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Canada and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both passports in 2026

8 min read ·

Canada allows dual citizenship and does not ask about your Russian passport. We explain how to reach 1,095 days, what to pass, what it costs and what Russia requires.

In short

Yes: Canada does not require you to give up your previous citizenship, so the Russian passport is kept; you only need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry.

Previous passport on naturalisationKept
Country ruleNo need to give up your previous citizenship
Legal basisCitizenship Act of Canada
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

Neither Canada nor Russia prohibits a second citizenship, so the question is not the right to two passports but how to reach the required days in Canada, pass the exams and get the timing right.

What Canada requires on naturalisation

Canada's Citizenship Act does not require new citizens to give up their previous citizenship. To apply you need permanent resident status and 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada in the last 5 years; days before permanent residence count as half, so at least 730 days must be lived as a permanent resident. You must have filed tax returns for 3 of those 5 years.

Applicants aged 18 to 54 must prove basic English or French and pass a test on Canada: 20 questions with a pass mark of 15. The adult fee is 653 Canadian dollars, about $460. Processing takes about 12 months, and after approval the new citizen takes the oath.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. Get Canadian permanent residence through federal skilled worker selection, a provincial programme or family.
  2. Reach 1,095 days of presence in 5 years, at least 730 of them as a permanent resident, and file tax returns for 3 years.
  3. Prove language with an English or French certificate if you are 18 to 54.
  4. Apply online and pass the test on Canada.
  5. Take the oath and receive the citizenship certificate, then a Canadian passport.
  6. Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

It is convenient to count days with the immigration service's official calculator: holidays abroad easily eat the margin, and an application short of days is returned.

What happens to children

A child born in Canada is Canadian by birth regardless of the parents' citizenship and can get Russian citizenship through the consulate; neither has to be given up. Children under 18 apply together with their parents without language or the test, and the child fee is 100 Canadian dollars.

Taxes and military service

Canadian tax residence is determined by residential and family ties to the country: residents pay federal and provincial tax on worldwide income. A double tax treaty between Russia and Canada exists, but in August 2023 Russia suspended its main provisions.

Canada has no conscription. A Russian citizen's Russian military duty remains.

Common mistakes

  • Counting days from entry rather than from permanent residence. Days before PR count as half and for no more than a year.
  • Not filing tax returns. Without returns for 3 of the 5 years the application is not accepted.
  • Leaving for long before applying. Holidays and business trips easily eat the required days.
  • Missing the Russian Interior Ministry notification. The deadline is 60 days from receiving Canadian citizenship, and failure carries criminal liability.

How to get Canadian citizenship

The main route is permanent residence through federal skilled worker selection or a provincial programme, then 3 years of living in Canada and naturalisation. The federal startup visa has not accepted new applications since 1 January 2026.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Canadian citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

Canadian citizenship without falling short of days

The law does not stop you from getting Canadian citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fee: too few days because of travel, missed tax returns and a forgotten notification to the Russian Interior Ministry. We count days and deadlines, prepare documents and the application and remind you of your duties towards Russia.

Our consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.

Get a support quote

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

More on this country:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold Canadian and Russian citizenship at the same time?
Yes: Canada does not require you to give up your previous citizenship, so the Russian passport is kept; you only need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Canadian citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Do I need to give up Russian citizenship to become Canadian?
No. Canada does not require you to give up your previous citizenship, and the Russian passport is kept.
How many years must I live in Canada to get citizenship?
1,095 days in the last 5 years, at least 730 of them as a permanent resident, so in practice about 3 years after getting permanent residence.
How much does Canadian citizenship cost?
The adult fee is 653 Canadian dollars, about $460, and 100 Canadian dollars for a child, plus a language certificate.
Will a child have dual Canadian and Russian citizenship?
Yes, a child born in Canada is Canadian by birth and can get Russian citizenship through the consulate.
What language level is needed for Canadian citizenship?
Basic English or French, proven by a certificate, for applicants aged 18 to 54.

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