I am a PR from Tunisia, applied for Canadian Citizenship on 7 June 2015. I was granted UK citizenship later in August 2015. Would my UK citizenship prevent me from being eligble for Canadian citizenship? Would it be possible to renter Canada as PR on my new UK passport given that my PR was issued based on my Tunisian citizenship? When do I have to inform CIC that I am already a dual citizen? Am I obliged to declare my UK citizenship? I am anxious that I may loose my eligibility for Canadian citizenship and I continue to have strong ties with Canada where I intend to live in future.
How being dual citizen of UK and Tunisia affect my PR and Citizenship?
- Thread starter nkam
- Start date
Citizenship of another country does not affect your eligibility for Canadian citizenship in any way. Entering Canada on your UK passport should not be a problem. Maintaining your PR status in Canada could be if you don't meet the PR criteria, e.g. time spent outside Canada.
You're obliged to divulge the information about your UK citizenship when/if asked about any changes in the information as captured in your citizenship application, which is a usual and standard question at a citizenship interview (conducted after the citizenship test).
In addition, as you applied for Canadian citizenship in June and acquired British citizenship in August, I assume you had had a permanent resident status or the equivalent in the UK, which you were supposed to divulge in your Canadian citizenship application.
If I were a CIC officer, I'd have serious doubts that you would be able to meet the residency criteria in both countries, UK and Canada, in parallel, considering you received your UK citizenship the same year you applied for Canadian citizenship.
Your "strong ties" to Canada are close to irrelevant in terms of citizenship eligibility if you can't satisfy the officer that you meet the requirements of physical residency/presence in Canada, as alphazip said.
You're obliged to divulge the information about your UK citizenship when/if asked about any changes in the information as captured in your citizenship application, which is a usual and standard question at a citizenship interview (conducted after the citizenship test).
In addition, as you applied for Canadian citizenship in June and acquired British citizenship in August, I assume you had had a permanent resident status or the equivalent in the UK, which you were supposed to divulge in your Canadian citizenship application.
If I were a CIC officer, I'd have serious doubts that you would be able to meet the residency criteria in both countries, UK and Canada, in parallel, considering you received your UK citizenship the same year you applied for Canadian citizenship.
Your "strong ties" to Canada are close to irrelevant in terms of citizenship eligibility if you can't satisfy the officer that you meet the requirements of physical residency/presence in Canada, as alphazip said.
Thanks for your response, I acquired my residency in the UK well before landing in Canada and thus permenant residency status was "before" arrival to Canada. Hence, I was silent on the realetd question in the citizenship application which was submitted before 11/06/15.
It makes sense to divulge the change in circumstances and will therefore rerurn to Canada on the British passport and the PR card which was issued on the Tunisian passport which was lost and I no more possess. My main concern is the nationality on the PR will no more match that of the British passport and hence, I may not be allowed in on my PR unless I enter as a visitor. I am totally confused and will appreciate some insights.
What is the likely outcome if my residency in Canada is brought into question?
It makes sense to divulge the change in circumstances and will therefore rerurn to Canada on the British passport and the PR card which was issued on the Tunisian passport which was lost and I no more possess. My main concern is the nationality on the PR will no more match that of the British passport and hence, I may not be allowed in on my PR unless I enter as a visitor. I am totally confused and will appreciate some insights.
What is the likely outcome if my residency in Canada is brought into question?
No one can tell you what will or will not be considered sufficient proof, but you will be asked to produce all passports you possessed during the relevant 4-year period. If you lost your passport, that definitely isn't helpful. I would suggest that you order your CBSA entry record, if you haven't already done so, and take it with you when you're called for the test/interview.nkam said:
Will work for what? If you mean will they believe that's your only passport, no. They will look at the date it was issued and see you got it AFTER the relevant 4-year period. You need to show passports for the 4-year period you claimed in your application. What you would use to return to Canada is your PR card.nkam said: