Sisters will spend Christmas together despite new passport rules for dual citizens
CBC News | Posted: December 21, 2016 11:41 AM | Last Updated: December 21, 2016
Federal government introduced new rules for dual citizens Nov. 10
Two Canadian sisters who were worried they'd be forced to spend Christmas apart because of new federal rules for dual citizens now say their situation has been resolved.
Lisa Dean — who is currently living in Bournemouth, England, with Canadian-British citizenship — has been issued a temporary passport so she can fly to Ottawa on Dec. 23 to be with her family, her sister Louise Green said.
"[We're] so relieved now that we know she's coming," Green said Monday in an interview in her Ottawa home.
"It was really up in the air. We didn't know what was going to happen. Over the weekend we both just felt totally done-in with the whole process."
Must hold Canadian passport
Dean's holiday travel plans were put on hold when she learned rules brought in by the federal government Nov. 10 require dual citizens to hold a Canadian passport to fly through or into the country.
Although Dean has a valid U.K. passport, she does not currently have a valid Canadian passport.
Hoping to be with her family for the holidays, Dean had applied for an exemption that allows travellers to board flights to Canada using their non-Canadian passports. The temporary federal "special authorization" program is in place until Jan. 31 to help travellers who weren't aware of the new rules.
But she received an email shortly after applying, saying her application had been denied.
On Monday, Dean went to the Canadian High Commission in London where she was issued a temporary passport, Green said.
"She was so relieved," Green said. "She can finally get on with getting ready and getting excited for Christmas."
Green said the office was filled with people in similar situations, many of whom had turned up at the airport and learned they would have to postpone their travel arrangements.
Temporary passport available for 'urgent travel'
In a statement to CBC News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said the special exemption option Green was denied is only available if the person's Canadian citizenship can be electronically verified, which is not the case for everyone.
"It's happening to a lot of people so I think the important thing is to get the word out so that people are aware," Green said.
People who are declined for special authorization but who still need to urgently travel to Canada may be issued a temporary passport or an emergency travel document, the department said.
Both options are issued in special circumstances on a case-by-case basis.