maybe.
3. Without a passport but with a citizenship certificate, you might be able to cross through the American border. I've read from other forum members that this is possible, but it might be based off the discretion of the border agent. You certainly won't be able to come back to Canada flying without a Canadian passport.

 

[thuong]

He/she has UK passport, I think he can come back to Canada without Canadian passport

 

[sanko]

He/she has UK passport, I think he can come back to Canada without Canadian passport

No, as a Canadian citizen, the border agent will require a Canadian passport, regardless if the other citizenship would theoretically allow them to enter the country.

It’s a weird rule, I know.

 

[kenjia01]

Assuming one has a citizenship certificate and is outside of Canada, it should be possible to apply for the passport at one of the Canadian embassies using the certificate. Or am I mistaken?

 

[bellaluna]

Assuming one has a citizenship certificate and is outside of Canada, it should be possible to apply for the passport at one of the Canadian embassies using the certificate. Or am I mistaken?

It's possible but it will take longer since passports are only ever processed inside Canada, so there will be some mailing time added between Canada and the overseas mission.

 

[jermainedeffo]

No, as a Canadian citizen, the border agent will require a Canadian passport, regardless if the other citizenship would theoretically allow them to enter the country.

It’s a weird rule, I know.

I read elsewhere that the citizenship certificate may be satisfactory for proving status at the border. Is this incorrect?

 

[sanko]

I read elsewhere that the citizenship certificate may be satisfactory for proving status at the border. Is this incorrect?

Not according to this page: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/documents/dual-citizenship

 

[scylla]

I read elsewhere that the citizenship certificate may be satisfactory for proving status at the border. Is this incorrect?

If you are traveling across a land border from the US, that will work. But you won't be able to board an airplane to Canada with just a citizenship certificate.

 

[Dalboy1980]

I read elsewhere that the citizenship certificate may be satisfactory for proving status at the border. Is this incorrect?

I'm also a UK citizen and now Canadian, how long will you be in the UK for....reason is you can get your passport by submitting to the high commission in the UK but if it's a flying visit why not pay extra in Canada and expedite it?

 

[jermainedeffo]

I'm also a UK citizen and now Canadian, how long will you be in the UK for....reason is you can get your passport by submitting to the high commission in the UK but if it's a flying visit why not pay extra in Canada and expedite it?

I'm planning on being in the UK from October - January, so I'll be there for a while!

My citizenship ceremony is tomorrow (September 20th). I am due to be in the US on October 8th and then flying to UK in mid-October. Trying to decide whether my certificate will arrive in time for the trip to the US or whether I need to ask to postpone during the registration at the ceremony tomorrow.

 

[sanko]

I'm planning on being in the UK from October - January, so I'll be there for a while!

My citizenship ceremony is tomorrow (September 20th). I am due to be in the US on October 8th and then flying to UK in mid-October. Trying to decide whether my certificate will arrive in time for the trip to the US or whether I need to ask to postpone during the registration at the ceremony tomorrow.

You can request to have your certificate delivered urgently during the ceremony. Then apply for a passport urgently, which you can get within 48 hours of your next flight.

I’ve also read here that you could pick up the certificate in person if necessary. Not sure how, though.

 

[Leo0806]

You should wait for the Citizenship Certificate.
Option 1: Take it with you to the UK. Apply for your Canadian passport in UK and use that to travel home
Option2: Before you travel, walk into a Passport centers offering urgent pick service showing proof of travel within 48 hours and get your passport the next day. You may have to go there very early to get into the center at 8:30 AM

 

[jermainedeffo]

I just wanted to provide an update after the ceremony this morning.

During registration I asked whether it was possible to expedite the delivery of the certificate or to pick it up in person given that I have confirmed (and paid for) travel plans. I was told that they could not guarantee expedited delivery and that the only circumstances that would qualify were for expedited processing were travel for work, medical reasons or to see a sick relative. Even in those circumstances they would not guarantee that the process could be expedited.

They strongly suggested that I postponed my ceremony so that is unfortunately what I ended up doing.