There are 123 countries that allow dual citizenship in 2026. Dual citizenship offers advantages in terms of tax planning, international travel, and benefits like healthcare.
The benefits that dual citizenship provides can only be accessed if your home country allows it. We have broken down the countries that allow dual citizenship by region, so you can find out whether your nation is on the list.
Additionally, we discuss more benefits that dual citizenship can provide, the means of obtaining it, and the regulations that you should be aware of.
Key Takeaways
- Roughly half of the countries in the world allow dual citizenship, with the practice being more common than not.
- Countries like the USA, the UK, and Portugal allow dual citizenship while countries like Austria, India, and Japan do not.
- Belgium, New Zealand, and Sweden are just some of the countries that allow dual citizenship with the US.
- Dual citizenship can be acquired in several ways, like by birth, by descent, and by investment.
- Holding two citizenships conveys many benefits including enhanced visa-free travel, better education, and more affordable healthcare.
What is Dual Citizenship?
Dual citizenship is when one person holds two citizenships simultaneously under each country’s nationality law. Countries set their own rules regarding dual citizenship like how it’s acquired and whether it’s allowed at all. Typical citizenship routes include citizenship by descent, birth, naturalization after a period of residency, marriage, and citizenship by investment.
Most nations allow multiple citizenships across most routes. Others tend to be more permissive toward people who have been born with two nationalities. However, some countries may restrict the ability to acquire a second citizenship for those who have gone the naturalization route.
How many countries allow dual citizenship in 2026?
123 countries allow dual citizenship in and this is roughly half of all countries. Prominent nations that allow dual citizenship include the UK, the USA, Germany, France, Canada, and Australia.
Many nations do allow dual citizenship although some of them only allow it under specific or limited conditions. Read on to discover all the countries that allow dual citizenship, seperated by region.
Countries That Allow Dual Citizenship By Region
The countries that allow dual citizenship are displayed below, broken up by region for readability. Those looking to obtain dual citizenship should consider the following lists carefully.
Americas
The Americas are broadly permissive. Some countries still require notifications, have passport-use rules (enter/exit on national passport), or give special treatment for birth citizens over naturalized citizens.
| Status | Countries |
|---|---|
| Generally allow dual citizenship | Argentina Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Panama Peru United States Uruguay Venezuela |
| Notable restrictions / conditional / no | Guyana (constitutional limits/fringe cases) Nicaragua (ended dual citizenship in 2025) Paraguay (treaty/reciprocity basis, often tolerated in practice) Suriname (generally does not recognize with very narrow exceptions) |
Europe
Europe is broadly permissive, but many countries still require residency, language/civics tests, and/or notifications after acquiring another citizenship.
| Status | Countries |
|---|---|
| Generally allow dual citizenship | Albania Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czechia (Czech Republic) Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kosovo Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom |
| Notable restrictions / conditional / no | Austria (generally no, narrow exceptions apply or permission needed) Andorra (restrictive) Estonia (restrictive especially for naturalized adults) Liechtenstein (permission-based or limited) Monaco (restrictive) San Marino (restrictive) Ukraine (law does not recognize dual citizenship but practice varies) |
Asia and Middle East
These regions often have more nuanced or changing regimes such as diaspora carve-outs, partner lists, or discretionary recognition. Requirements often include notification, security screening, or limits on public office.
| Status | Countries |
|---|---|
| Generally allow dual citizenship | Armenia Cambodia Georgia Hong Kong SAR Iraq Israel Jordan Kyrgyzstan Lebanon Mongolia Pakistan (with specified partner states) Philippines (reacquisition for former citizens) South Korea (conditional) Sri Lanka Taiwan (Republic of China) Thailand (practice-dependent) Türkiye United Arab Emirates (discretionary/exceptional grants) Vietnam (recognized in certain cases) |
| Notable restrictions / conditional / no | Azerbaijan Bahrain Bhutan Brunei China India Indonesia Iran Japan (no for adults, limited grace for youth) Kazakhstan Kuwait Laos Malaysia Myanmar Nepal North Korea Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore Uzbekistan |
Africa
Many African countries recognize dual nationality, but require declarations/retention letters, and may limit voting, security-sensitive roles, or public office for dual nationals.
| Status | Countries |
|---|---|
| Generally allow dual citizenship | Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Côte d’Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt, Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini (Swaziland) Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda São Tomé & Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe |
| Notable restrictions / conditional / no | Cameroon Tanzania |
Oceania
Several states explicitly tolerate multiple citizenships. Microstates often have permission-based regimes or unique constitutional clauses.
| Status | Countries |
|---|---|
| Generally allow dual citizenship | Australia Fiji Kiribati New Zealand Papua New Guinea Samoa Tuvalu Vanuatu |
| Notable restrictions / conditional / no | Nauru (case-by-case confirmation advised) Solomon Islands (historically restrictive) Tonga (permission needed or conditions apply) |
Caribbean
Several Caribbean countries run Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs and most permit dual nationality, however program specifics and due diligence differ by country. Retention of other citizenship(s) usually allowed but this is subject to your other nation’s laws.
| Status | Countries |
|---|---|
| Generally allow dual citizenship | Antigua & Barbuda The Bahamas Barbados Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Haiti Jamaica Saint Kitts & Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad & Tobago |
| Notable restrictions / conditional / no | None |
Countries That Allow Dual Citizenship with the US
The United States permits dual nationality, and many partner countries do as well. In practice, that means Americans can often naturalize abroad or claim a second nationality by descent or marriage without losing US citizenship, so long as the other country also allows it.
Popular US Dual Citizenship Pairings: By Region
This list highlights widely used combinations for Americans through descent, naturalization, marriage, or investment.
Europe
- Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Poland, Greece, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Malta, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria: broadly allow dual nationality with typical residency and/or language requirements for naturalization but citizenship by descent routes tend to be common.
- Germany: now permits multiple citizenship under a 2024 reform, general residency track has been reduced to 5 years with separate fast-track debates that don’t affect the dual-nationality permission.
- United Kingdom: allows dual/multiple citizenship.
Some microstates or special cases (Austria, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino) remain restrictive or are purely permission-based.
Americas
- Canada, Mexico: popular for proximity and family ties. Dual nationality allowed.
- Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru: broadly permissive; widespread citizenship by birth can create dual status for US-born children of their nationals or vice-versa.
- Caribbean CBI (Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Lucia): dual citizenship allowed via these popular investment pathways, subject to due diligence checks.
Asia-Pacific / Oceania
- Australia, New Zealand: permit dual nationality and are common US pairings via naturalization or descent.
- Philippines: re-acquisition law for former Filipino citizens that is popular with US-based expat community.
- South Korea: conditional tolerance, for example: certain categories and required notifications.
- Türkiye: allows dual nationality by naturalization or investment routes.
- Japan, Singapore, China, India: these countries remain restrictive as adults generally cannot hold dual citizenship, even though some of these countries do periodically review their policies.
Compliance Notes for US Dual Citizens
- Passport use: US citizens must use a US passport to enter/exit the United States. Many partner countries require the same with their passport.
- Taxes: The IRS taxes worldwide income; treaties, credits, and exclusions may offset potential double taxation.
- Civic/military obligations: Some countries limit voting/public office for dual nationals or impose mandatory military service.
How is Dual Citizenship Acquired?
Dual citizenship can be gained through several legal pathways. Each country’s nationality law defines how citizenship is acquired and whether multiple citizenships are recognized. Below are the most common routes:
Dual Citizenship by Birth (Jus Soli)
Citizenship by descent is citizenship that is passed from parent(s) or grandparents to children, even if they’re born abroad. Many countries let descendants claim citizenship generations later if documentation is provided.
Dual Citizenship by Descent (Jus Sanguinis)
Anyone born on national soil automatically acquires citizenship, regardless of their parents’ nationality. If the parents’ country also grants citizenship by descent, the child automatically has dual citizenship.
Dual Citizenship by Naturalization
Citizenship by naturalization means that foreign residents can acquire citizenship after a legal stay/residency period, often 3 to 10 years. Some nations allow you to retain your original citizenship, while others require renunciation.
Dual Citizenship by Marriage
Citizenship by marriage means that a foreign spouse may be eligible for fast-track naturalization or citizenship after a set period of marriage and residency. Dual citizenship status is typically recognized if both countries permit it.
Dual Citizenship by Investment Programs
Citizenship by Investment is when citizenship is granted to an individual who makes a qualifying financial contribution, real-estate purchase, or government fund donation. Most CBI nations explicitly allow applicants to keep their existing nationality as a benefit.
Benefits of Holding Dual Citizenship
- Expanded Visa-Free Travel: Holders of two passports will have access to more countries visa-free than single passport holders. Many second citizenships have passports with a great deal of access such as Dominica which enables visiting 160 countries visa-free.
- Education and Healthcare: Dual citizenship enables individuals to access the healthcare system of their preference, as well as the best education for their families. One of the perks of citizenship is access to that country’s systems and resources, and this extends to healthcare and education.
- Business Opportunities: A second citizenship will allow you to trade in another market and expand the reach of your business. Additionally, the new country will offer new opportunities for growth and expansion.
- Immigration: With two passports, you have the ability to live in another country. Immigration is made much easier by a second passport, and you will gain the benefits of citizenship in your second nation.
- Safety: For some, accessing a second citizenship is about gaining access to a safer country. Many safer nations, particularly in the Caribbean, offer CBI programs to allow families a greater peace of mind.
- Minimizing Tax: Becoming a citizen of another country allows you to structure your finances to minimize taxes. Many CBI countries offer favorable tax regimes that do not levy income, capital gains, or wealth taxes.
- Property Rights: In some countries, property ownership is restricted to citizens. Gaining citizenship allows you to purchase property in these countries that you would otherwise not have been able to.
What Compliance and Legal Issues Should Dual Citizens Consider?
Dual or multiple citizenship can unlock major mobility and lifestyle benefits, but it also creates legal obligations in each country you’re a citizen of:
- Passport Use: Many countries require citizens to enter and exit using that country’s passport.
- Notifications and Registration: Some countries require you to notify authorities after acquiring another nationality or periodically register your status abroad.
- Voting and Public Office: Even where dual citizenship is allowed, voting rights or access to sensitive roles, for example, defense or the judiciary, can be limited.
- Military Service: Dual nationals can face conscription or reserve obligations in one country.
- Tax: Some countries apply dual citizenship taxes, specifically on worldwide income or impose filing/reporting duties on assets and accounts.
- Documentation: Inconsistent names/dates across documents can stall applications.
- Family: Rules for minors, adopted children, or surrogacy can differ from adults.
- Property and Inheritance: Some states limit foreign ownership or apply forced-heirship rules even to dual nationals.
- Risk of Sanctions: Dual nationals may face restricted travel with one passport or sanction exposure.
Global Dual Citizenship Trends
Global Citizen Solutions’ Intelligence Unit found that dual citizenship is expanding due to migration, economic ties, and diaspora engagement. This is further explored in our report, The Transformation of Citizenship. It emphasizes that modern citizenship is no longer purely a matter of national belonging as it’s evolving into a tool for accessing opportunity, enhancing mobility, and building global resilience.
- Europe: Policies are becoming more liberalized. Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden have eased restrictions, seeing dual citizenship as a way to strengthen diaspora ties and remain competitive in the global talent market.
- Asia: While still largely restrictive, some countries such as the Philippines and Pakistan provide pathways under limited conditions, especially for children born abroad or through marriage.
- Latin America: Dual citizenship is widely accepted, particularly through descent or birthright, and is often encouraged as a means to boost remittances and cultural exchange.
- Caribbean: Several countries actively promote dual citizenship through Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residency by Investment (RBI) programs, turning nationality into a strategic economic instrument for development and global mobility.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.
