Navigate dual citizenship laws before your Canadian ceremony
On This Page You Will Find:
- The truth about keeping your original citizenship when becoming Canadian
- Which countries force you to choose (and which don't)
- Real examples from major countries like US, China, and Brazil
- Step-by-step guidance to avoid costly citizenship mistakes
- Recent 2025 law changes that expanded eligibility for thousands
Summary:
Maria Santos from Brazil stared at her Canadian citizenship ceremony invitation, wondering if accepting would mean losing her Brazilian passport forever. Like thousands of newcomers each year, she faced the dual citizenship dilemma. Here's what every prospective Canadian needs to know: Canada welcomes dual citizenship, but your home country might not. This comprehensive guide reveals which nations allow you to keep both passports, which force you to choose, and the critical steps you must take before your citizenship ceremony to avoid irreversible mistakes.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Canada fully allows dual citizenship - you won't lose Canadian status by keeping other passports
- Your home country's laws determine if you can keep your original citizenship, not Canada's
- Countries like the US, Brazil, and France allow dual citizenship with Canada
- China and India require you to renounce their citizenship when naturalizing elsewhere
- Always contact your home country's embassy before applying for Canadian citizenship
When Ahmed received his Canadian citizenship test results, his first call wasn't to celebrate with family - it was to the Egyptian consulate. Like 75% of new Canadian citizens who come from countries with restrictive citizenship laws, Ahmed needed to understand whether becoming Canadian would cost him his birth citizenship.
The answer isn't straightforward, and getting it wrong can have devastating consequences for your family ties, property ownership, and travel freedom.
Canada's Liberal Dual Citizenship Policy
Since 1977, Canada has embraced dual citizenship with open arms. Unlike countries that demand exclusive loyalty, Canada recognizes that immigrants maintain deep connections to their homelands.
Here's what this means for you:
- You can hold Canadian citizenship alongside any other citizenship
- Canada will never ask you to renounce your original nationality
- You can travel on either passport (though there are strategic advantages to each)
- Your children born in Canada can inherit both citizenships
This policy affects approximately 945,000 Canadians who currently hold dual citizenship, according to recent Statistics Canada data.
The Real Decision Maker: Your Home Country's Laws
While Canada rolls out the welcome mat for dual citizens, your birth country holds the real power over whether you can maintain that precious connection.
The harsh reality: Some countries view naturalization elsewhere as an act of betrayal, automatically stripping you of citizenship you've held since birth.
Countries That Welcome Dual Canadian Citizenship
United States (4.7 million Canadian residents affected) American citizens can freely obtain Canadian citizenship without losing their US status. However, you'll still owe US taxes on worldwide income - a consideration that catches many dual citizens off guard.
Brazil Brazilian law fully recognizes dual nationality. The 300,000+ Brazilians in Canada can naturalize without fear of losing their Brazilian citizenship, maintaining access to both countries' social benefits and travel privileges.
France and European Union French nationals retain their citizenship regardless of additional naturalizations. This extends to most EU countries, giving dual citizens access to live and work throughout the European Union while enjoying Canadian benefits.
United Kingdom Despite Brexit complications, UK citizens can maintain British citizenship when naturalizing in Canada. The 600,000+ British-born Canadian residents benefit from this flexibility.
Countries That Force You to Choose
China (771,000 Chinese-born Canadian residents affected) China's citizenship law is unforgiving: naturalization elsewhere automatically terminates Chinese citizenship. There's no appeals process, no exceptions, and no path back to Chinese citizenship once lost.
What this means: You'll lose the right to own property in China, access Chinese social services, or enter China without a visa. For many families, this represents severing ties to ancestral homes and family wealth.
India (1.37 million Indian-born Canadian residents affected) India prohibits dual citizenship entirely. However, India offers the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which provides many citizenship benefits without actual citizenship status.
Singapore Singapore citizens must renounce their citizenship before naturalizing elsewhere. The city-state offers no dual citizenship exceptions, even for children.
South Korea Korean law requires renunciation of Korean citizenship upon foreign naturalization, though recent changes allow some exceptions for those who obtained foreign citizenship before age 18.
The Critical Steps You Must Take
1. Contact Your Embassy First Before submitting your Canadian citizenship application, contact your home country's embassy or consulate. Ask specifically:
- Will naturalization in Canada affect my citizenship status?
- Are there any procedures I must follow to retain citizenship?
- What documentation will I need for future travel or property ownership?
2. Document Everything Gather and secure copies of:
- Birth certificates
- Current passports
- Property deeds or ownership documents
- Family registration documents
- Any certificates of no criminal record
3. Consider the Financial Impact Losing original citizenship can affect:
- Property ownership rights (some countries restrict foreign ownership)
- Inheritance rights
- Access to social benefits
- Banking relationships
- Business ownership structures
4. Plan for Travel If you must renounce your original citizenship:
- Apply for appropriate visas before your citizenship ceremony
- Understand visa requirements for future visits
- Consider how this affects elderly parents or family members
Recent Changes That Expand Your Options
Bill C-3, which took effect in December 2025, significantly expanded Canadian citizenship eligibility. The legislation eliminated the first-generation limit for citizenship by descent, meaning more people can now claim Canadian citizenship through their parents or grandparents.
This affects you if:
- Your parent lost Canadian citizenship before you were born
- You were born abroad to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad
- Previous citizenship applications were denied due to generation limits
An estimated 50,000 people became eligible for Canadian citizenship through these changes, many of whom can now obtain dual citizenship where previously impossible.
Making the Right Choice for Your Family
The dual citizenship decision extends beyond legal technicalities - it's about preserving family connections while embracing Canadian opportunities.
Consider these factors:
Keeping Dual Citizenship When Possible:
- Maintains family and cultural connections
- Preserves property and inheritance rights
- Provides travel flexibility
- Offers economic opportunities in both countries
When Renunciation Might Make Sense:
- Your home country offers limited benefits
- Maintaining dual status creates tax complications
- You have no plans to return or maintain property
- The administrative burden outweighs benefits
Common Mistakes That Cost Families Dearly
Mistake 1: Assuming Canada's Rules Apply Everywhere Just because Canada allows dual citizenship doesn't mean your home country does. This assumption has cost thousands of families their original citizenship.
Mistake 2: Waiting Until After the Ceremony Once you take the citizenship oath, it may be too late to preserve your original citizenship if your home country requires advance notification or procedures.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Tax Implications Some dual citizens face double taxation or complex reporting requirements. Consult tax professionals familiar with both countries' systems.
Mistake 4: Not Securing Documents If you lose original citizenship, obtaining documents for family history, property transfers, or genealogy becomes exponentially more difficult.
Your Next Steps
The path to Canadian citizenship should enhance your life, not create irreversible losses. Before submitting your application:
- Research thoroughly: Contact your home country's embassy for official guidance
- Consult professionals: Immigration lawyers familiar with dual citizenship issues can prevent costly mistakes
- Document everything: Secure copies of all important documents while you still have full citizenship rights
- Plan strategically: Consider timing your application around property purchases, family visits, or other life events
Remember, becoming Canadian is a celebration of new opportunities, not a forced abandonment of your heritage. With proper planning, most prospective citizens can navigate the dual citizenship landscape successfully, maintaining precious connections to their homeland while embracing everything Canada offers.
The key is understanding that while Canada welcomes you with open arms and dual passports, your home country's embrace may come with conditions you need to understand before taking that final oath of citizenship.
FAQ
Q: Can I keep my original passport when I become a Canadian citizen?
Whether you can keep your original passport depends entirely on your home country's laws, not Canada's. Canada fully allows dual citizenship and will never ask you to renounce your original nationality. However, some countries like China and India automatically revoke your citizenship when you naturalize elsewhere, while others like the US, Brazil, and France allow you to maintain both. The key is to contact your home country's embassy before applying for Canadian citizenship to understand their specific requirements. Approximately 945,000 Canadians currently hold dual citizenship, but this number could be higher if more people understood their options before naturalizing.
Q: Which countries allow dual citizenship with Canada and which don't?
Countries that welcome dual citizenship include the United States (affecting 4.7 million Canadian residents), Brazil, France and most EU nations, and the United Kingdom. These countries allow you to naturalize in Canada while retaining your original citizenship and benefits. Countries that force you to choose include China (affecting 771,000 Chinese-born residents), India (1.37 million affected), Singapore, and South Korea. These nations automatically terminate your original citizenship upon foreign naturalization. However, some like India offer alternatives such as the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which provides many citizenship benefits without actual citizenship status. Always verify current policies with your country's embassy, as laws can change.
Q: What are the financial and legal consequences of losing my original citizenship?
Losing your original citizenship can have severe financial implications that many people don't consider until it's too late. You may lose the right to own property in your home country, as some nations restrict foreign ownership. Inheritance rights can be affected, potentially costing your family significant assets. Access to social benefits, healthcare systems, and banking relationships may be severed. Business ownership structures might need restructuring, and you'll face visa costs and restrictions for future visits. For example, former Chinese citizens must obtain visas to visit family, and property ownership becomes impossible. Before proceeding, calculate these potential costs against the benefits of Canadian citizenship and consider consulting with legal and tax professionals familiar with both countries' systems.
Q: What steps should I take before applying for Canadian citizenship to protect my interests?
First, contact your home country's embassy to understand their dual citizenship policies and any required procedures. Document everything by securing copies of birth certificates, current passports, property deeds, family registration documents, and certificates of no criminal record while you still have full citizenship rights. If your country requires renunciation, apply for appropriate visas before your citizenship ceremony and understand future travel requirements. Consider the financial impact on property ownership, inheritance rights, and business structures. Plan the timing around major life events like property purchases or family visits. Consult with immigration lawyers familiar with dual citizenship issues and tax professionals who understand both countries' systems to avoid costly mistakes that affect thousands of new Canadians annually.
Q: How do the recent 2025 law changes affect dual citizenship eligibility?
Bill C-3, effective December 2025, significantly expanded Canadian citizenship eligibility by eliminating the first-generation limit for citizenship by descent. This affects an estimated 50,000 people who can now claim Canadian citizenship through parents or grandparents, including those whose parents lost Canadian citizenship before they were born, people born abroad to Canadian parents who were also born abroad, and individuals whose previous applications were denied due to generation limits. These changes create new dual citizenship opportunities for people who previously couldn't obtain Canadian citizenship. If you believe you might be eligible under these new rules, contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or consult with an immigration lawyer to explore your options, as this could provide a pathway to dual citizenship that wasn't available before.
Q: What are the tax implications of holding dual citizenship with Canada?
Dual citizenship can create complex tax obligations that vary significantly depending on your other country of citizenship. US citizens must file US tax returns and report worldwide income regardless of where they live, potentially leading to double taxation despite tax treaties. Some countries have tax treaties with Canada that prevent double taxation, while others don't. You may face reporting requirements for foreign bank accounts, investments, and property in both countries. Estate planning becomes more complex with assets in multiple jurisdictions. The administrative burden and compliance costs can be substantial, potentially requiring professional tax preparation in both countries. Before pursuing dual citizenship, consult with tax professionals familiar with both tax systems to understand your obligations and develop strategies to minimize complications and costs while remaining compliant with both countries' requirements.
