Gozit

No you don't... Canada and the UK allow dual citizenship so it isn't a problem. Hell, they probably have it in their computer systems that you are also a British citizen... I wouldn't worry about it, use the EU/British lines at Heathrow and save yourself the hassle

Even if a nosy agent does ask, you simply show them the UK passport and you are on your way. Dual nationality is fairly common nowadays, especially in a country of immigrants

Shirtback

Fair enough I don't believe I mentioned transiting via the US, however. On Canada-UK-Canada flights (sometimes transiting via CDG and AMS), I have never been asked for my PR card on the return to Canada sector.

Er, no. The UK hasn't stamped my (British) passport in over 20 years of travelling in and out, from various parts of the world.

S

BritInParis

I think he is referring to his Canadian passport which would have been stamped had he entered the UK on it.

SchnookoLoly

I think there are rules that say that if you hold a passport for a given country you have to enter the country on its passport. I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure this is the rule.

Shirtback

Possibly/probably, but that was not clear (at least to me) from his post I just checked with the last Canadian passport holder with whom I travelled to the UK, and he confirms he did not get an entry stamp ... (regional airport entrance)... He was told, not for the first time, that as UK born & bred, he could apply for a British passport.

I do suspect that this is not normal procedure

S

Shirtback

I'm pretty sure you're right; my ex did the opposite for years, and eventually got hauled up for an income tax audit in both countries. I believe that there is more data sharing than we are publically aware...

S

Former Lancastrian

This is what Canada advises on an official website

Your Canadian passport
Always use your Canadian passport if possible, especially when entering the country of your second citizenship. Note that you cannot use a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship instead of a Canadian passport to travel abroad. A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s licence or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.

Using your Canadian passport may provide the basis under which Canada can provide you with consular assistance if you run into problems. You should also obtain a visa, if that is required for entry by Canadian citizens, and always present yourself as a Canadian when dealing with local authorities.
http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/publi...al-citizenship

jandro

You are correct. I suspect the CBSA would immediately ask questions on inspecting your CDN passport at POE and finding there is no UK entry stamp. With using UK passport to enter Britain you may get the benefit of a faster EU line at a UK point of entry but there is the potential of CBSA giving you a hard time on your return to Canada.

BritInParis

Not sure about that - why would CBSA care? If they ask just show the British passport.

jandro

Because by default they're expecting to see a stamp in the passport. I've been questioned over lesser matters.

Former Lancastrian

Like how much cheese are you bringing in
Usually when I ask I don't see any stamp then thats when they produce their UK passport so its not really a big deal.

Gozit

Yes its what the gov advises but I personally think that advice is meant for people who hold the second citizenship of a country like Iran. (remember the Dutch-Iranian lady who was beheaded whilst in Iran and the Dutch gov couldn't do anything?)

Someone with Canadian and British citizenship should not follow that advice, but instead use the Canadian passport to enter Canada, and the British one to enter the UK. Why have a second passport if you aren't going to use it? I now have Maltese citizenship. Every time I travel to Europe I will now use a Maltese passport, not the Canadian one, because it makes more sense the Maltese one being an EU one, you can use the faster lines, etc. If the CBSA agent asks on my way back in (hey maybe it will be you, FL) , I show the Maltese passport along with the Canadian passport for the reason why I don't have stamps. Simples. Its not like you are commiting a crime by traveling on your non-Canadian passport. Like I said, Canada allows dual citizenship so it isn't an issue.

jandro

It's so expensive here though!

SchnookoLoly

Okay so it might depend on the country then. The USA definitely wants you to be entering the US on your US passport - http://travel.state.gov/content/trav...tionality.html.

As FL said, if asked just produce the other passport. I have a Portuguese and a Canadian passport. When flying between the UK and Canada, I have always used my Canadian passport to enter Canada, and my Portuguese passport to enter the UK. Obviously neither passport is getting stamped on either end. When I enter Canada there's no stamp to show I went to the UK. Further, because I was avoiding tax residency in Canada, I always told the border agent I was VISITING Canada, I was not a Canadian resident. The obvious first conclusion there is that I should have a work visa in my passport, which I do not. I was never asked how I was living in the UK. I'd be admitted to Canada as a non-resident (though no stamp, just filled out that way on my landing card). When going back to the UK I just present my Portuguese passport to the agent and I'm waved on through. Again, no stamp to show I went anywhere else, just let straight in.

I generally always travelled with both passports on me just in case, and always used the one that would give me less hassle at the border. (Canadian passport used to enter the US, Portuguese passport used around the EU, Portuguese passport used when I went to Russia as I needed a work visa and the Portuguese passport was how I was working in the UK, etc).

MarylandNed

No - there is no such global rule. Rules differ by country. I hold 4 citizenships - UK, Ireland, Canada and US. I have entered the UK on Canadian and US passports (the UK does not require that its citizens enter on a UK passport). I have entered Canada on UK and US passports (Canada does not require that its citizens enter on a Canadian passport). However, by US law, I must enter the US using my US passport (the US expects that US citizens will enter/leave the US using a US passport).