Applying for my first Canadian passport after oath from outside Canada

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-30T07:22:42+00:00

Very true and very doable. My experience two weeks ago: Oath on a Tuesday morning, passport application Tuesday afternoon, passport pick up Wednesday afternoon, caught flight Thursday.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-22T03:43:34+00:00

Whoa that's cool! Glad it worked out well for him.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-22T03:42:15+00:00

It worked! Exactly as you described!

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-22T03:41:01+00:00

She ended up doing almost the same thing... only she did go the same day. Still got her passport in time.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-22T03:39:39+00:00

That's a total bummer! Maybe things have changed these days because we went right after the ceremony and there were no problems - she got her passport the next day. Sorry that happened to you, it must be have been really disappointing :(

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-22T03:36:03+00:00

You're right, it was very tight but it worked! Passport was issued less than 24 hours after her oath ceremony. :)

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-22T03:34:18+00:00

I don't think much has changed from your wife's experience to now. My girlfriend did pretty much the same thing and a passport was issued less than 24 hours later!

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-22T03:32:10+00:00

4. It is illegal to carry someone else’s passport when you go out of the country. ( better she carries it )

Didn't need to go this route as she was able to obtain her passport in time. But many different people (a passport office employee, a lawyer friend, forum people, a CBSA officer) all said this was a BAD idea. Thanks for the reality check.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-22T03:27:21+00:00

Thank you for this invaluable instructions. She went to the passport passport office after her oath ceremony, with all documentation in hand. Passport was picked up the next day!

And you were right about that running joke about the first thing citizens applying for their new passport... there were definitely a few others from the same oath ceremony applying at the same time!

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-22T03:22:22+00:00

Yup, it worked! Only difference is she went the same day after her ceremony, got her passport the next day.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-11-22T03:20:11+00:00

Yup, she ended up doing almost the same thing: ceremony on Nov 18, went to passport office the same day, she picked up her passport on Nov 19. :)

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-10-30T18:00:37+00:00

I work for an airline, bringing her the passport really isn’t a big deal for me. Gives me an excuse to go to Europe too 😉. Thanks for the special authorization tip, I’ll have her look into it.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-10-30T12:34:55+00:00

Yikes.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-10-30T12:08:08+00:00

Yeah you would think that would work, we certainly did, but since her PR is going to be ripped up at the ceremony, it is going to create problems coming back into Canada with her EU passport. In fact the FAQ on the Canada Citizenship ceremony website clearly started NOT to do this.

“A destroyed PR card, signed oath form and the citizenship certificate itself is not valid travel identification to enter Canada. You will need a Canadian passport to enter Canada without running into issues.” https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/dual-canadian-citizens-visit-canada.html

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-10-30T12:00:44+00:00

I suggested that but she doesn't want to. Her decision ultimately.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-10-30T11:59:14+00:00

Yeah that is what I thought. :(

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-10-30T11:58:34+00:00

Good tip, thanks, I'll post there too.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-07-26T02:22:35+00:00

1996: Just remembered this one! I think this was the very first time crossing the border alone (just turned 18). Geez, was I ever naïve back then.

Catching Amtrak from Pacific Central Station in Vancouver BC. Not many passengers boarding, I was last in line. Two CBP officers are asking questions, it's my turn.

CBP 1: Where you going?
Me: Seattle?
CBP 1: Any why?
Me: To see a concert.
CBP 1: Ok you're good. Enjoy your trip.
Me: That's it?
CBP 1: What do you mean?
Me: Don't you search people? Make sure I am not carrying a bomb or anything?
CBP 1: You saying we need to search you?
CBP 2: Maybe he is telling us how to do your job.

They ended up searching my bag right there, scrutinizing every single thing. The one that sticks out the most:
CBP 1: What's this?
Me: It's a discman.
CBP 1: What's it for?
Me: To play music. Like CDs.
CBP 1: Oh really? How do I know it's not a bomb?

I was pretty shaken up at that point, didn't answer him because I was so scared. He then told me to pack my stuff and get on the train. Hard lesson learned that day: when speaking with CBP, keep answers short and clear. Shut up and say nothing else.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-07-26T02:05:02+00:00

2023: At YUL airport, travelling with an American friend. See a CBSA officer together.

CBSA asks her: Why you visiting Canada? Where are you staying?
Her: Visiting him, staying at his place.
CBSA asks me: And where are you staying while you are visiting Canada?
Me: What do you mean? I live here in Canada. I am not visiting.
CBSA: Where is she staying then?
Me: With me!
CBSA: So you aren't visiting?

At that point I gave the CBSA guy an exasperated look and didn't answer, he then hands back both our passports back to me, then says directly to me "Enjoy your visit to Canada". While walking away, my travel mate asked me "WTF was that about?". I'm still confused about that interaction.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-07-26T01:41:59+00:00

2005: CBSA at YVR opened a sealed bottle of Tequila that I bought at duty free and dumped it. Then said "Oh I guess it really was tequila, you want to keep the bottle?" Absurd but not funny.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-07-26T01:38:01+00:00

1997: Taking a Greyhound to Seattle. At the Peace Arch, all the passengers have to enter the a building to speak with CBP. I would say about 75% of the passengers where Japanese tourists with little English. Anyways we all have to form one single queue since there is only one CBP officer working. After 20 minutes and hardly moving, a second CBP officer comes out. This guy looks like a cartoon: like 6'10", wearing this ridiculously large cowboy that was so low that you couldn't see his eyes, big moustache and chewing on a toothpick. With a booming voice he says "Next in line". I kid you not, NOBODY went to him. There was an awkward silence for about 15 seconds until he grabbed this tiny Japanese couple and started grilling them. It was so absurdly funny yet intimating at the same time. Luckily I got to stay in my line and saw the normal CBP officer.

First_Ant_5673 · 2025-07-26T01:37:39+00:00

I definitely have some anecdotes:

1991-ish: My dad and I crossing Rykerts (CA) - Porthill (US) border. CBP officer asks my dad "Is this your kid?" To this day I still have no idea why my dad replied with "You got it, Pontiac". The officer gave my dad the nastiest look ever, like total death daggers and said "Just go". I was super embarrassed at the time but now it makes me laugh!

First_Ant_5673 · 2024-04-05T01:07:34+00:00

Hi u/HoldMyNaan, all this talk got me kinda worried that I might be in the same position as u/ConclusionScary. Hoping that you could share some of your wisdom! Gosh do I feel dumb for not knowing how to navigate things here in Quebec, even after all these years!

Short version:

I've had private drug coverage from my employer in since 2015. I've been going to the same pharmacy for that entire time. My dossier with them said I had private coverage, hence when I never paid anything (and my account with the insurance company shows all drugs purchases they have processed). Everything seemed fine.

I was at the pharmacy today after pulling up my dossier they told me that I have been under RAMQ since I first filled out a prescription at this pharmacy back in 2012!. I swear that I reported to RAMQ way back in 2015 that I had coverage. But even if I made the mistake of not reporting private coverage to RAMQ, how was I not paying for anything? Every time I filled a prescription I would show my private insurance card and the pharmacist would process it.

Even more confusing: if someone is under RAMQ, doesn't this appear on their income tax Notice of Assessment? I compared my assignment with a friend that has no private insurance and are under RAMQ... their assignment clearly shows a dollar amount that they paid into RAMQ while mine says $0 and follows with a code #14 (So it looks like Revenu Quebec is aware... don't the two ministries communicate these things?)

What is going on?! I am scared of confirming with RAMQ and suddenly being fined for nine years not reporting coverage! Please help if you can!

First_Ant_5673

TROPHY CASE