Residents of those 10 international locations can maintain twin citizenship with Canada

Canadian legislation absolutely acknowledges twin and a number of nationalities, which means people can turn out to be Canadian residents with out being anticipated to surrender their present citizenship(s).

Nevertheless, by the very nature of twin citizenship, a person’s means to carry two passports is topic to the legal guidelines of each international locations concerned.

Should you want to pursue Canadian citizenship (by means of naturalization or citizenship by descent), your means to retain your authentic citizenship(s) will due to this fact be depending on the legal guidelines in these jurisdictions.

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Some international locations don’t allow twin citizenship—equivalent to India, China, and Iran—and require you to surrender your own home nation’s citizenship, however many do outright (or impose sure situations).

On this article, we are going to assessment the highest 10 supply international locations for brand spanking new Canadian residents in 2025 (January to November) that permit twin citizenship and spotlight any restrictions or issues.

International locations permitting twin citizenship with Canada

1. Philippines

The Philippines permits twin citizenship with Canada for natural-born Filipino residents solely.

Pure-born Filipinos who purchase Canadian citizenship can retain their Philippine citizenship beneath Republic Act 9225 by taking an oath of allegiance.

Moreover, kids born overseas to not less than one Filipino father or mother are robotically twin residents by start and easily must report their start to a Philippine consulate.

2. Nigeria

Nigeria permits twin citizenship with Canada, however just for sure people.

Those that gained their Nigerian citizenship at start or by means of descent are allowed to maintain their authentic nationality after turning into a Canadian citizen.

This isn’t the case for individuals who gained Nigerian citizenship by means of naturalization. People on this state of affairs should surrender their authentic citizenship in the event that they turn out to be Canadian.

Be aware that these holding twin citizenship should enter and depart Nigeria with their Nigerian passport, per the Authorities of Canada.

3. United States

As a citizen of the US, you might be allowed to acquire Canadian citizenship with out having to surrender your present citizenship.

There aren’t any situations in place—which means those that have been born there, turned a citizen by means of naturalization, or have been born outdoors the US to a number of US residents are all eligible for twin citizenship.

The US authorities specifies, nonetheless, that entry into and exit from the US should be achieved on a US passport—not a Canadian passport.

4. France

France has allowed twin citizenship since 1973 and permits its residents to carry a number of nationalities with out requiring renunciation.

The French authorities doesn’t impose any restrictions or situations on holding twin citizenship.

5. Pakistan

Residents of Pakistan will not be required to surrender their authentic citizenship upon turning into Canadian residents, following current modifications to Pakistan’s citizenship laws.

In 2025, Pakistan formalized new twin citizenship preparations beneath the Pakistan Citizenship (Modification) Invoice 2024, permitting Pakistani nationals to maintain their citizenship in the event that they acquire citizenship in one of many 22 international locations beneath.

Since Canada is on the record, Pakistani nationals can retain their citizenship following naturalization or acquiring citizenship by means of citizenship by descent (if eligible).

6. Brazil

Brazil acknowledges and permits (condition- and restriction-free) twin citizenship, so Brazilian nationals can pursue Canadian citizenship with out having to surrender their authentic citizenship.

The Authorities of Brazil does observe, nonetheless, that “the situation of twin or a number of nationalities might lead to a discount in the potential for consular safety by the Brazilian State.”

7. United Kingdom

As a British citizen, you might be allowed to carry twin citizenship in each the UK and Canada.

You’re beneath no obligation to surrender your authentic citizenship when you turn out to be a Canadian citizen.

You may be anticipated to have a legitimate UK/Irish journey doc to journey to the UK, and the UK authorities specifies that “as a twin nationwide, you can not get diplomatic assist from the British authorities if you find yourself within the different nation the place you maintain citizenship.”

8. Germany

As of June 27, 2024, residents of Germany are allowed to carry twin citizenship with different international locations, together with Canada.

Previous to this date, German residents robotically misplaced their citizenship, however there have been some exceptions to this earlier rule, together with

• Those that acquired twin citizenship at start might keep each;
• Those that have been naturalized as residents of one other EU-member state or Switzerland;
• Those that obtained official permission to retain their German citizenship earlier than requiring international (e.g., Canadian) citizenship; and
• Those that had a German father or mother (citizenship by descent).

9. Syria

Those that are residents of Syria will not be required to surrender their citizenship, because the nation permits its residents to own multiple nationality.

The Syrian authorities notes, nonetheless, that those that maintain twin citizenship (e.g., Syrian and Canadian) will all the time be thought-about and handled as Syrian residents first when coping with authorized, administrative, or diplomatic issues.

10. Mexico

Mexico explicitly permits twin (and a number of) citizenship, permitting Mexican nationals to keep up their citizenship alongside one other nation’s citizenship with out having to surrender both.

This has been the case since 1998, and there are at the moment no restrictions or situations in place concerning the possession of multiple citizenship.

The way to turn out to be a Canadian citizen

There are three paths to Canadian citizenship, which will probably be described beneath.

Citizenship by start: Any youngster born on Canadian soil robotically turns into a citizen, no matter their dad and mom’ standing. There are just a few exceptions, together with kids born to international diplomats, consular officers, or workers of international governments/worldwide organizations who take pleasure in diplomatic immunity.

Naturalization: Everlasting residents can apply for citizenship after bodily residing in Canada for not less than 1,095 days (three years) inside the earlier 5 years.

Candidates should file revenue taxes if required, don’t have any severe felony report, and intend to proceed residing in Canada. These aged 18-54 should go a citizenship take a look at protecting Canadian historical past, values, rights, and tasks, and show English or French language proficiency at CLB degree 4 or larger. A citizenship ceremony is the ultimate step.

Citizenship by descent: Invoice C-3, which took impact December 15, 2025, created two completely different guidelines primarily based on start date. For anybody born overseas earlier than December 15, 2025, the first-generation restrict has been fully eliminated—citizenship flows by means of limitless generations so long as you may hint your lineage again to a Canadian-born or naturalized ancestor.

For kids born overseas on or after December 15, 2025, citizenship can nonetheless go past the primary technology, however the Canadian father or mother who was additionally born overseas should show a “substantial connection” to Canada by demonstrating not less than 1,095 days (three years) of bodily presence in Canada earlier than the kid’s start.

You’ll be able to test your eligibility right here.

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