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Citizenship & passports

Does Canada allow dual citizenship? (2026)

Yes — Canada has allowed dual citizenship since 1977, with no catch to speak of.

By 2025-11-052 min read
Canada — dual-citizenship rules.
Photograph — Unsplash
The short answer

Canada fully allows dual and multiple citizenship, and has since 1977. You don't have to give up another nationality to become Canadian, and Canadians who naturalise elsewhere keep their citizenship. Canada taxes on residence, not citizenship.

Does Canada allow dual citizenship?

Canada places no restriction on holding other nationalities. Becoming Canadian doesn't require renouncing your existing passport, and gaining another citizenship doesn't cost you your Canadian one.

The catch to watch

There's little downside. Unlike the US, Canada taxes based on residence, so leaving Canada and cutting residential ties generally ends Canadian tax — a dual passport doesn't keep you taxable, though a departure can trigger a deemed disposal on some assets.

How dual citizenship arises

By birth in Canada, by descent (generally the first generation born abroad), or by naturalisation after permanent residence.

At a glance

ItemDetail
Dual citizenshipAllowed (since 1977)
Must renounce?No
Tax basisResidence
How acquiredBirth, descent (1st gen abroad), naturalisation
PassportStrong — ~185+ visa-free

Where it fits in a borderless plan

A second nationality is one flag of several. Pair it with a low-tax tax residency and a self-custody plan for your Bitcoin. New to this? See which countries allow dual citizenship, or claim one through ancestry.

Frequently asked questions

Does Canada allow dual citizenship?

Yes — Canada has permitted dual and multiple citizenship since 1977. You needn't renounce another nationality, and naturalising elsewhere doesn't remove your Canadian citizenship.

Do Canadian dual citizens pay Canadian tax abroad?

Canada taxes on residence, not citizenship — so if you leave Canada and sever residential ties, you generally stop being taxed there, unlike US citizens.

Can Canadian citizenship by descent pass to grandchildren born abroad?

Generally descent is limited to the first generation born outside Canada; further generations may need another route. The rules have been under reform — verify the current position.

Official sources

Rules change — always confirm the current position with the primary authority:

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