Dual Citizenship in Canada: What to Know

Many people applying for Canadian citizenship want to keep the one they already have. Canada's side of that question has a clear answer. The other country's side is the part to check. This is from IRCC's answer on what dual citizenship is and its pages on who can apply and life after the ceremony, checked on 23 September 2026.

What dual citizenship is

IRCC explains that every country decides for itself whom it considers a citizen. If more than one country recognizes you as a citizen, you have dual citizenship.

Two practical consequences follow:

• You do not apply for dual citizenship. There is no form and no separate status.
• There is no dual citizenship certificate. You have a Canadian certificate and whatever your other country issues.

Canada allows it

IRCC is plain: Canadians are allowed to take foreign citizenship while keeping their Canadian citizenship, and becoming Canadian does not, on Canada's side, require giving up another citizenship.

Your other country may not

This is the part that catches people out. IRCC warns that Canada allows dual citizenship, but not every country does, and that you may lose your current citizenship if you become a Canadian citizen.

Whether that happens depends entirely on the law of your other country, not Canada's. IRCC's advice is to contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of your current country of citizenship before you apply, if you are not sure.

It is worth doing this early. Some countries treat taking another citizenship as automatically giving up theirs, and that can affect property, inheritance, pensions or your right to live there.

Travelling as a dual citizen

Once you are Canadian, IRCC says you can enter Canada only with a valid Canadian passport, or a special authorization issued only in certain circumstances. Your other passport is not enough to come home on. After the ceremony your PR card is gone and your citizenship certificate is not a travel document, so apply for your Canadian passport before you travel.

What to check before you apply

• Does your current country allow dual citizenship? Ask its embassy or consulate.
• If not, what would losing that citizenship mean for you?
• Do you have time to get a Canadian passport before any planned travel after the ceremony?

The Canadian side

On Canada's side, dual citizenship changes nothing about the application. The requirements, the test and the oath are the same. Our free practice questions and study guide are built for the test.