Bartolo

Based on advice on FT advice (different thread), I have been putting my CDN passport # on the AC file and using my EU passport to enter/exit the other country. Has worked every time. Initially, AC advised me to call prior to my return to Canada flight and they could change the file from the EU passport to the CDN one. I would never do that again because it was impossible to do online checkin and it took the agent almost one hr to check me in at the airport. Of course, these days calling in is almost impossible.

TemboOne

I have to agree with tcook052 on this.
My only purpose in raising the question initially was to highlight the problem encountered by the 96 year old man in question.

In particular to highlight the fact that in this case Air Canada was being blamed totally illogically and unfairly for the passenger not having the correct documentation.

There are a number of threads throughout FT referring to dual-citizenships and what can or can't be done, or even "should or shouldn't be done".

It appears that in this case a family member made the travel reservation arrangements and may have been unaware of the documents available as compared with documents actually legally required AT THE TIME OF TRAVEL.

As to dual nationality, it's great, and has huge advantages. My wife and I actually have legal triple citizenships (and current passports for each) and fly with them on AC all the time. Generally on reservations made online directly with AC we use the passport we intend using to enter the destination country - and present that passport at check-in in Canada (we do not use or like OLCI or the kiosks!). Where there is departure immigration check as in Japan we use the same passport that we entered the country on. At AC's check-in counters at HND and NRT we use our Canadian passports.

Japan does not care if OTHER citizens have and use two passports. One astute departure immigration lady at HND (located AFTER AC check-in) was perplexed that our Irish passports seemingly when we are going TO Canada had no ETA stamps looked up at us with a frown and a smile and said "Double?" We happily showed her our Canadian passports and had absolutely no problems.

Not having the correct documents is not Air Canada's fault. It is always the traveller's obligation to be properly prepared.

Unfortunately the 96 year old man in question received either incorrect or incomplete advice.

blue2002

Straight from the horse's mouth:
Dual Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport

Not true, or at least not consistently true. When checking in for flights from Canada to Europe our family quite regularly uses EU passports at checkin. Only once within the last year or so did a checkin agent enquire about our Canadian passports.

Assuming your son is also a Japanese citizen, he can likely apply for a "special authorization":
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...it-canada.html

blue2002

Your son can likely apply for a "special authorization":
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...it-canada.html

kumagoro

Hi, thanks for the link.

However, again the link refers to "carrying both passports". My son, due to Japanese law, is not able to get a Canadian passport issued. As soon as he does, he is in contravention of Japanese law and puts himself in danger of losing Japanese citizenship. If airport security or customs in Japan were to discover his Canadian passport (should he somehow obtain one) he would also be in potential legal trouble. Hence the Catch-22. To apply for special authorization, again he needs two passports.

A dual citizen without a Canadian passport is in legal limbo and not permitted to enter Canada if they are unable to get a Canadian passport before they travel. The Canadian government, and by extension Air Canada, is putting such people in a really difficult position. They basically have to choose which country's law to break if they want to travel.

YEG USER

If he were to get a Canadian passport, for future trips would it be possible to travel via a 3rd country such as the USA and have him pick up the passport there? Would the risk be significantly reduced if he never has the physical Canadian passport in Japan?

kumagoro

It wojld, but getting a,passport in the first place is effectively impossible in Japan.

percysmith

I don’t think the airlines can assert he’s a Canadian citizen, even by Place Of Birth (after all, you can always claim your husband’s a diplomat).

Its CBSA where you may have a problem.

Besides your MP, have you written to the Canadian Embassy Tokyo on how to resolve this? Your son can’t be the first dual national minor.

Adam Smith

How is Air Canada or even the Canadian government putting your son in a difficult position? Is he not already breaking Japanese law by remaining a Canadian citizen? Even if there's no penalty, you say "[i]n Japan the law says that a person must choose a citizenship by age 22 and renounce any other citizenship than Japanese".

If he obeyed Japanese law and renounced his Canadian citizenship, the Canadian government would no long require him to enter Canada on a Canadian passport and AC would only ask him for an eTA with his Japanese passport.

As far as I can tell, the only organization putting your son in a difficult position in the Japanese government with their policy of only having one citizenship.

jazzsax

Not true. When I fly to Jamaica I use my Jamaican passport on the outbound from Canada (with no issues, and AC clears it every time), and on the return to Canada I use my Canadian. Just makes processing in MBJ and KIN much easier to enter on the Jamaican passport.

percysmith

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Nationality_Rule ?

kumagoro

Let' s just say that the law in Japan is...complicated. A bit of a "don't ask don't tell" kind of situation, to put it very simply

There is no official action taken against people who happen to have two citizenships. They are deemed Japanese as long as they live in Japan UNLESS they actively pursue the second one. Being caught with a second passport would certainly be seen as actively pursuing.

So, the only action I can see that is a way out is if my son officially renounces his Canadian citizenship through the Canadian government. This is a time consuming andmoney consuming process. And would not solve the problem is he were asked "where were you born?" by a CBP officer. I guess he would have to carry a "Renunciation Card" (if there is such a thing) at all times.

I think the whole thing frankly is a cash grab on the part of the government of Canada. They want to sell untold thousands of passports to dual citizens in the guise of 'security'. There is no security risk for a Japanese/Canadian or German/Candian or British/Canadian dual citizen entering Canada using their other passport at all.

YEG USER

Maybe just fly to the USA and then cross into Canada at a land crossing. AFAIK Canadian citizens don't require a passport to enter Canada by land or sea. If there is are any other documents already possessed that show citizenship, that would suffice to enter Canada.

As another poster mentioned, reach out to the Canadian embassy. Your situation can't be unique.

percysmith

UKVI issues renunciation letters to Australians who become Australian MPs https://independentaustralia.net/pol...e-office,11066 or HKers who become officials.

I suppose IRCC can issue such a letter, but your son won’t have to physically carry it with him. He just has to carry a copy on his phone, and CBSA can internally verify the letter if they question his lack of Canadian passport.

IANAL but I don’t believe your son should be made to renounce before coming of age - it is his decision to make, not one the Japanese Government can force you to make on his behalf.

Stranger

Shouldn't we put blame where it really is? Real issue seems to me that your son is in violation of Japanese laws. If he was to continue retaining the two citizenships, then he is taking the risk, and he should not \blame Canadian laws, which are not unreasonable, or airlines, which are obviously expected to follow the law.

Issue is not having two passports but having two citizenships, really. Anyway, I don't really see what this has to do with AC.