Yes, under the Canadian Citizenship Act, you are legally permitted to hold multiple nationalities, including three or more citizenships. However, before taking the Canadian Oath of Citizenship, you must verify the laws of your home countries, as some nations will automatically revoke your current passport when you become Canadian.
Understanding Multiple Nationalities in Canada
In our increasingly interconnected world, it is not uncommon for Permanent Residents (PRs) in Canada to already hold dual citizenship. 👋 For example, you might have been born in the United Kingdom, acquired Australian citizenship through marriage or residency, and are now living permanently in Canada. The burning question is: what happens to your other passports when you finally apply for Canadian citizenship?
The good news is that Canada fully embraces multiple citizenships. The federal government does not require you to renounce any of your existing nationalities when you naturalize. Under Canadian law, a person holding three passports is treated exactly the same as a person holding one: you are simply a Canadian citizen with all the accompanying rights and responsibilities.
However, the complexity arises not from Canadian law, but from the laws of your other countries of citizenship. 💼 Some nations strictly prohibit dual or multiple nationalities. Before proceeding, consulting with a knowledgeable immigration lawyer is crucial to ensure you do not inadvertently lose a valuable citizenship from your home country.
Step-by-Step Process for PRs with Multiple Citizenships
Whether you reside in Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal, the process of applying for Canadian citizenship while holding multiple passports is generally straightforward on the Canadian side. Here is the recommended path.
Step 1: Researching Your Home Countries’ Laws
Before submitting your Canadian application, you must investigate the nationality laws of every country where you currently hold citizenship. For example, countries like India, China, and Japan generally do not allow dual citizenship. If you acquire Canadian citizenship, you will automatically lose your status in those countries and must surrender your passports. Conversely, the UK, the USA, and Australia generally permit multiple nationalities.
Step 2: Completing the IRCC Citizenship Application
When filling out your application with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you must be entirely transparent. 📝 The forms will ask you to list all countries of which you are currently a citizen. You must declare every single one. Concealing a citizenship from IRCC is considered misrepresentation, which is a serious offence that can jeopardize your Canadian PR status.
Step 3: Calculating Physical Presence Accurately
To qualify for citizenship, a PR must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days out of the 5 years preceding the application. If you travel frequently using multiple passports, you must cross-reference the entry and exit stamps across all your passports to provide an accurate travel history to IRCC.
Step 4: Passing the Citizenship Test and Interview
Eligible adults must pass the Canadian citizenship test and demonstrate basic proficiency in English or French. 🗂 During your interview with an IRCC official, they may ask to see all your current valid passports. You must bring every passport you declared on your application to this interview for verification.
Step 5: Taking the Oath of Citizenship
The final step is attending your citizenship ceremony. When you swear or affirm the Oath of Citizenship, you officially become Canadian. It is at this exact moment that, depending on foreign laws, your other citizenships may be legally nullified by your home countries. From Canada’s perspective, however, you simply add a new nationality to your portfolio.
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
Applying for Canadian citizenship incurs specific federal fees, regardless of how many citizenships you currently hold. Here is a breakdown of the typical costs:
- Adult Application Fee: The standard IRCC fee is $630 CAD per adult (this includes a $530 processing fee and a $100 right of citizenship fee).
- Minor Application Fee: The fee for a child under 18 is $100 CAD.
- Biometrics (If required): $85 CAD per person, though often waived if you already provided them for your PR application within the last 10 years.
- Lawyer Fees: If you hire a law firm to manage a complex application involving extensive travel across multiple passports, expect to pay between $1,500 and $3,500 CAD in legal fees.
Comparing Global Dual Citizenship Policies
Because the risk lies with your foreign passports, it helps to understand how different countries react to you becoming Canadian. 📍 Here is a brief, generalized overview.
| Foreign Country | Policy on Acquiring Canadian Citizenship | Outcome After Canadian Oath |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Permits multiple citizenships. | You retain your UK passport and status. |
| United States | Permits dual/multiple citizenships. | You retain your US passport and status. |
| India | Prohibits dual citizenship. | You lose Indian citizenship; must apply for OCI card. |
| Japan | Prohibits dual citizenship. | You legally lose Japanese nationality upon naturalizing. |
How Long Does the Process Take?
As of 2026, standard Canadian citizenship applications take approximately 7 to 12 months to process from the date of submission to the date of your oath ceremony. 📅 Holding multiple passports does not generally slow down the IRCC processing times, provided you have accurately documented your travel history and physical presence in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which passport should I use when travelling back to Canada?
Once you become a Canadian citizen, you must use a valid Canadian passport to board a flight to Canada. You can no longer travel to Canada using your foreign passport combined with your old PR card or an eTA.
Do I have to pay taxes in all three countries?
Canadian taxation is based on residency, not citizenship. You pay taxes to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) if you reside and work here. However, certain countries (like the USA) tax based on citizenship. You should consult a cross-border tax accountant to understand your specific liabilities.
Can Canada revoke my citizenship if I get a fourth one later?
No. Once you are a Canadian citizen, Canada does not restrict you from acquiring additional nationalities. You will remain Canadian unless you formally apply to renounce it, or if it is discovered you committed fraud during your immigration process.
Will having three citizenships affect my security clearance for government jobs?
It might. While it is legal to hold multiple citizenships, applying for high-level security clearances (e.g., Top Secret) with the federal government or the military may be more heavily scrutinized if you hold loyalties or passports from foreign nations.
Should I hide my other passports from IRCC to avoid complications?
Absolutely not. Hiding a citizenship is a form of misrepresentation. This is an indictable offence under immigration law, which can lead to your application being rejected, your PR status being revoked, and a 5-year ban on reapplying.
Leave a Reply