Dual Citizenship Acceptance: The 10 Countries That Allow Multiple Passports

United States of America: The Land of Expanding Opportunities

The United States stands as one of the most attractive destinations for dual citizenship seekers, offering unprecedented freedom and opportunity. As a U.S.

citizen, you may naturalize in another country without risking your U.S. citizenship, while the United States allows dual citizenship.

This liberal approach has made America a magnet for global citizens who want to maintain their birth citizenship while embracing American opportunities. Americans can have dual nationality with 63 countries, such as the UK, Australia, and Canada.

There are several ways to obtain a second passport: marriage, descent, naturalization, and investment. The flexibility of U.S.

dual citizenship policy means that American citizens can explore global opportunities without sacrificing their homeland ties. However, there's a catch – the United States obliges people with dual citizenship to pay taxes, even if they live in another country, making it one of the few nations with citizenship-based taxation regardless of residence.

Canada: The Progressive Northern Neighbor

Canada has emerged as a beacon of progressive citizenship policy, warmly embracing multiple nationality arrangements. Canada allows you to have multiple citizenships while keeping your Canadian citizenship.

This open-minded approach reflects Canada's multicultural identity and recognition that global citizens contribute to its diverse society. What makes Canada particularly attractive is its practical approach to dual citizenship management.

If you are a Canadian with dual citizenship, you need to carry a valid Canadian passport to return to Canada by air. Canadian dual citizens enjoy comprehensive benefits including access to universal healthcare, excellent education systems, and the ability to sponsor family members for permanent residence.

The country's stable political environment and strong international reputation make Canadian citizenship a valuable asset for global mobility.

Germany: The Recent Revolutionary Change

Germany has undergone a dramatic transformation in its dual citizenship policies, marking one of the most significant changes in European nationality law. As of June 27, 2024, an Act to modernize the Nationality Act (StARModG) provides that Germany now accepts dual citizenship in all cases.

This groundbreaking change has revolutionized opportunities for millions of potential German citizens worldwide. The transformation is particularly remarkable considering Germany's previously restrictive stance.

Until June 26, 2024, Germany restricted dual citizenship. Since August 2007, in cases of naturalization, Germany accepted dual citizenship if the other citizenship was either one of an EU member country or Swiss citizenship.

This new policy opens doors for countless individuals who previously faced impossible choices between their heritage and German citizenship. Germany adopted a new law in 2024 allowing dual citizenship, making naturalisation more attractive to non-EU nationals.

Citizenship by naturalisation is granted after 5 years of legal residence, or 3 years in special integration cases.

United Kingdom: The Brexit-Era Flexibility

Despite Brexit complications, the United Kingdom maintains its liberal stance on dual citizenship, offering flexibility that many other European nations don't provide. The United Kingdom allows dual citizenship.

Dual citizenship (also known as dual nationality) is allowed in the UK. This policy has become increasingly valuable as British citizens seek to maintain EU access through second passports while retaining their UK nationality.

The UK's approach to dual citizenship reflects its historical role as a global maritime power with citizens scattered across continents. British dual citizens can enjoy the best of both worlds – maintaining access to NHS healthcare, participating in democratic processes, and leveraging the UK's strong international relationships.

The flexibility extends to various acquisition methods, including naturalization, marriage, and descent, making it accessible to diverse applicant profiles.

Italy: The European Gateway of Ancestral Ties

Italy represents one of the most generous dual citizenship policies in the world, particularly for those with Italian ancestry. Italy allows dual citizenship.

Italian citizens can hold multiple nationalities without losing their Italian citizenship. This openness has made Italy a preferred destination for dual citizenship seekers, especially those with European heritage.

Italy considers anyone with Italian bloodlines an Italian citizen, even before you apply to claim an ancestral passport. As long as you can prove your Italian ancestry, you can become an Italian citizen.

Italy does not require you to renounce other citizenships when you follow this procedure, or when you become a naturalised citizen through residence. The citizenship by descent program is particularly attractive, allowing individuals to trace their lineage back multiple generations.

Italian citizenship provides automatic EU citizenship, granting access to live, work, and study across 27 European Union member states.

Ireland: The Celtic Connection to Global Freedom

Ireland's dual citizenship policy combines accessibility with powerful benefits, making it one of the most sought-after second passports globally. Ireland does allow dual citizenship.

Like Israel and Italy, Ireland allows those with Irish ancestors to claim an Irish passport. It's one of the best citizenship-by-descent passports.

The popularity of Irish citizenship is evident in the numbers – there are some 14 million Irish passports in circulation, despite the country having a much, much smaller population. What makes Irish citizenship particularly valuable is its combination of EU access and English-speaking culture.

Ireland allows and encourages dual citizenship, but a naturalized citizen can lose Irish citizenship again when naturalized in another country. Irish citizens enjoy visa-free travel to over 180 countries, access to EU healthcare systems, and the ability to live and work throughout Europe.

The citizenship by descent program is generous, extending to grandchildren of Irish citizens, making it accessible to millions of people worldwide.

Portugal: The Golden Visa Gateway

Portugal has positioned itself as a premier destination for dual citizenship through its combination of ancestral rights and investment programs. Portugal does allow dual citizenship.

Nationals are not required to abandon their birth nationality, which makes it straightforward for eligible foreigners to seek Portuguese citizenship without losing their original passports. This flexibility has made Portugal increasingly popular among global citizens seeking European access.

Portugal consistently holds one of the world's strongest passports. In 2025, its passport improved to 3rd place in many global indices, granting hassle-free or visa-on-arrival entry to approximately 178 to 179 countries.

The country's Golden Visa program provides an attractive pathway to citizenship – Individuals without Portuguese ancestry can obtain Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation in five years. A key advantage of this pathway is that not all applicants are required to live in Portugal full-time during this period.

Holders of the Portugal Golden Visa, who gain residency through an investment of at least €250,000, are only obligated to spend 7 days per year in the country.

New Zealand: The Pacific Paradise of Multiple Citizenship

New Zealand embraces dual citizenship with characteristic Kiwi pragmatism, offering one of the most straightforward multiple citizenship policies globally. New Zealand allows dual citizenship or multiple citizenship — but some other countries do not.

You can be a citizen of New Zealand and another country at the same time — unless the other country does not allow it. This practical approach recognizes the reality of global mobility while respecting other nations' sovereignty.

New Zealand allows dual and even multiple citizenship. You can be a citizen of New Zealand and any other country that allows dual citizenship at the same time.

New Zealand's citizenship offers access to a peaceful, stable society with excellent healthcare, education, and natural beauty. The country's strategic location in the Pacific, combined with its strong international relationships, makes New Zealand citizenship valuable for global mobility and as a safe haven option.

Australia: The Southern Hemisphere Powerhouse

Australia maintains a robust dual citizenship policy that reflects its multicultural society and global connections. United States, Canada, all EU countries and Switzerland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore) issue permanent residency status to foreigners deemed eligible, and Australia allows dual citizenship for both naturalized citizens and those born with multiple nationalities.

Australian dual citizenship provides access to one of the world's strongest economies, universal healthcare through Medicare, and excellent educational opportunities. Many Australians hold two or more nationalities.

If you're travelling to the country of your other nationality, find out how your citizenship can impact you. The practical benefits include visa-free travel to over 180 countries, access to Australian consular services worldwide, and the ability to live and work freely in both Australia and the other country of citizenship.

Canada: The North American Alternative

Canada's approach to dual citizenship extends beyond mere tolerance to active support for multiple nationality arrangements. Canada allows you to have multiple citizenships while keeping your Canadian citizenship.

However, not all countries do allow this. This policy reflects Canada's understanding that global citizens often maintain strong ties to multiple nations and communities.

The practical advantages of Canadian dual citizenship include access to universal healthcare, world-class education systems, and one of the world's most stable political environments. Moving to a safer country of second citizenship, such as Portugal or Ireland, may increase personal security.

Both countries rank in the top 10 safest nations, have low crime rates, and offer political stability. Canadian citizenship also provides excellent global mobility, with visa-free access to over 180 countries and territories worldwide.

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