Dual citizenship (also known as dual nationality) means you’re legally recognized as a citizen of two countries at the same time.
In 2025, more countries than ever recognize dual or multiple citizenship, but the rules surrounding this tend to vary widely from country to country. Some allow it by descent or birth, others only after going through naturalization or marriage, and a few may require you to renounce your original citizenship.
This guide gives you an up-to-date overview of the countries that allow dual citizenship in 2025, organized by region, plus a quick look at key pathways and common compliance issues (taxes, military service, passport use and more).
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, citizenship by birth, naturalization after a period of residency, marriage, and Citizenship by Investment.
Some nations allow dual nationality across most routes. Others tend to be more permissive toward people who have been born with two nationalities but may restrict the ability to get second citizenship for those who go the naturalization route.
Countries That Allow Dual Citizenship: By Region
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 naturalized vs. birth 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; 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 esp. 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 (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 (liberalizing) 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 subject to your other country’s law.
| 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 |
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 and which ones most often allow dual or multiple citizenship:
| Pathway | Dual citizenship allowed? | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis) | Widely allowed. | Citizenship is passed on 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. |
| Citizenship by birth (jus soli) | More common in the Americas. | Anyone born on national soil automatically acquires citizenship, regardless of their parents’ nationality. If the parents’ country also grants citizenship by descent, the child is automatically has dual citizenship. |
| Citizenship by naturalization | Varies by country. | 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. |
| Citizenship by marriage | Often allowed or facilitated. | 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. |
| Citizenship by Investment | Allowed in specific countries. | Citizenship is granted through an individual making 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. |
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.
Please note that US dual citizens must enter and leave the United States on a US passport. The other country may likewise also require entry/exit on its own passport.
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 reduced to 5 years with a 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 jus soli (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 (common US pairings via naturalization or descent).
- Philippines: reacquisition law for former Filipino citizens (popular with US-based expat community).
- South Korea: conditional tolerance (for example, certain categories, notifications).
- Türkiye: allows dual nationality (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.
- Notifications: Several countries require you to notify authorities after acquiring another nationality.
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.
| Topic | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Passport use | Many countries require citizens to enter/exit using that country’s passport. | Will you need to carry two passports on specific routes? Airline API/ESTA/eTA implications. |
| Notifications and registration | Some states require you to notify authorities after acquiring another nationality or periodically register your status abroad. | Is there a formal retention letter, registration, or consular record you must maintain? Deadlines/penalties? |
| Renunciation rules | A few countries require renunciation of your previous nationality for naturalization (or vice versa). | Is renunciation mandatory, optional, or waived by treaty? Timing and fees if required. |
| Voting and public office | Even where dual citizenship is allowed, voting rights or access to sensitive roles (for example, defense, judiciary) can be limited. | Are there restrictions on running for office, holding security-cleared jobs, or serving in the military? |
| Military service | Dual nationals can face conscription or reserve obligations in one country. | Age windows, deferments, exemptions for residents abroad, penalties for non-compliance. |
| Taxes and reporting | Some countries apply dual citizenship taxes, specifically on worldwide income or impose filing/reporting duties on assets and accounts. | Treaties, foreign tax credits, social security totalization, exit taxes, CRS/FATCA reporting. |
| Name, documents and civil status | Inconsistent names/dates across documents can stall applications. | Align names on birth/marriage certificates, passports, and national IDs. Get apostilles where needed. |
| Children and family | Rules for minors, adopted children, or surrogacy can differ from adults. | Transmission limits (generation caps), legitimation/adoption decrees, deadlines for registering foreign births. |
| Property and inheritance | Some states limit foreign ownership or apply forced-heirship rules even to dual nationals. | Title restrictions, inheritance shares, matrimonial property regimes, local wills. |
| Travel and sanctions risk | Dual nationals may face restricted travel with one passport or sanctions exposure. | Visa policies, travel advisories, sanctions lists that could affect banking or movement. |
Explore the top countries to
get a second passport for better quality of life, lower taxes, and dual citizenship.
Global Dual Citizenship Trends in 2025
Global Citizen Solutions’ Intelligence Unit found that dual citizenship is expanding due to migration, economic ties, and diaspora engagement.
This is further explored in their report, “The Transformation of Citizenship: From Political Identity to Strategic Mobility Tool”. The report emphasizes that modern citizenship is no longer purely a matter of national belonging—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.
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