What would you do if you could have two passports?
There are many answers to that question. But in short, dual citizenship can offer a lot of benefits.
For example, dual citizenship holders can travel without having to apply for a visa each time. They can also work in any country they choose and are protected by both of their countries’ laws.
However, there are some things to consider before applying for dual citizenship. This guide will explore everything you need to know about dual citizenship in 2022. Keep reading to learn more!
The question of whether or not to pursue dual citizenship is a difficult one, as there are many factors to consider. That said, many benefits come with being a dual citizen. For example, holders of dual citizenship can travel without having to apply for a visa each time. They can also work in any country they choose and are protected by both of their countries’ laws.
Before you make the decision to apply for dual citizenship, it’s important that you understand all there is to know about the process and what it entails. This guide will explore everything you need to know about dual citizenship so that you can make an informed decision .
What is Dual Citizenship (Dual Nationality) and what are the benefits of having it?
Citizenship is a legal relationship between an individual and a nation-state. It can be granted through ancestry, marriage, birth, or naturalization. Dual citizenship, also known as dual nationality, is when a person holds the citizenship of two countries at the same time. This means that they are legally recognized as a citizen of both countries and enjoy all the rights and privileges that come with it such as voting in elections, owning property, or working in either country. When you’re a dual citizen, you may have passports from both your country of origin and your current residence if you’re a dual citizen.
Nonetheless, not every sovereign nation tolerates dual citizenship. For some nations, you must first relinquish your prior passport before they will allow to you obtain theirs. The world’s most challenging countries to earn citizenship always require this caveat. Whether or not it is worth giving up your existing citizenship is contingent on several factors. If, for example, your primary passport hails from a country with extensive travel limitations, then trading it in for a more powerful one makes sense. But usually, having is typically preferable to having just one–or you may also apply for several nationalities and pursue multiple citizenships.
Better security for you and your loved ones and keep them safe.
As the world becomes increasingly unstable, having dual citizenship is essential. Your second passport could mean the difference between being stranded in a country during a crisis or easily escaping to safety. Having a second passport can also protect you if your original national identity puts you at risk, such as during hijacking or kidnapping. Finally, poor government decisions can sometimes lead to civil unrest – as we’ve seen with Brexit – so it’s always good to have a Plan B.
In the event of an international conflict, a second passport let you escape to safety–which is vital because such conflicts could lead to open warfare.
Greater ease of global travel
Some passports are considerably easier to travel with than others. Certain countries, such as Afghanistan, Libya, or Syria, impose tight restrictions on where people may visit without a visa. In contrast, many sovereign nations Japan, Singapore or Portugal grant passport-free access to over 190 nations. Having two nationalities might open up the world for you and allow for hassle-free unrestricted international travel.
More business and employment possibilities are accessible
A second passport gives you the ability to find the greatest job prospects for you and establish business relations as well as meet prospective business partners and negotiate contracts in person by being able to travel around easily. Another perk of having dual citizenship is that you can much more easily establish a business where your other passport is from. This comes with plenty of tax benefits too.
Tax planning with more flexibility
If you have dual citizenship, it’s simpler to change your tax residency between countries. For example, let’s say you have earned a large sum from cryptocurrency and now you are anxious about the taxes you will incur when cashing out. Some countries – Portugal and Turkey, for instance – don’t make their residents pay taxes on crypto gains. In this case, dual citizenship provides a failsafe way into an alternate jurisdiction.
A life of improved quality
Access to top-tier state healthcare, renowned education, a secure and peaceful environment, and increased job opportunities, investment, and entrepreneurship prospects are only a few examples of how dual citizenship can upgrade your life. If you obtain dual citizenship from an EU/EEA country, you will be eligible for an EU passport that allows you to live, work, study or retire in 30 economically prosperous and politically stable nations without the need for visas or work permits.
Different national identities
A passport encompasses your whole identity and is a clear indication of who you are. Having two nationalities gives you the option to choose an alternate national identity, which may be useful if you don’t like your original one or feel that it no longer represents your beliefs or reflects your morals.
What are the drawbacks of dual citizenship?
Dual citizenship has several advantages, but there are certain situations where it can be disadvantageous. Anyone who holds a US passport is required to file taxes in the United States each year, regardless of their real-world residence. Natively, nations still impose taxes on their citizens; however, this is becoming increasingly uncommon.
Another disadvantage that come with dual citizenship, such as being required to serve mandatorily in the military of certain countries like Turkey, Israel and Greece.Additionally, having dual citizenship does not always mean you will be safer while abroad – it all depends on the country you are visiting and whether or not they recognize your second citizenship. For example Iran does not recognize dual nationality, so if you hold Iranian and another citizenship, inside Iran’s borders you will only ever be considered Iranian. Unfortunately, this has caused problems for people in the past who were unaware of this policy, so it is essential to be mindful of these things before deciding to obtain dual citizenship.
How to become a dual citizen
There are a variety of ways to become a dual citizen. Some rely on factors such as birthplace and ancestry, over which you have no control. However, others can be pursued proactively and leveraged deliberately as part of a plan to expand your global reach. Let’s examine the various paths to obtaining dual citizenship.
By Descendancy
Obtaining dual citizenship through descent is generally a simple and inexpensive process so it is a popular choice. Depending on which country you want to attain citizenship, you may do so if your parents and/or grandparents were nationals of that nation. However, unless you have ancestors from another nation or meet other specific requirements, there’s not much you can do to establish dual citizenship.
Jus soli – Taxation on landed property and the income from it, dates back to Roman times.
The Latin phrase jus soli means “right of soil.” You have the right of citizenship in a country if you were born on its soil, i.e., within its borders, under jus soli. The nationality of your parents is unimportant when it comes to applying for jus soli status. The United States and Canada are two examples of countries that utilize this method. It’s less popular than the second approach, jus sanguinis (right of blood), though.
Jus sanguinis – the principle of citizenship being determined by one’s parentage rather than the place of birth.
The second method is called jus sanguinis, which translates to “right of blood.” With this strategy, you can become a citizen of the country where your parents are citizens. It doesn’t matter where you were born. If you’re already born though, trying to get dual citizenship through birth typically isn’t the best choice. Although, if done correctly it might be a successful way to obtain double citizenship for any children you have in the future.
By Marriage
If you’re married to (or in a long-term relationship with) a citizen of another country, that’s another possible avenue to dual citizenship. In general, after marrying one of the citizens, you can apply for citizenship in their country–though keep in mind timelines may differ from nation to nation. That said, some countries like the US and UK have pretty stringent criteria meant to test how real the marriage is; they do this as part of the fight against illegal sham marriages done purely so people can get passports or residency permits.
By Naturilization
It’s generally advised that those without marriage or ancestry as a safety net obtain dual citizenship through naturalization. It generally entails moving to your target nation, securing lawful residency, and living there long enough to meet requirements and qualify for citizenship. Luckily, there are multiple ways to get legal residency status. One such way is finding employment in a foreign country and being sponsored by your employer.
Or, you could obtain residency if you have enough recurring income to support yourself without working, like a retirement fund or stocks. A popular example of this type of ‘passive income’ residency is the Portugal Freelancer or Retirement visa.
In some countries, people can acquire citizenship by investment, in which they are granted citizenship in return for a large financial investment.
Some countries also offer the option of citizenship by investment, where they grant citizenship in return for a major investment in the country.
In the European Union, citizenship by investment schemes are falling out of favor, partly due to security and money-laundering concerns.
Instead, residency by investment schemes are becoming more common, which grant residency first then allow the holder to apply for citizenship after the required amount of years.
For example, Portugal’s Golden Visa program allows investors to get residency in Portugal with minimal physical stay requirements. After five years, they can apply for citizenship of Portugal.
In the European Union, residency by investment schemes are becoming more common than citizenship by investment schemes. This is due to security and money-laundering concerns with citizenship programs.
Portugal’s Golden Visa program is an example of a successful residency by investment scheme. It allows investors to get residency in Portugal with minimal physical stay requirements. After five years, they can apply for Portuguese citizenship if they wish.
Citizenship by investment programs are on the decline in Europe, owing to security and financial integrity concerns. Instead, residency by investment plans are becoming more popular, which give residency first and then enable applicants to apply for citizenship after the required period. Portugal’s Golden Visa program is one example of a residence-by-investment plan that allows investors to obtain Portuguese residency with little physical presence requirements. After five years, they have the option to become Portuguese citizens.
The Turkish citizenship-by-investment program is one of the easiest ways to acquire citizenship outside of the EU zone. You can obtain citizenship by purchasing a real estate property valued at minimum 400,000 USD.
How to become an EU citizen
People from all corners of the world fervently desire EU citizenship.
You can travel freely throughout the EU, EEA country, and Switzerland, as well as have the right to live and work there, study and retire there, do business there, etc. in any of them. In a way it’s like having thirty passports in one.
If you have a passport from any European Union country, EEA country, or Switzerland, you’re able to move throughout all the other countries in those groups with some of the same rights as residents including working and studying. Essentially, it’s like having thirty passports in one.
What is the most straightforward way to acquire EU citizenship?
We think that Portugal is one of the simplest countries in Europe to obtain EU citizenship.
The following are some of the reasons why:
- Just five years of residency is required before you can apply for citizenship.
- A variety of Portugal residency options to fit the needs of remote workers, retirees and investors
- Keep your original passport since you can have dual citizenship.
- The language requirements for this position are minimal, needing only an A2 level of Portuguese.
- With the NHR program, you may take advantage of generous tax benefits while counting up the years to citizenship.
- Minimum stay requirements, especially the Golden Visa’s, are reasonable.
Other countries provide simple routes to EU citizenship. For example, Malta, where you may buy Maltese citizenship for around €750,000 if you make a donation. Another interesting option is Spain, which allows foreign spouses of Spanish nationals to apply for Spanish citizenship after just one year. However, bear in mind that Spain usually does not allow dual citizenship.
In Italy, one of the most extensive citizen-by-descent access paths in the EU goes back as far as the great-grandparents. You might be able to apply for Italian citizenship if you can prove that your Italian great-grandparents had citizenship in Italy and fulfill other conditions.
If you’re a UK citizen, becoming an Irish citizen may be a smart choice since you won’t need to obtain a visa or provide evidence of income to acquire residency status. Ireland’s citizenship process is quick and simple, taking only five years and requiring no language skills other than English.