Peterborough Stu

Hi there,
I recently became a Canadian Citizen. I was born in the UK and moved over to Canada as a Permanent Resident.
I now need to get a Canadian Passport so I am re-enter Canada as a Citizen when I travel abroad.
Given the expense of keeping two passports up to date (plus the hassle of renewing a British Passport in Canada - having to send it to Washington), I am wondering if there is any point to having a British Passport now. Do I really need one anymore ?
Am I correct is assuming that I will always be a Brit, regardless of whether I have a British Passport or not ?
I just can't see why I would need (or want) to have two passports. I need to have a Canadian one to prove Canadian Citizenship but do I need to have a British one to prove anything ?
I have a British Birth Certificate in case anyone ever doubts I was born in the UK.
I would appreciate any comments or advice.
Thanks in advance.

magnumpi

When my Brit passport expires I won't be renewing. I will just keep my CAnadian one. I see no reason to renew other than just for the sake of it.

I will of course keep my old Brit passports for future reference.

dbd33

As I see it, the Canadian passport is useful for access to the US; Americans are used to seeing Canadian passports. I maintain mine for that purpose.

Otherwise though, I'm British, I use a British passport everywhere else, partly because it's easier (especially anywhere in Europe) and partly because it seems to me slightly fraudulent to use a Canadian one. We're not actually Canadians, we may hold the passport of convenience but it seems to me wrong to travel on it when we have a real nationality to use.

magnumpi

I don't go far enough east of here to justify a UK passport. My travels mostly include the US and the Caribbean.

A good point though if Europe is a sort after destination.

JamesM

The hassle of renewing a passport?

Isn't it once every 10 or so years.

You just sound plain lazy.

When I get my citizenship I'll be utilising the full luxury afforded to me of holding both for many travel reasons.

Former Lancastrian

A UK passport allows you to travel to 3 countries more than a Canadian one without the requirement of a visa Brazil being one of them.
Both are now valid for 10 years.

MarkG

I have to travel for work, so they pay for my passports .

Otherwise, it makes getting into Europe faster than a Canadian passport. If you don't care about that, you probably don't need one.

magnumpi

Brazil is not on my list of places to visit, I will watch the World Cup on TV. What are the other two?

Aviator

Held a Canadian one for 15 years, let my Brit one lapse. Cannot see the point in spending the money to have two. I could only use my Canadian one when working. Never had to line up for passport control anywhere, so I stick with my Canadian one.

Novocastrian

You've never been there, have you?

magnumpi

Nope, i have seen it on Idiot Abroad tho, does that count ?

Alan2005

For you, yes

Atlantic Xpat

I have both and will maintain both. I travel frequently enough to Europe to make holding a British passport useful. Plus, having two passports means if you lose/misplace one (which I've been known to do) you have a spare! Plus of course, I'm still British so want a British passport.

Peterborough Stu

Thanks for these comments guys. Very much appreciated. i do travel back to the UK to visit family and friends but I think a Canadian Passport should be fine for that. I think the Canadian one is more important to have than the British one, to prove Canadian Citizenship. Without the Canadian one I would not be able to re-enter Canada as a Citizen.
Would I need a British one for UK pension purposes (to prove I was British) ?

pdarwin

I travel to UK and Germany from Canada sometimes, so it's useful to carry both passports - it seems you get (or at least used to get) faster access through PP control with the right passport. Just declare both passports at check in as you start your journey.
As I understand it, the only use of a passport is for international travel and whether you have one or not doesn't affect your citizenship, so shouldn't need it to 'prove you are British'.