Canadian citizens abroad are the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade, and not CIC. A Canadian citizen who wishes to travel to Canada should be
referred to the Consular section if they do not have a Canadian passport. There are, however,
exceptional circumstances where CIC can facilitate the travel of a dual national by placing a
facilitation visa counterfoil into the passport of the Canadian's other nationality.
Issuance of a facilitation visa is not to be done merely for the convenience of the client, but in
cases where not facilitating their travel would result in undue hardship (usually created through no
fault of the client). In addition, it is not the policy of CIC to assist persons who wish to 'hide' the
fact of their Canadian citizenship from a foreign government that does not permit dual citizenship.
Before considering the issuance of a facilitation visa, officers must verify the status and identity of
the applicant through written confirmation from a consular officer that the client has a Canadian
passport on record or documentary evidence of citizenship (DEC).
Some circumstances that might warrant the issuance of a facilitation visa include the following:
• when new, replacement or emergency passports cannot be issued in a sufficiently timely
fashion and where the travel is urgent:
♦ for Canadians in distress (lost/stolen documents);
♦ for dual nationals coming to Canada for the first time;
♦ for dual nationals who did not obtain a Canadian passport prior to leaving Canada; and
• for children born in Canada to foreign nationals who have returned to their country and do not
wish to 'claim' the citizenship automatically granted to Canadian born children.
Dual nationals who are required to use their foreign passport for entry to/exit from their country of
second citizenship can show their Canadian passport to airline officials to facilitate the boarding of
a flight to Canada.
Facilitation visas should only be single-entry and valid for the period needed to travel.
