When a person is legally recognized as a citizen of two countries simultaneously, this is referred to as dual citizenship or dual nationality. Although not all countries allow their citizens to achieve this status, many do.

Do you have any idea?

There are over 100 countries in the world that allow dual citizenship. Some of them allow it outright, while others have predefined criteria that must be met.

Having dual citizenship has numerous advantages and disadvantages. Because it is somewhat complicated, you must exercise caution when applying for it. Your country may forbid it.

What Are the Advantages of Having Dual Citizenship?

You are entitled to several benefits if you are a dual national of two countries. Here are some of the essential advantages of having dual citizenship:

Freedom to work anywhere: Unlike foreigners, who must obtain a work visa to work in a country? You can work anywhere in the country without a work visa if you have dual nationality.

There is no need to reapply for a visa: If you intend to stay in another country for an extended period, say a year or more, you will not need permission to return. You can quickly return if you have dual citizenship.

Family support: If you are a citizen of a foreign country other than your own, you can assist your family members in obtaining citizenship in that country. This includes your parents, siblings, and children.

Dual Passports: If you are a dual citizen of two countries, you can carry two passports. This simplifies a lot of things for you. For example, if you are a dual citizen of Canada and Australia,

• you can travel to both countries without having to go through the lengthy and stressful immigration process. No one will inquire about the purpose of your visit or any long-term visa.
• You can visit your family whenever you want because you will not need permission to enter the country.

Security: One benefit of dual citizenship is the ability to seek refuge in another country while dealing with political and social issues in one's home country.

Healthcare: Everyone's health is their number one priority. And many countries around the world have the best healthcare facilities. So, if you have dual citizenship in any of those countries, you can use that country's healthcare facilities.

Education: Having dual citizenship allows you to send your children to the country's best schools, colleges, and universities.

For example, if a country has the best educational system in the world, you can apply for citizenship in that country in addition to your own. As a result, please take advantage of their educational sector.

How to Apply for Dual Citizenship

You must have decided to apply for dual citizenship because you know the concept, drawbacks, and benefits.

There is no single way to obtain dual citizenship; you can obtain it in various ways. Let's take a look at some of them.

Note:  Make sure that the country where you are applying for your second citizenship allows dual citizenship. You would require professional assistance for this.

• Birth: After all, it is not up to you, but one can obtain citizenship by birth. There is no extensive paperwork required in this case. If you are born in a foreign country, and your parents are from another, you are automatically granted citizenship of the country in which you were born.

In contrast, if you are born in another country (say, Hungary), but your parents are from another country (say, Canada), you will be eligible for both Hungary and Canadian citizenship.

Note: It should be noted that different countries may have their laws. As a result, they require special consideration and research before applying for citizenship.

Naturalization: If you were not born in the country, you could still be a proud citizen of that country. How? Naturalization!

Naturalization refers to the situation in which an individual must reside in a country for a set period to gain citizenship. The procedure is for those who want to obtain foreign citizenship after completing their studies or gaining professional work experience.

Countries with dual citizenship have their criteria and periods for naturalization; for example,

1. to gain Canadian citizenship, you must live there for at least two years out of every five.
2. The residency requirement for naturalization in the United Kingdom is five years. Before applying for citizenship, a resident must have lived in the country for at least five years.
3. If you have a green card, your permanent residency in the United States should be five years. Furthermore, if you marry a US citizen, you must live in the country for at least three years to obtain US citizenship.

Prepare by carefully examining these details and other conditions.

• Marriage: This is a quicker way to obtain citizenship from a dual citizenship country. If you marry someone from another country, the time it takes to obtain citizenship is significantly reduced. There are, however, some requirements that must be met. For example, if you marry a foreign citizen, you must live in that country for several years before applying for citizenship.

However, if you are married to a Canadian, your spouse can apply for spousal sponsorship. However, the sponsorship may take some time to process. The processing time can range from less than a year to approximately 36 months.

• Investment: Investing in a foreign country is another way to obtain dual citizenship in that country. But how does one go about obtaining dual citizenship through investment?

The procedure is straightforward, but it necessitates a significant financial investment. On the plus side, it shortens the time required to obtain that country's passport.

The process involves investors putting money into the economy of a foreign country. In exchange, the government provides them with citizenship and a second passport. The main variable here is the amount of investment required.

The investment required to obtain citizenship in the country can range from $100,000 to $2,5 million.

Which countries allow dual citizenship?

Here is a list of countries that allow dual citizenship. It should be noted that the countries marked with an asterisk permit dual citizenship only in limited circumstances.

Citizenship by investment programs are available in some of the countries listed above, including Malta and Turkey. Portugal also has a Golden Visa program, which, while not a direct citizenship program, does lead to citizenship after five years.

Frequently Asked Questions on Dual Citizenship

What exactly is dual citizenship?

The term "dual citizenship" refers to having citizenship rights in more than one country.

Is it worthwhile to have dual citizenship?

Having dual citizenship will be well worth the effort.

You can travel and work wherever you want, among other advantages. It is the best option for investors because there are no time requirements. You only need to invest in that country. Yes, dual citizenship is worthwhile.

Is dual nationality a bad thing?

Not from an overall standpoint, there are some disadvantages to dual citizenship. You may be required to pay double taxes after going through a lengthy process to obtain it. Furthermore, you are not permitted to work in government departments in some countries.

Can a person hold three nationalities?

Yes, you can have three or more nationalities. The most important thing is to consider the laws and criteria of the countries you apply to.

Which country makes it the easiest and most challenging to obtain dual nationality?

Argentina, Paraguay, Italy, and Ireland are easy to obtain citizenship in. However, being a citizen of Austria, Japan, or Thailand may be difficult.