Dual Citizenship: Rules, Benefits, and Countries That Allow It
Dual citizenship is the legal status of being a citizen of two countries at the same time. It provides expanded rights, including the ability to live, work, and study in both states, while also imposing obligations such as taxes, civic duties, and sometimes military service. Around the world, the approach to dual citizenship differs: some countries welcome it, others restrict it, and some forbid it entirely.
What Is Dual Citizenship
Dual citizenship can be acquired in several ways. The most common case is a combination of the principles of jus soli (right of the soil) and jus sanguinis (right of blood). For example, a child born in the United States to Italian parents may automatically receive both U.S. and Italian citizenship. This happens without additional applications.
Another path is naturalization. When someone resides long enough in a new country, they may apply for citizenship. Some states allow them to keep their original passport, while others require renunciation. This difference shows how diverse national approaches can be.
It is also important to distinguish dual from multiple citizenship. Dual means holding exactly two nationalities, while multiple implies three or more. The more passports a person has, the more complex the legal issues become, especially regarding taxation, military service, and inheritance.
Advantages of Dual Citizenship
Dual citizenship offers many benefits. The first is freedom of movement. Citizens of two countries can live and work in both, and sometimes in entire regions (for example, EU citizens can move across all member states). This expands opportunities for careers, education, and family life.
The second benefit is access to social services. Dual citizens may study at public universities, receive healthcare, and enjoy pension rights in both countries. Families particularly value the chance to secure better education and healthcare for their children.
The third advantage is legal and financial security. A second passport is often a form of insurance in times of instability. Investors and entrepreneurs benefit as well, since dual citizenship can simplify property purchases, business registration, and banking access.
- Right to live and work in two countries.
- Access to healthcare, education, and social benefits in both states.
- Freedom of travel with wider visa-free access.
- Stronger security in unstable political or economic environments.
- Business and investment opportunities in multiple markets.
Disadvantages and Challenges of Dual Citizenship
Despite many advantages, dual citizenship can present challenges. The first issue is taxation. Some countries, like the United States, tax their citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence. Without treaties on double taxation, this can become a heavy financial burden.
The second issue is military service. In states with compulsory service, citizens may be obligated to serve even if they hold another nationality. This can create conflicts and practical difficulties, especially for young men of draft age.
The third issue is restrictions on political or government careers. Some states do not allow dual citizens to hold sensitive public positions, such as members of parliament or diplomats, due to loyalty concerns.
- Double taxation in certain jurisdictions.
- Compulsory military service in both countries.
- Restrictions on holding public office or security-related positions.
Dual Citizenship in Israel
Israel officially recognizes dual citizenship. Under the Law of Return, Jews and their descendants can obtain Israeli nationality without being required to renounce their original citizenship. This policy is one of the most open in the world and is actively used by the Jewish diaspora worldwide.
However, citizenship also brings responsibilities. Dual citizens in Israel may still be subject to mandatory military service if they fall within the eligible age range. They are also expected to participate in elections and are liable to pay taxes on income earned within Israel. Non-residents, however, are generally taxed only on income generated inside the country.
For many immigrants, Israel represents a country where dual citizenship is not just permitted but encouraged as a bridge to maintain strong ties with the diaspora while integrating new citizens into the state.
Countries That Allow Dual Citizenship
Many states around the world openly recognize dual citizenship. These countries consider multiple nationalities a way to embrace globalization, attract investment, and maintain connections with their diaspora. Below is a list of examples where dual citizenship is allowed without significant restrictions.
In Europe, countries like the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, and Sweden fully permit dual nationality. In the Americas, examples include the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. In Asia and Oceania, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, and of course Israel are among the most permissive. In Africa, South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt also accept dual nationality.
This means that citizens of these countries can freely acquire another passport without losing their original nationality. In most cases, there are no penalties or forced renunciation requirements, making these states particularly attractive for those seeking a second citizenship.
- United Kingdom
- France
- Italy
- Ireland
- Portugal
- Sweden
- United States
- Canada
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Chile
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Israel
- South Africa
- Nigeria
- Egypt
Countries That Do Not Allow Dual Citizenship
While many countries permit or tolerate dual citizenship, there are also states where it is either strongly restricted or completely prohibited. In these jurisdictions, individuals are often required to renounce their original nationality when acquiring a new one. The rationale behind such restrictions is usually tied to national security, political loyalty, or the desire to maintain clear citizenship structures.
In Asia, some of the strictest examples include China, India, Japan, and Singapore. These countries view nationality as a single and exclusive bond between the individual and the state. Voluntary acquisition of another passport often leads to automatic loss of the original citizenship or the requirement to choose one nationality by adulthood.
In Europe, certain countries also maintain restrictions. For instance, Austria and the Netherlands generally require individuals to give up their prior nationality when naturalizing, although exceptions exist. Microstates such as Andorra and San Marino also prohibit dual nationality. In Africa, Botswana, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe impose similar restrictions. In Latin America, Cuba is a notable example of a country that does not formally recognize dual citizenship.
- China
- India
- Japan
- Singapore
- Austria
- Netherlands (restricted, exceptions exist)
- Andorra
- San Marino
- Cuba
- Botswana
- Ethiopia
- Zimbabwe
In these states, the acquisition of a new nationality is often considered incompatible with retaining the original one. Therefore, anyone seeking to obtain citizenship in these countries—or nationals of these countries considering naturalization abroad—must weigh the consequences carefully, as it may lead to the loss of their birth citizenship.
Global Dual Citizenship Status Table
| Country | Status | Notes |
| Afghanistan | Restricted | Recognition inconsistent; documentation challenges. |
| Albania | Allowed | Multiple nationality recognized. |
| Algeria | Allowed | Permissive; certain offices restricted. |
| Andorra | Not permitted | Requires single nationality; loss on voluntary acquisition of another. |
| Angola | Allowed | Permissive framework. |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Allowed | Dual nationality permitted; CBI program exists. |
| Argentina | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Armenia | Allowed | Recognized; notification required. |
| Australia | Allowed | Fully permissive. |
| Austria | Restricted | Generally requires renunciation; exceptions possible. |
| Azerbaijan | Not permitted | Second nationality not recognized. |
| Bahamas | Restricted | Adults must usually elect one nationality. |
| Bahrain | Restricted | Highly controlled. |
| Bangladesh | Allowed | Dual nationality recognized for NRBs. |
| Barbados | Allowed | Dual citizenship permitted. |
| Belarus | Restricted | Declaration required. |
| Belgium | Allowed | No renunciation required. |
| Belize | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Benin | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Bhutan | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Bolivia | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Restricted | Entity-level treaties matter. |
| Botswana | Not permitted | Adults must elect one nationality. |
| Brazil | Allowed | Fully permissive. |
| Brunei | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Bulgaria | Allowed | Permissive; diaspora use common. |
| Burkina Faso | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Burundi | Allowed | Dual citizenship recognized. |
| Cambodia | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Cameroon | Restricted | Recognition limited. |
| Canada | Allowed | Fully permissive. |
| Cape Verde | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Central African Republic | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Chad | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Chile | Allowed | Dual citizenship permitted. |
| China | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Colombia | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Comoros | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Congo (DRC) | Restricted | Recognition limited. |
| Costa Rica | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Croatia | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Cuba | Not permitted | Does not recognize second nationality. |
| Cyprus | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Czechia | Allowed | Permissive since 2014. |
| Denmark | Allowed | Permissive since 2015. |
| Djibouti | Restricted | Limited recognition. |
| Dominica | Allowed | Permissive; CBI program exists. |
| Dominican Republic | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Ecuador | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Egypt | Allowed | Permissive; notification required. |
| El Salvador | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Equatorial Guinea | Restricted | Conditional treaties apply. |
| Eritrea | Allowed | Recognized; diaspora obligations exist. |
| Estonia | Restricted | Dual at birth recognized; adults must choose. |
| Eswatini | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Ethiopia | Restricted | Special “origin” ID available. |
| Fiji | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Finland | Allowed | Permissive. |
| France | Allowed | No renunciation required. |
| Gabon | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Gambia | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Georgia | Restricted | Requires presidential approval. |
| Germany | Allowed | Liberalized in 2024. |
| Ghana | Allowed | Dual nationality card required. |
| Greece | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Grenada | Allowed | Permissive; CBI program exists. |
| Guatemala | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Guinea | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Guinea-Bissau | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Guyana | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Haiti | Allowed | Permissive; diaspora widely uses dual nationality. |
| Honduras | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Hungary | Allowed | Simplified route for ethnic Hungarians abroad. |
| Iceland | Allowed | Multiple nationality permitted. |
| India | Not permitted | No dual citizenship; OCI card available instead. |
| Indonesia | Restricted | Children may hold dual nationality until 18, then must choose. |
| Iran | Restricted | Second nationality not fully recognized domestically. |
| Iraq | Allowed | Permissive, but restrictions on certain offices. |
| Ireland | Allowed | Strong descent provisions; dual nationality common. |
| Israel | Allowed | Law of Return grants citizenship without renunciation. |
| Italy | Allowed | Jus sanguinis transmission; no renunciation needed. |
| Jamaica | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Japan | Not permitted | Dual at birth tolerated, but adults must choose. |
| Jordan | Allowed | Permissive; certain restrictions for office holders. |
| Kazakhstan | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Kenya | Allowed | Permissive; notification recommended. |
| Kiribati | Restricted | Recognition limited. |
| Kuwait | Not permitted | Prohibits dual nationality. |
| Kyrgyzstan | Restricted | Permits dual nationality only with Russia by treaty. |
| Laos | Restricted | Recognition limited. |
| Latvia | Restricted | Permits dual nationality for EU/NATO citizens and diaspora. |
| Lebanon | Allowed | Widely practiced among diaspora. |
| Lesotho | Not permitted | Dual nationality generally not recognized. |
| Liberia | Allowed | Recent reforms recognize dual nationality for diaspora. |
| Libya | Restricted | Second nationality not fully recognized. |
| Liechtenstein | Restricted | Strict controls; permission required. |
| Lithuania | Restricted | Permits dual nationality in defined cases (e.g., exile descendants). |
| Luxembourg | Allowed | Permissive; descent-based citizenship common. |
| Madagascar | Restricted | Rules evolving; limited recognition. |
| Malawi | Allowed | Recent reforms allow dual nationality. |
| Malaysia | Not permitted | Prohibits dual nationality. |
| Maldives | Restricted | Limited recognition; permission required. |
| Mali | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Malta | Allowed | Permissive; also offers investment citizenship. |
| Marshall Islands | Restricted | Limited recognition. |
| Mauritania | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Mauritius | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Mexico | Allowed | Widely recognizes dual nationality. |
| Micronesia | Restricted | Limited recognition; compact agreements apply. |
| Moldova | Allowed | Permissive; common in diaspora. |
| Monaco | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Mongolia | Restricted | Limited; requires special approval. |
| Montenegro | Restricted | Allowed in selective cases (diaspora, treaties). |
| Morocco | Allowed | Permissive; widely practiced. |
| Mozambique | Restricted | Recognition evolving; check current law. |
| Myanmar | Not permitted | Prohibits dual nationality. |
| Namibia | Restricted | Limited recognition; legal challenges ongoing. |
| Nauru | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Nepal | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Netherlands | Restricted | Generally requires renunciation; exceptions exist. |
| New Zealand | Allowed | Fully permissive. |
| Nicaragua | Allowed | Permissive; treaties matter. |
| Niger | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Nigeria | Allowed | Dual nationality recognized; registration required. |
| North Korea | Not permitted | Does not recognize dual nationality. |
| North Macedonia | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Norway | Allowed | Permissive since 2020 reforms. |
| Oman | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Pakistan | Restricted | Dual nationality only with select countries (UK, USA, etc.). |
| Palau | Restricted | Limited; recognition varies. |
| Panama | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Papua New Guinea | Allowed | Permissive with registration. |
| Paraguay | Allowed | Permissive; territorial tax system. |
| Peru | Allowed | Permissive; widely practiced. |
| Philippines | Allowed | Permits reacquisition of nationality for former citizens. |
| Poland | Allowed | Permissive; citizens treated as Polish in-country. |
| Portugal | Allowed | Permissive; popular for diaspora and descendants. |
| Qatar | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Romania | Allowed | Permissive; restoration provisions. |
| Russia | Allowed | Permissive; notification of second nationality required. |
| Rwanda | Allowed | Permissive; diaspora policy active. |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Allowed | Permissive; CBI program exists. |
| Saint Lucia | Allowed | Permissive; CBI program exists. |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Samoa | Allowed | Permissive. |
| San Marino | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Sao Tome and Principe | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Saudi Arabia | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited, rare exceptions by decree. |
| Senegal | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Serbia | Allowed | Permissive; diaspora-friendly. |
| Seychelles | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Sierra Leone | Allowed | Permissive; diaspora restoration allowed. |
| Singapore | Not permitted | Adults must elect one nationality; children must choose. |
| Slovakia | Restricted | Exceptions for EU/NATO citizens; reforms ongoing. |
| Slovenia | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Solomon Islands | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Somalia | Allowed | Permissive; recognized in constitution. |
| South Africa | Allowed | Permissive; retention approval historically required. |
| South Korea | Restricted | Allowed for talent, marriage, and birth cases. |
| South Sudan | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Spain | Restricted | Dual nationality allowed with Ibero-American countries, Portugal, Andorra, Philippines, Equatorial Guinea. |
| Sri Lanka | Allowed | Permissive; approval process required. |
| Sudan | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Suriname | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Sweden | Allowed | Fully permissive. |
| Switzerland | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Syria | Allowed | Dual nationality recognized, but military service applies. |
| Tajikistan | Restricted | Dual nationality only with Russia by treaty. |
| Tanzania | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Thailand | Allowed | Dual nationality tolerated in practice. |
| Timor-Leste | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Togo | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Tonga | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Tunisia | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Turkey | Allowed | Dual nationality recognized; notification required. |
| Turkmenistan | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Tuvalu | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Uganda | Allowed | Permissive; declaration process exists. |
| Ukraine | Restricted | Law evolving; official policy prohibits, but reforms discussed. |
| United Arab Emirates | Restricted | Permits dual nationality in limited cases. |
| United Kingdom | Allowed | Fully permissive. |
| United States | Allowed | Fully permissive; worldwide taxation applies. |
| Uruguay | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Uzbekistan | Not permitted | Dual nationality prohibited. |
| Vanuatu | Allowed | Permissive; CBI program exists. |
| Vatican City | Restricted | Nationality tied to church office. |
| Venezuela | Allowed | Permissive. |
| Vietnam | Allowed | Permissive with registration. |
| Yemen | Restricted | Limited recognition. |
| Zambia | Allowed | Permissive; diaspora reforms introduced. |
| Zimbabwe | Restricted | Constitutional provisions evolving; dual nationality partly recognized. |
Is Dual Citizenship Right for You?
Dual citizenship is one of the strongest tools for global mobility and personal security. It gives rights across two jurisdictions, expands freedom of travel, and offers access to multiple systems of education, healthcare, and economic opportunity. For families, students, investors, and retirees, it can be a life-changing advantage.
At the same time, it comes with duties. Taxes, military service, or restrictions on holding certain offices may create challenges. Each country has its own rules, and reforms occur regularly. Before applying, it is essential to research carefully and, if necessary, consult qualified legal and tax experts in both jurisdictions.
With proper planning, dual citizenship can be an extraordinary asset. It is not only about holding two passports, but about securing options, resilience, and opportunities for the future in an increasingly interconnected world.