Canada's new ETA system and Air Canada's dual-citizen passengers
Apr 27, 2015, 9:54 pm
#46
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Air Canada Aeroplan
Posts: 1,748
Air Canada may not have immigration policing authority, but it has duties and obligations imposed by law. All airlines have these duties and obligations. In Canada, an airline is subject to a penalty for a passenger allowed to board without proper documentation that allows entry at the destination. The airline also assumes the responsibility of returning the passenger to his/her point of embarkation. It becomes an expensive proposition if an airline keeps getting bogus pax. There are some routes where the "unauthorized" travelers are a problem and there is more attentive screening.
Apr 28, 2015, 5:51 am
#47
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: YYT
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I fly on both UK and Canadian passports. I change the APIS info on ac.com to suit & enter UK & Europe on my UK passport and return to Canada on my Canadian passport. It is perfectly possible to enter Canada on a "foreign" passport as a Canadian citizen, it just involves a discussion with the CBSA agent. I've used my citizenship card for secondary ID but a driving licence would work just as well.
Thread drifting slightly, on another forum that I post on, there is a recurring discussion about the risks of being denied travel when returning to Canada with a visa-waiver passport and no Permanent Resident card. (An immigrant can be a PR of Canada permanently should they choose not to apply for citizenship. In reality most PR's will apply for citizenship when they've accrued enough residency time.) The theory is that AC or another airline will deny boarding as the visa-waiver passport doesn't guarantee entry into Canada. The reality is that this never happens and it's possible to enter the country as a PR without your PR card.
Thread drifting slightly, on another forum that I post on, there is a recurring discussion about the risks of being denied travel when returning to Canada with a visa-waiver passport and no Permanent Resident card. (An immigrant can be a PR of Canada permanently should they choose not to apply for citizenship. In reality most PR's will apply for citizenship when they've accrued enough residency time.) The theory is that AC or another airline will deny boarding as the visa-waiver passport doesn't guarantee entry into Canada. The reality is that this never happens and it's possible to enter the country as a PR without your PR card.
Apr 28, 2015, 7:49 am
#48
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 17
Never had a problem so far with giving them my Canadian passport on the way out and using my UK passport to go into Europe.
Apr 28, 2015, 12:03 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
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Kind of late to the party here, but I have a lot of recent experience with this as a dual Canadian / EU citizen.
In a nutshell, that's exactly what I do, too.
Depends where. Some countries absolutely require you to enter on that country's passport if you're a citizen, so if you're also Canadian then you'll automatically be carrying two passports. But generally, making it known that you're carrying two passports makes passport control officers think you have something to hide.
Rule #1 of travelling with multiple passports: use the *same* passport to enter and leave a country.
I'll also add that when entering the EU with a EU-issued passport, it has never received anything more than a quick glance... it's usually swiped through a computer when leaving the EU, but I swear some passport control officers don't even look at the picture. They definitely don't care what's in the AC PNR since they don't even bother looking!
As I said earlier, you want to avoid publicizing the fact that you have two passports. It saves you from having to explain that it's not illegal and you're not trying to hide anything 
This ^
The *only* time someone has known that I was carrying 2 passports was when an OS check-in agent in Moscow was looking for a Russian visa which was in my Canadian passport. I had OLCI'd in with my EU passport and presented it when I went to drop off my luggage. I showed him the Canadian passport, he found the visa, and I continued on my journey "checked in" under my EU passport. No problem at all.
Interesting. I am dual citizen Canadian/Euro. I use my Canadian passport for all of my flight bookings. When boarding I show whatever passport comes out as ID - since it really doesn't matter. When I land in whatever country - Asia, Europe, Australia, SA - wherever - I show whichever passport is the most convenient - regardless of using my Canadian passport to purchase the ticket. Of course the USA is different - that's what Nexus is for.
I've never had a problem booking with my Canadian passport but then using my other passport at my destination.
Where I have gotten into a bit of trouble is showing one passport to enter a country and accidentally showing my other one to leave (to customs/immigration - airline couldn't care less).
Where I have gotten into a bit of trouble is showing one passport to enter a country and accidentally showing my other one to leave (to customs/immigration - airline couldn't care less).
That's true re: showing up with multiple passports. To the OP, I think AC only cares what passport you show up at check-in. Say you are flying to the EU from Canada, you are welcome to use your European passport since you are already in Canada, the ETA is irrelevant to AC. But if you are flying back to North America, of course, you want to use your Canadian passport because European passport will require to do ETA and ESTA if you are flying to Canada via the U.S. and you have to pay for both.
The *only* time someone has known that I was carrying 2 passports was when an OS check-in agent in Moscow was looking for a Russian visa which was in my Canadian passport. I had OLCI'd in with my EU passport and presented it when I went to drop off my luggage. I showed him the Canadian passport, he found the visa, and I continued on my journey "checked in" under my EU passport. No problem at all.
Apr 28, 2015, 12:15 pm
#50
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SEMM
Posts: 1,379
Having 2 passports was just one of the issues I had crossing the border from Greece to Turkey in 2008. Driving a Serbian registered rental car and having a camera all meant that this border crossing took over 4 hours to complete!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4su013xXltQ
Unfortunately the passport issue is not actually recorded on the video since that arose once my camera had got temporarily confiscated by the Greek border guards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4su013xXltQ
Unfortunately the passport issue is not actually recorded on the video since that arose once my camera had got temporarily confiscated by the Greek border guards.
Apr 28, 2015, 12:26 pm
#51
Formerly known as I_Hate_US_Airways
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Good Question...
Why would you ever even think about entering Canada on another passport anyway? You have a right to enter Canada with a Canadian passport, with any other passport you are subject to questions and there is no right to entry, just a privilege.[/QUOTE]
The reason for me doing this is because my US Passport is the one listed in GE & Nexus. I literally NEVER use my Canadian passport when entering or exiting Canada strangely enough!!!
The reason for me doing this is because my US Passport is the one listed in GE & Nexus. I literally NEVER use my Canadian passport when entering or exiting Canada strangely enough!!!
Apr 28, 2015, 12:29 pm
#52
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
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I went to the Nexus office once I received my EU passport. The number was added to the Canadian system because it can store multiple passports. Meanwhile, the CBP officers literally said "we don't care about this" and threw it back at me once the CBSA lady handed it over to them
Apr 28, 2015, 2:44 pm
#53
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: AC SEMM
Posts: 1,379
When I applied for Nexus it was made pretty clear that ALL passports I held had to be listed. IIRC one of the statements I had to sign my name to on the application was that I had no other passport than those listed.
Both my UK and Canadian passports are listed
Apr 28, 2015, 2:49 pm
#54
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
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I don't think that is so
When I applied for Nexus it was made pretty clear that ALL passports I held had to be listed. IIRC one of the statements I had to sign my name to on the application was that I had no other passport than those listed.
Both my UK and Canadian passports are listed
When I applied for Nexus it was made pretty clear that ALL passports I held had to be listed. IIRC one of the statements I had to sign my name to on the application was that I had no other passport than those listed.
Both my UK and Canadian passports are listed
At the time I applied, I didn't have my EU passport. Knowing it was part of the application process, I went to the Nexus office to tell them I now had another passport. The Canadians cared (and duly entered the EU passport information in their system). They then handed it over to the Americans while telling me, "I don't think their system allows more than 1 passport to be associated with your Nexus." The American took the passport, said, "I don't care about this," and threw it back at me.
Apr 28, 2015, 4:52 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Mostly Canada and the World
Programs: Several
Posts: 484
You definitely have to list all passports you hold at the time of the application. That is correct.
At the time I applied, I didn't have my EU passport. Knowing it was part of the application process, I went to the Nexus office to tell them I now had another passport. The Canadians cared (and duly entered the EU passport information in their system). They then handed it over to the Americans while telling me, "I don't think their system allows more than 1 passport to be associated with your Nexus." The American took the passport, said, "I don't care about this," and threw it back at me.
At the time I applied, I didn't have my EU passport. Knowing it was part of the application process, I went to the Nexus office to tell them I now had another passport. The Canadians cared (and duly entered the EU passport information in their system). They then handed it over to the Americans while telling me, "I don't think their system allows more than 1 passport to be associated with your Nexus." The American took the passport, said, "I don't care about this," and threw it back at me.
And I will add a reminder as has been done by several - when exiting a country that requires you to 'stamp out' then you must show the same passport you used when you stamped in.
Apr 28, 2015, 6:46 pm
#56
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
Programs: AC SE (*A Gold), Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Hilton Gold, Amex Platinum / AP Reserve, NEXUS, Global Entry
Posts: 5,691
Similar - but different. First time applying for NEXUS I only had my Canadian passport that was valid. When I received my renewed Euro passport I took it to a NEXUS office and was told by both US and Canada that they don't care about it and it did not need to be registered. Interestingly I am going for a NEXUS renewal interview in August and will be taking both of my passports to see what they say. I did ring NEXUS during the renewal process online and asked if I can enter my second passport as it was not allowing me to and I was told there is no need for that. Hmmm - where is the consistency?
And I will add a reminder as has been done by several - when exiting a country that requires you to 'stamp out' then you must show the same passport you used when you stamped in.
Apr 28, 2015, 9:35 pm
#57
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I fly on both UK and Canadian passports. I change the APIS info on ac.com to suit & enter UK & Europe on my UK passport and return to Canada on my Canadian passport. It is perfectly possible to enter Canada on a "foreign" passport as a Canadian citizen, it just involves a discussion with the CBSA agent. I've used my citizenship card for secondary ID but a driving licence would work just as well.
Thread drifting slightly, on another forum that I post on, there is a recurring discussion about the risks of being denied travel when returning to Canada with a visa-waiver passport and no Permanent Resident card. (An immigrant can be a PR of Canada permanently should they choose not to apply for citizenship. In reality most PR's will apply for citizenship when they've accrued enough residency time.) The theory is that AC or another airline will deny boarding as the visa-waiver passport doesn't guarantee entry into Canada. The reality is that this never happens and it's possible to enter the country as a PR without your PR card.
Thread drifting slightly, on another forum that I post on, there is a recurring discussion about the risks of being denied travel when returning to Canada with a visa-waiver passport and no Permanent Resident card. (An immigrant can be a PR of Canada permanently should they choose not to apply for citizenship. In reality most PR's will apply for citizenship when they've accrued enough residency time.) The theory is that AC or another airline will deny boarding as the visa-waiver passport doesn't guarantee entry into Canada. The reality is that this never happens and it's possible to enter the country as a PR without your PR card.
Apr 29, 2015, 12:31 am
#58
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YVR
Posts: 2,120
Huh. Interestingly I have been doing the dual passport thing almost all my life and it has never even occurred to me that showing my Canadian passport at check-in and my EU one at passport control could be a problem! Not once.
Always do it, and in that order, whether going or coming - always Canadian passport at check-in no matter where I am going to/coming from because it is instinctively what I think of as my "ID" then Canadian passport leaving/entering Canadian passport control and EU one entering/leaving EU (and a handful of other countries). It's never been an issue. But then as others have mentioned, never ever try to exit on a passport you did not enter on - that'll get you all sorts of other questions!!
As for not showing 2 passports, I recall once arriving somewhere (can't recall where, but I will acknowledge being young and naive at the time) and handing passport control both passports and asking which would be the smarter one to use.
Always do it, and in that order, whether going or coming - always Canadian passport at check-in no matter where I am going to/coming from because it is instinctively what I think of as my "ID" then Canadian passport leaving/entering Canadian passport control and EU one entering/leaving EU (and a handful of other countries). It's never been an issue. But then as others have mentioned, never ever try to exit on a passport you did not enter on - that'll get you all sorts of other questions!!
As for not showing 2 passports, I recall once arriving somewhere (can't recall where, but I will acknowledge being young and naive at the time) and handing passport control both passports and asking which would be the smarter one to use.
Apr 29, 2015, 6:50 am
#59
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: YUL
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Do you recall how that worked out for you? lol
Apr 29, 2015, 11:00 am
#60
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Air Canada Aeroplan
Posts: 1,748
It has never occurred to you because it cannot be a problem. What you show at passport control is none of the airline's business. All they care about is that you check in and board with a passport that will grant you entry into your destination country. If you then manage to clear customs with an ID card from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, more power to you.