Can You Have Dual Citizenship in the US and Canada? Yes — And Millions Already Do Without Knowing It
Short answer: Yes. Both the United States and Canada fully permit dual citizenship. Neither country requires you to give up one passport to hold the other.
But here's what surprises most people — a huge number of Americans are already eligible for Canadian citizenship right now and have no idea. A Canadian parent. A Canadian grandparent. A birth certificate sitting in a drawer that could be worth a second passport.
And thanks to a Canadian law change that took effect in December 2025, the eligibility rules just got significantly wider.
Here's exactly how US-Canada dual citizenship works in 2026, the two legal pathways to get it, and the paperwork step that trips up more applicants than anything else.
Is Dual Citizenship Between the US and Canada Legal?
Yes — and it has been for decades.
Canada has explicitly permitted dual citizenship since 1977, when the Canadian Citizenship Act was amended to remove the requirement that new citizens renounce their previous nationality.
The United States has allowed it since the Supreme Court ruled in Afroyim v. Rusk (1967) that US citizenship cannot be involuntarily revoked. The State Department openly acknowledges that many Americans hold citizenship elsewhere.
There is no separate "dual citizenship application." You don't apply for dual status. You simply become a citizen of the second country, and — as long as you don't formally renounce the first — you hold both.
The Two Ways Americans Get Canadian Citizenship
Pathway 1: Citizenship by Descent (The Fast Track)
If you have a Canadian parent — and now, in many cases, a Canadian grandparent — you may already be a Canadian citizen. You just haven't claimed it yet.
What changed: Canada's Bill C-3 took effect on December 15, 2025. The previous rule limited citizenship by descent to the first generation born outside Canada. Bill C-3 removed that limit in many situations, opening eligibility to people claiming through grandparents.
This is the single biggest expansion of Canadian citizenship eligibility in years — and most Americans who qualify don't know it happened.
How to claim it:
Apply to the Canadian federal government for a Proof of Canadian Citizenship
Submit vital records proving your lineage — long-form birth certificates, marriage records
Receive your Citizenship Certificate
Apply for a Canadian passport
You don't move. You don't take a test. You don't wait years. You prove a bloodline that already exists.
Pathway 2: Naturalization (The Long Road)
No Canadian ancestor? Then the path runs through actually living in Canada.
The requirements:
Become a Permanent Resident (PR) first — this is non-negotiable and is its own multi-year process
Physical presence: 1,095 days (three years) in Canada during the five years before you apply
Tax filings: You must have filed Canadian taxes for the required years
Language proof: Demonstrated English or French ability (applicants 18–54)
Citizenship test: 20 multiple-choice questions on Canadian history, geography, government, laws, and values. You need 15 correct to pass
The Oath: Attend a citizenship ceremony and take the Oath of Citizenship
Processing time in 2026: Approximately 12–18 months for the citizenship application itself, on top of the years spent establishing PR status and residency.
What Nobody Tells You: The Tax Reality
This is the part that catches dual citizens off guard, so read it carefully.
The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income — no matter where they live.
Becoming a Canadian citizen does not release you from US tax obligations. You will continue filing US federal returns with the IRS for as long as you hold US citizenship, even if you live in Toronto and earn every dollar in Canada.
You'll be navigating two tax systems simultaneously. Tax treaties exist to prevent true double taxation, but the filing obligation doesn't disappear. Plan for this from day one, not after your first Canadian tax season.
Other Things Dual Citizens Need to Know
Passport rules at the border. As a dual US-Canadian citizen, you must use your US passport to enter and exit the United States. This is a legal requirement, not a suggestion.
You owe allegiance to both. Dual citizenship means dual obligations — not a menu you pick from.
Government benefits can get complicated. Eligibility for certain programs in either country may be affected by your status in the other.
Security clearances. Some US federal positions requiring high-level clearance view foreign citizenship as a complication. If you work in defense, intelligence, or certain government roles, get guidance before proceeding.
The Paperwork Step That Delays More Applications Than Anything Else
Here's where a surprising number of dual citizenship applications stall: notarization.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) doesn't require general notarization for most forms. But it absolutely requires it in specific situations — and people get this wrong in both directions. Some assume every document needs a notary stamp. Others assume none do. Both mistakes cause rejected submissions and months of delay.
When you WILL need a notary public:
Certified true copies of original documents. When IRCC asks for a certified true copy, you cannot make a photocopy yourself. A notary public must compare the copy against the original and certify it. This applies to birth certificates, citizenship certificates, passports, and marriage records — exactly the documents needed to prove lineage under a descent claim.
Translation affidavits. Any document originally in a language other than English or French needs a certified translation accompanied by an affidavit. That affidavit gets notarized.
Statutory declarations. Used when you can't meet a standard requirement, such as a declaration instead of a guarantor for a passport application.
Canadian passport applications from the US. If you're applying for a Canadian passport while living in the United States, the guarantor and certification steps require an authorized official. Your form must be signed in the notary's presence — not beforehand.
Who can actually do this?
IRCC is strict. A notary public, a commissioner of oaths, or a commissioner of taking affidavits. Doctors and pharmacists may serve as guarantors on some provincial forms, but they cannot certify true copies for IRCC.
Getting Your Documents Notarized in Los Angeles
If you're pursuing Canadian citizenship from Southern California, you'll need a licensed notary public for certified copies, translation affidavits, and passport application steps.
Arts District Notary provides mobile notary services throughout Los Angeles. We come to you — home, office, or wherever works — which matters when you're assembling a document package with a deadline and a stack of originals you'd rather not carry around the city.
Before your appointment, bring:
The original documents (a notary cannot certify a copy against another copy)
Valid government-issued photo ID
Any forms — unsigned, since the notary must witness your signature
The IRCC instruction guide for your specific application, so the correct certification language is used
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to give up my US citizenship to become Canadian? No. Neither country requires renunciation. You take the Canadian Oath of Citizenship and keep your US passport.
Is there a dual citizenship application? No. There's no separate process. You become a citizen of the second country, and dual status follows automatically.
Can I claim Canadian citizenship through a grandparent? In many cases, yes — as of Bill C-3, effective December 15, 2025. The previous first-generation limit has been removed in specific situations. Eligibility depends on your particular family circumstances.
How long does the descent pathway take? Far less than naturalization, since there's no residency requirement. Processing times for a Proof of Canadian Citizenship vary; check current IRCC service standards, and expect mailing delays if you're applying from the US.
Which passport do I use at the border? US passport to enter and exit the United States. A Canadian passport for entering Canada.
Do I still pay US taxes? Yes. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence. You'll file with the IRS every year you remain a US citizen.
Can my children get dual citizenship? Often, yes — particularly if born in the US to at least one Canadian parent. The US birth certificate proves US citizenship, and you can apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate on the child's behalf.
Do I need a lawyer? Not necessarily. Straightforward descent claims are frequently handled without one. Complex lineage, prior renunciations, or unusual circumstances are worth professional review.
The Bottom Line
Dual US-Canada citizenship is legal, well-established, and more accessible than most people realize — especially since Bill C-3 widened descent eligibility in December 2025.
The two paths are clear: claim it through ancestry, or earn it through residency. The first is faster if you qualify. The second takes years but is open to anyone willing to make the move.
Whichever route applies to you, the document package is where applications succeed or stall. Get the certified copies right, get the affidavits notarized properly, and don't sign anything that needs to be witnessed.
Related Reading
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Citizenship laws and IRCC requirements change. Verify current requirements with IRCC and the US State Department, and consult a licensed immigration attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
Comments