Questions and Answers

I’m a dual US Canadian citizen who travels occasionally between the US and Canada. I have always used my US passport for all such travel. Since I’ve experienced a couple of long waits at immigration in Vancouver, I’m wondering whether I could enter as a returning Canadian.

I’m hoping there are some fellow readers that are in the same situation and can answer some of the following questions.
Can you enter the country as a Canadian citizen and leave as a US citizen as I would want to use my American passport in the GOES kiosks at the Canadian airport if available.
If so what documents would I need — I don’t have a Canadian passport but I do have a citizenship card.
How would you enter the Canadian documents so they don’t override the US passport documentation?

Thanks to anyone who can provide some insight/guidance

I assume you also have a Nexus card and still have the long waits? I would think you’d need a Canadian passport to enter as a Canadian but I’m not positive.

You would need a Canadian Passport to enter Canada if you transit by air. Otherwise, you will have to show your USA passport. And yes, you can enter Canada with a Canadian Passport and return to the USA on your American Passport.

For about 15 years now I have been using my US and an EU passport when travelling the world. Depending on the length of the passport control queue (line), I either use the EU passport or the US one. Always come back to the US on the US passport though. They will know that you have two passports. Once when we went through US Customs at Dublin airport, the US ICE agent asked me whether I had another passport. I said yes, but he did not ask me what type. He knew I had another passport because I entered Italy using my EU passport but not the US one, and was trying to leave Ireland using the US passport. Four years ago I asked German, Hungarian, Austrian immigration officials whether there are laws as to which passport I should use. They all told me NO, as long as my passport is valid, they do not care.