How to Get a Second Passport in 2026

Getting a second passport in can be legally done through a variety of channels. These include descent, investment, marriage, and naturalization. Each method has different requirements, and everyone will not necessarily be eligible for every option in every nation.  

Our guide explores the available avenues for acquiring a second passport, the countries where this can be done, the benefits of having another passport, and the usual timelines and costs for acquisition.  

Second Passport: Key Takeaways

A second passport can be acquired through birth, descent, naturalization, marriage, investment, and exception.  

Citizenship by investment is a legal and accessible means of getting a second passport.  

Countries like Turkey and Dominica offer this pathway, and some have processing times of as little as two months.  

Italy, Ireland, and Portugal offer citizenship by descent for those with European ancestry seeking an additional passport.  

A second passport is a travel document issued after obtaining citizenship in another country. The document allows an individual to live and work in a country that is not their home nation.  

Two passports means that individuals can enjoy the benefits of dual citizenship such as owning property abroad, living overseas, voting in an additional election, optimizing their taxes, and acquiring a plan B for themselves and their family.  

1. Expanded Travel Access: A second passport can provide access to a great deal more countries visa-free or visa-on-arrival than an original passport. Our Global Intelligence Unit’s Passport Index ranks passports based on their strength and international mobility.  
2. Stability and a Plan B: Having access to two jurisdictions broadens horizons and allows individuals and families to have access to a stable country at all times. A foreign passport is an excellent tool for avoiding local issues such as war, political unrest, or crisis.  
3. Retirement Options: Two passports mean at least two options for retirement. This can make retirement more cost-effective as individuals can relocate to a country with a lower cost of living or a superior tax environment.  
4. Tax Optimization: A second citizenship allows individuals to structure their taxes optimally across jurisdictions. Additionally, many countries have tax treaties with one another to avoid double taxation.  
5. Increased Quality of Life: Being a passport holder of a country entitles an individual to access the social services of that country. Many European countries have universal healthcare systems, like Portugal, that all citizens can access at low or no-cost. Additionally, individuals can access a nation with far higher standards of education and far lower levels of crime. 

As of , there are six avenues for individuals to acquire a second passport and second citizenship: 

01/ Citizenship by Birth 

Citizenship by birth, also known as jus soli or right of soil, is the process of acquiring citizenship in a country because an individual was born there. Some countries, like Canada and Mexico, provide unrestricted birthright citizenship meaning that they are viable options for birth tourism.  

02/ Citizenship by Descent 

Citizenship by descent (CBD) allows individuals who were not born in a country to acquire citizenship because of a parent, or sometimes grandparent, who was born in the country. Each country that allows the practice will have slightly different requirements for eligibility. This practice is based on the principle of jus sanguinis or the right of blood.  

03/ Citizenship by Investment 

Citizenship by investment (CBI) allows individuals to acquire citizenship in a country in exchange for a significant, qualifying investment. Each country that offers CBI will have a different set of investment options and minimums.  

04/ Citizenship by Naturalization 

Citizenship by naturalization is the process of obtaining citizenship through living and integrating in a country. The timeline for this process varies drastically by country with Argentina on the short end at two years, and countries like Namibia on the long end with 20 years.  

05/ Citizenship by Marriage  

Citizenship by marriage can make an individual eligible for citizenship after a shortened naturalization window. For example, the normal naturalization timeframe in Spain is 10 years but this is reduced to one year when married to a Spanish citizen.  

06/ Citizenship by Exception 

Citizenship by exception is a particularly rare method of obtaining a second passport. Some countries will grant citizenship without the naturalization period for exceptional contributions to the country. Countries that offer this include Malta, Serbia, and the UAE.

01/ Portugal 

Portugal has one of the quickest pathways to a second passport by naturalization in Europe. You can apply for permanent residency in Portugal after five years of legal residence. After 10 years of residence in total, you may become eligible for Portuguese citizenship. For EU and CPLP citizens, the citizenship requirement is reduced to seven years.

The country has a low physical presence requirement for Golden Visa holders (only seven days in the first year and 14 days every two years after that), and dual citizenship is permitted for all applicants. 

Applicants can acquire legal residency through several visas, including the Portugal D7 Visa, Portugal Digital Nomad Visa, or Portugal Golden Visa. A2-level Portuguese is required to qualify for naturalization in Portugal.  

02/ Spain 

Spain offers a 10-year pathway to citizenship and a second passport through naturalization. Absences over 6 months can break continuity, and dual citizenship is allowed.  

Those interested can choose from several visa options, including the Spain Highly Qualified Professional Visa, Spain Non-Lucrative Visa, and the Spain Digital Nomad Visa. Applicants will need to pass an A2- level Spanish language exam and the CCSE cultural knowledge exam.  

03/ Malta 

Malta requires applicants to live in the country for 5 out of the last 7 years, and for a continuous 12-month period prior to application. This can be reduced to as little as 12 months with the Malta Citizenship by Merit program, and dual citizenship is permitted.  

The nation offers many programs and visas for expats including the Malta Permanent Residence Program (MPRP), Malta Retirement Program (MRP), and the Malta Digital Nomad Visa. Applicants will need to pass an oral exam in either English or Maltese demonstrating conversational understanding. 

04/ Greece 

Greece provides a 7-year pathway to citizenship by naturalization that can be reduced to 3 years for EU citizens, spouses of Greeks, or refugees. Applicants will need to be able to pass a B1 Greek exam and an exam on Greek language, history, geography, and culture.  

The country is immigration-friendly, offering several visas for those interested in residency including the Greece Golden Visa, Greece Passive Income Visa (FIP), and the Greece Digital Nomad Visa. Dual citizenship is permitted in Greece. 

05/ Argentina 

The Argentine passport enables access to over 160 countries, including the EU and the UK, and it requires a naturalization timeframe of just 2 years, making it one of the shortest pathways in the world.  

The country has accessible options for immigration, including the Argentina Rentista Visa and the Argentina Investor Visa. Dual citizenship is allowed, and applicants will need to be able to hold a basic conversation in Spanish.  

01/ Cyprus 

Cypriot Citizenship by Descent allows individuals with a grandparent or parent who never renounced their citizenship to apply for CBD. The processing time for this program is approximately 6 to 12 months, and there is no residency requirement.  

02/ Greece 

Greek Citizenship by Descent allows individuals with a parent, grandparent, or sometimes even great-grandparent, to acquire CBD. The processing time is approximately 12 to 24 months, and there is no residency requirement.  

03/ Spain 

Spanish Citizenship by Descent allows individuals with a Spanish mother or father to apply for CBD, or a grandparent in some cases. The processing time for this program ranges from several months for parental lineage to several years for grandparental lineage. There is no residency requirement for the program. 

04/ Portugal 

Portuguese Citizenship by Descent allows individuals with a parent or a grandparent born in the country to apply for CBD. Processing times range from several months for parental applications to several years for grandparents. There is no residency requirement for the program. 

05/ Italy 

Italian Citizenship by Descent allows individuals with a parent or grandparent born in the country to apply for CBD. The processing time ranges from 24 to 36 months, with parental applications taking less time. There are no residency requirements for the program.  

06/ Malta 

Maltese Citizenship by Descent allows individuals with a parent or a grandparent born in the country to apply for CBD. The processing time ranges from 3 to 9 months, making it one of the fastest CBD programs in the EU. Additionally, there are no residency requirements.  

01/ Antigua and Barbuda 

The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment program has a starting cost of $230,000, allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 164 countries including the Schengen Area, and has a processing time of roughly six months.  

Investors will need to spend 5 days in the first 5 years in the country to maintain their citizenship. Additionally, there are no language or cultural tests to qualify for the program. 

02/ Dominica 

The Dominica Citizenship by Investment program has a starting cost of $200,000, allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 160 countries including the Schengen Area and Singapore, and has a processing time of roughly six to nine months.  

Investors can include their spouse, children, parents, and grandparents in their application, although this does increase the minimum investment. The entire process is conducted remotely, and there are no residency, language, or cultural requirements.  

03/ Grenada 

The Grenada Citizenship by Investment program has a starting cost of $235,000, allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 140 countries including the UK and the EU, and has a processing time of roughly six months.  

Successful applicants gain the ability to apply for the US E-2 Visa which is a residency by investment program. Additionally, there are no worldwide income taxes, wealth, capital gains, or inheritance taxes in the country. There are no physical presence requirements to maintain citizenship either.  

04/ St. Kitts and Nevis 

The St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment program has a starting cost of $250,000, allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 167 countries which is the most of any Caribbean country, and has a processing time of roughly four to six months.  

The program is the oldest of its kind in the world, having been launched in 1984. Spouses, children, and parents are all eligible to join the main investor. However, this does increase the cost of the investment.  

05/ St. Lucia 

The St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment program has a starting cost of $240,000, allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 155 countries including Schengen states, and has a processing time of roughly twelve to eighteen months.  

Applicants can include their spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and siblings in their applications, although the minimum cost will increase. There are no residency requirements for the program, and it is conducted remotely.  

06/ Turkey 

The Turkey Citizenship by Investment program has a starting cost of $400,000, allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 120 countries, and has a processing time of roughly six to twelve months.  

Family members that can be included are spouse, children, and disabled dependents. Additionally, there are no residency requirements, language tests, or minimum stay requirements, and dual citizenship is allowed. 

07/ Nauru 

The Nauru Citizenship by Investment program has a starting cost of $90,000, making it one of the cheapest CBI programs in the world. It allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 119 countries and has a processing time of roughly three to six months, making it one of the fastest as well. 

Investors can include their spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and even siblings in their application. This will increase the cost; however additional dependents over 16 only add $2,000 to the starting investment.  

08/ Vanuatu 

The Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment program has a starting cost of $130,000, allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 118 countries, and has a processing time of roughly two to three months. It is the fastest second passport in the world, with some applications taking only one month to complete.  

Aside from its speed, the program has other benefits like allowing spouses, children, and parents in an investor’s application. Plus, there are no presence or language requirements, and the process can be completed remotely.  

09/ São Tomé and Príncipe 

The São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment program has a starting cost of $90,000, allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 93 countries, and has a processing time of roughly two months. Applicants can expect to complete the process in 4 to 10 weeks.  

The nation allows dual citizenship and does not impose any residency or language requirements on applicants. In addition, the entire application process can be completed remotely.