Did you know that nearly half of the world’s countries – 49% to be exact – allow dual citizenship? Countries like the United States, several Caribbean states, Turkey, and many others recognize this status, opening up a world of opportunities for global citizens.
What is Dual Citizenship?
People with dual citizenship are nationals of two countries at the same time. They have equal rights with other citizens of these states: pay taxes, get social benefits, and receive a pension. People with dual citizenship are called bipatrides.
Dual citizenship can be obtained only if both countries have signed an agreement on dual citizenship and each of the parties recognises the rights and obligations of a citizen in another state. The legislation of some countries, such as Portugal or Italy, is more lenient and allows dual citizenship, but some states like Austria prohibit dual nationality.
Having dual citizenship is not the same as having second citizenship. Obtaining a second passport does not mean having equal rights in other countries. In the case of second citizenship, each state views a bipatride only as its own citizen.
5 Main Advantages of Dual Citizenship
Holders of several passports can get the benefits offered by each state where they are a citizen. For instance, they can vote, have access to social privileges, and gain work opportunities.
1. Ample travel opportunities. With two passports, you can easily travel. For example, if you have a European passport, you will receive visa-free entry into the Schengen Area. Citizenship in the Caribbean — for example, with Dominica — opens visa-free entry to more than 145 countries.
2. Advanced healthcare system. Having dual nationality, you can get access to whichever healthcare system of your two countries is best.
3. Business and professional development. Entrepreneurs can expand their business by opening new sales channels. Dual citizens can develop professionally without needing to obtain a work visa.
4. Better future for the family. Children born in families with multiple nationalities can automatically obtain citizenship of the country in which they were born. Having dual nationality, you can sponsor your family members to obtain citizenship. For example, it is possible in the USA to sponsor relatives to get green cards.
5. Personal safety. Holding citizenship in more than one country offers flexibility to relocate or find refuge during political or economic instability. Dual citizens have a backup plan, allowing them to move freely and settle in another country where they hold citizenship if necessary. This provides peace of mind and a sense of stability, knowing multiple safe havens are available.
Disadvantages of Dual Citizenship
Despite the many advantages, there are some drawbacks to obtaining dual citizenship.
Complicated process of obtaining citizenship. It can be expensive and time-consuming to collect and process all the documents for second citizenship.
Double taxation. There is a high risk of paying taxes to both countries. For example, the United States obliges people with dual citizenship to pay taxes, even if they live in another country.
Dual obligations. As a dual national, you must comply with the laws of both countries — for example, to serve in the military. If there is a conflict between two countries, the choice of one side may lead to the loss of citizenship in the second country or even a tribunal.
Which Countries Allow Dual Citizenship
49% of all countries allow dual citizenship, but some of them permit their citizens to hold dual nationality only under certain conditions.
For example, Argentina has dual citizenship agreements only with Italy and Spain. People from other countries who want to apply for Argentine citizenship must renounce their original passports.
List of Countries that Allow Dual Citizenship
Country | Country | Country | Country |
---|---|---|---|
Albania | Costa Rica | Iceland | Portugal |
Algeria | Croatia | Iraq | Republic of Congo |
American Samoa | Cyprus | Ireland | Romania |
Angola | Czech Republic | Israel | Russia |
Antigua & Barbuda | Denmark | Italy | Saint Kitts & Nevis |
Argentina | Djibouti | Ivory Coast | Saint Lucia |
Armenia | Dominica | Jamaica | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
Australia | Dominican Republic | Jordan | Samoa |
Barbados | East Timor | Kenya | Seychelles |
Belgium | Ecuador | Kosovo | Sierra Leone |
Belize | Egypt | Kyrgyzstan | Slovenia |
Benin | El Salvador | Latvia | Somalia |
Bolivia | Equatorial Guinea | Lebanon | South Africa |
Bosnia & Herzegovina | Fiji | Lithuania | South Korea |
Brazil | Finland | Luxembourg | South Sudan |
British Virgin Islands | France | Macau | Spain |
Bulgaria | Gambia | Macedonia | Sri Lanka |
Burkina Faso | Germany | Mali | Sudan |
Burundi | Ghana | Malta | Sweden |
Cambodia | Greece | Mauritius | Switzerland |
Canada | Grenada | Mexico | Syria |
Cape Verde | Guatemala | Moldova | Taiwan |
Central African Republic | Guinea-Bissau | Morocco | Tajikistan |
Chile | Haiti | Namibia | Thailand |
Colombia | Honduras | Nauru | Tonga |
Comoros | Hong Kong | New Zealand | Trinidad & Tobago |
Congo (Republic of) | Hungary | Nicaragua | Tunisia |
Costa Rica | Iceland | Niger | Turkey |
Croatia | Iraq | Nigeria | Uganda |
Cyprus | Ireland | North Macedonia | United Kingdom |
Czech Republic | Israel | Pakistan | United States |
Denmark | Italy | Panama | Uruguay |
Djibouti | Ivory Coast | Papua New Guinea | Vatican City |
Dominica | Jamaica | Paraguay | Venezuela |
Dominican Republic | Jordan | Peru | Vietnam |
East Timor | Kenya | Philippines | Yemen |
Ecuador | Kosovo | Poland | Zambia |
Egypt | Kyrgyzstan | Portugal | Zimbabwe |
El Salvador | Latvia | Republic of Congo | |
Equatorial Guinea | Lebanon | Romania | |
Fiji | Lithuania | Russia | |
Finland | Luxembourg | Saint Kitts & Nevis | |
France | Macau | Saint Lucia | |
Gambia | Macedonia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | |
Germany | Mali | Samoa | |
Ghana | Malta | Seychelles | |
Greece | Mauritius | Sierra Leone | |
Grenada | Mexico | Slovenia | |
Guatemala | Moldova | Somalia | |
Guinea-Bissau | Morocco | South Africa | |
Haiti | Namibia | South Korea | |
Honduras | Nauru | South Sudan | |
Hong Kong | New Zealand | Spain | |
Hungary | Nicaragua | Sri Lanka | |
Iceland | Niger | Sudan | |
Iraq | Nigeria | Sweden | |
Ireland | North Macedonia | Switzerland | |
Israel | Pakistan | Syria | |
Italy | Panama | Taiwan | |
Ivory Coast | Papua New Guinea | Tajikistan | |
Jamaica | Paraguay | Thailand | |
Jordan | Peru | Tonga | |
Kenya | Philippines | Trinidad & Tobago | |
Kosovo | Poland | Tunisia | |
Kyrgyzstan | Portugal | Turkey | |
Latvia | Republic of Congo | Uganda | |
Lebanon | Romania | United Kingdom | |
Lithuania | Russia | United States | |
Luxembourg | Saint Kitts & Nevis | Uruguay | |
Macau | Saint Lucia | Vatican City | |
Macedonia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Venezuela | |
Mali | Samoa | Vietnam | |
Malta | Seychelles | Yemen | |
Mauritius | Sierra Leone | Zambia | |
Mexico | Slovenia | Zimbabwe | |
Moldova | Somalia | ||
Morocco | South Africa | ||
Namibia | South Korea | ||
Nauru | South Sudan | ||
New Zealand | Spain | ||
Nicaragua | Sri Lanka | ||
Niger | Sudan | ||
Nigeria | Sweden | ||
North Macedonia | Switzerland | ||
Pakistan | Syria | ||
Panama | Taiwan | ||
Papua New Guinea | Tajikistan | ||
Paraguay | Thailand | ||
Peru | Tonga | ||
Philippines | Trinidad & Tobago | ||
Poland | Tunisia | ||
Portugal | Turkey | ||
Republic of Congo | Uganda | ||
Romania | United Kingdom | ||
Russia | United States | ||
Saint Kitts & Nevis | Uruguay | ||
Saint Lucia | Vatican City | ||
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Venezuela | ||
Samoa | Vietnam | ||
Seychelles | Yemen | ||
Sierra Leone | Zambia | ||
Slovenia | Zimbabwe |
Countries Where you Cannot have Dual Citizenship
Country | Country | Country | Country |
---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Iran | Maldives | San Marino |
Andorra | Japan | Marshall Islands | Sao Tome and Principe |
Austria | Kazakhstan | Mauritania | Saudi Arabia |
Azerbaijan | Kiribati | Micronesia | Singapore |
Bahrain | North Korea | Monaco | Slovakia |
China | Kuwait | Mongolia | Suriname |
Djibouti | Laos | Mozambique | Tanzania |
Eswatini | Lesotho | Myanmar (Burma) | Togo |
Eritrea | Liberia | Nepal | Ukraine |
Estonia | Libya | Netherlands | United Arab Emirates |
Georgia | Liechtenstein | Norway | Uzbekistan |
Guinea | Malaysia | Oman | Vanuatu |
Guyana | Montenegro | Palau | Rwanda |
India | Madagascar | Qatar | |
Indonesia | Malawi |
Dual Citizenship with the US
United States allows dual citizenship and does not require naturalised individuals to renounce their home country. Despite the Oath of Allegiance to the United States, which refers to the rejection of “allegiance and fidelity” to other nations, the US law does not require a person to choose one nationality or another.
US Department of State states that dual citizenship means allegiance to both the United States and a foreign state. People who have dual citizenship with the US are required to comply with the laws of both countries, and any country has the right to enforce its laws.
Country | Country | Country | Country |
---|---|---|---|
Albania | Iceland | Portugal | Cabo Verde |
Angola | Iraq | Romania | Latvia |
Armenia | Ireland | Russia | Sierra Leone |
Australia | Israel | Rwanda | Comoros |
Belarus | Italy | São Tomé and Príncipe | Lebanon |
Belgium | Kenya | Senegal | Slovakia |
Burundi | Kosovo | Serbia | Côte d’Ivoire |
Cyprus | Luxembourg | Sri Lanka | Lithuania |
Denmark | Mali | Sudan | Spain |
Djibouti | Malta | Sweden | France |
Fiji | Moldova | Switzerland | Mozambique |
Finland | Morocco | Syria | Czech Republic |
Gabon | New Zealand | Tonga | Greece |
Gambia | Niger | Tunisia | Norway |
Germany | Nigeria | Uganda | Vanuatu |
Ghana | North Macedonia | United Kingdom (UK) | Hungary |
Philippines | Zambia |
FAQs
What is dual citizenship?
Dual citizenship, or dual nationality, means a person is a citizen of two countries simultaneously, enjoying the rights and responsibilities of both.
Which countries allow dual citizenship?
Many countries allow dual citizenship, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Philippines, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. Policies vary, so it’s essential to check each country’s laws.
Can I have dual citizenship with the US?
Yes, the US allows dual citizenship. Countries like Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, Philippines, and Germany also permit dual citizenship with the US.
Which countries do not allow dual citizenship?
Countries such as India, China, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Austria, and Norway typically do not permit dual citizenship. Individuals must renounce their previous citizenship when acquiring a new one in these countries.
Can children have dual citizenship?
Yes. Many countries automatically grant dual citizenship if a child is born to parents of different nationalities or born abroad.
Is dual citizenship recognized worldwide?
No. While many countries recognize dual citizenship, others strictly prohibit it. Always check local regulations to avoid losing your original nationality.
How do I renounce my dual citizenship if I need to?
You must submit an application to your country’s government. Procedures and costs vary, so consult the official consulate or embassy.
Which European countries offer easy dual citizenship?
Countries like Ireland, Portugal, Italy, and Spain are known for their favorable dual citizenship policies, often through ancestry or residency.