How Many Citizenships Can You Have?

Holding multiple citizenships is no longer a rare position to be in but a move made by many to gain a strategic advantage. But how many citizenships can you legally have? The answer depends on where you’re from, where you’re going, and how you acquire these citizenships.

Whether done through birth, descent, naturalization, or investment, multiple citizenships can open the door to visa-free travel, better job opportunities, international education, and access to healthcare and property rights across borders.

This guide breaks down how multiple nationalities work, what routes you can take to this status, which countries allow them, and what the benefits are.

• How many citizenships can you have?
• How to Get Multiple Citizenships
• Benefits of Holding Multiple Citizenships
• Disadvantages of Multiple Citizenship
• Countries That Allow Multiple Citizenship
• Countries That Restrict or Prohibit Multiple Citizenship
• Key Takeaways
• Frequently Asked Questions

How many citizenships can you have?

There is no universal rule dictating how many citizenships a person can hold. The number is governed entirely by national legislation. While countries like Canada and the UK place no cap on multiple nationalities, others like China and India maintain strict limits or outright bans dual citizenship.

The possibility of holding dual citizenship hinges on whether the policies of all countries involved align. In theory, if none of the relevant nations restrict multiple or dual citizenship, an individual could hold a second passport or more legally.

Dual, triple, or even multiple citizenship is way to expand your rights, access to education and healthcare, and travel opportunities. However, it also means navigating the legal responsibilities of each state, including taxation, military service (where applicable), and compliance with local laws.

According to the Intelligence Unit’s report “The Transformation of Citizenship“, this shift towards more than one citizenship and a second passport represents a broader redefinition of what it means to belong to a country. Citizenship is no longer viewed solely as a matter of national identity, but increasingly as a tool for strategic planning. This is particularly true for globally mobile professionals, investors, and families seeking education, security, or economic opportunity across borders.

How to Get Multiple Citizenships

There are several legal methods to obtain multiple nationalities, each with its own set of legal requirements, documentation, and timelines. Here are the top pathways:

• Citizenship by birth: Countries with birthright citizenship include the United States and Canada and they grant automatic citizenship to individuals born on their soil, regardless of the parents’ citizenship status. This method often leads to dual nationality if the child’s parents are citizens of another country at the time of the birth.
• Citizenship by descent: Citizenship through ancestry is one of the most common pathways to multiple or even just dual citizenship. Many European countries such as Ireland, Italy, and Poland allow individuals to claim second citizenship through parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents. Documentation of lineage is required and eligibility rules vary widely.
• Citizenship by naturalization: This is the process of becoming a citizen after legally residing in a country for a certain period, typically 3 to 10 years. Applicants must usually demonstrate language proficiency, integration into society, and a clean criminal record. Some countries may require you to renounce your previous citizenship, while others do not.
• Citizenship by marriage: Marriage to a citizen can expedite or simplify the path to dual citizenship in many countries. For example, marrying a citizen of Spain or France may shorten residency requirements for naturalization. However, proving the authenticity and duration of the marriage is usually required.
• Citizenship by investment: CBI programs allow individuals to obtain citizenship by making a substantial economic contribution to a country, often in real estate, government bonds, or through donations. Countries such as St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, and Turkey are well-known for their CBI offerings.

Benefits of Holding Multiple Citizenships

Holding multiple citizenships offers significant advantages that can enhance personal freedom, financial flexibility, and long-term planning:

• Enhanced travel freedom: Multiple passports grant access to visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to a broader range of countries, making international mobility easier.
• Economic opportunities: You can legally work, run a business, and invest in property or financial markets in more than one country.
• Quality education: Citizens often benefit from local tuition rates, scholarships, and public education systems that may be restricted to nationals only.
• Better healthcare: Access public or subsidized healthcare services in each country where you hold citizenship, a major benefit for families and retirees.
• Political and social stability: Provides a legal and secure alternative in case of civil unrest, political instability, or economic downturns in one of your home countries.
• Inheritance and property rights: Allows easier inheritance planning and the right to purchase or own real estate in foreign countries where ownership by foreign nationals is restricted.
• Tax planning potential: Holding multiple citizenships can offer flexibility for tax planning and optimization based on country of tax residence.

Potential Challenges of Multiple Citizenship

Despite the many benefits, getting second citizenship or more does come with challenges:

• Taxation and double taxation: Some countries, like the United States, tax citizens on their worldwide income regardless of where they live. This can result in double taxation if another country also claims tax rights. Although tax treaties may provide relief, the rules can be complex.
• Military service: Some nations mandate compulsory military service for all citizens, which may apply even if you’re a dual national. This could create legal or personal conflicts, especially if your other citizenships oppose such requirements.
• Legal conflicts: Holding multiple citizenships can expose you to differing legal systems. Issues such as family law, inheritance rights, and criminal liability may vary between countries and come with complications.
• Bureaucracy and compliance: Maintaining multiple citizenships often involves renewing various documents, adhering to residency or physical presence requirements, and staying compliant with each country’s laws.

Countries That Allow Multiple Citizenship

Many countries allow dual or multiple citizenships with few or no restrictions. Below is a table summarizing some of the most well-known examples:

Countries That Restrict or Prohibit Multiple Citizenship

Some countries have restrictive policies and may not permit citizens to hold dual nationality:

• China: Does not permit dual citizenship under any circumstances.
• India: Does not allow dual citizenship but provides the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), which is a long-term visa-like status.
• Singapore: Requires individuals to renounce all other citizenships, especially by age of 21.
• Austria: Generally requires renunciation of prior citizenship unless granted special exemptions.
• Saudi Arabia: Recent reforms allow dual citizenship in rare cases but still broadly discourages it.
• Japan: Requires individuals to choose one nationality before age 22 if born with dual citizenship.

Key Takeaways: Multiple Citizenships

• No global limit on citizenship: There’s no universal cap. Whether you can hold multiple citizenships you can have or how many passports you can hold depends on each country’s laws.
• Pathways to multiple citizenship: You can acquire triple or more citizenships through birth, descent, marriage, naturalization, or investment.
• Benefits: Multiple citizenships offer greater travel freedom, economic access, public service eligibility, and tax planning opportunities.
• Challenges: You may face tax obligations, obligatory military service, legal conflicts, or administrative burdens.
• Country policies vary:
  • Allows multiple: US, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, France, etc.
  • Restricts/prohibits: China, India, Singapore, Austria, Japan, etc.

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. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Multiple Citizenships

What is multiple citizenship?

Multiple citizenship, also called triple or dual citizenship, occurs when a person is legally recognized as a citizen of more than one country at the same time.

How many citizenships can you have?

There is no universal legal limit to the number of citizenships you can hold. Some countries grant unlimited citizenships, while other countries restrict or prohibit dual or multiple nationality altogether.

What are the benefits of multiple citizenship?

Multiple citizenships can offer visa-free travel, access to more job markets, tax advantages, better healthcare or education, and a legal “Plan B” in times of crisis.

What are the downsides to multiple citizenship?

Yes, some downsides may include double taxation, compulsory military service, legal conflicts, or difficulty getting consular assistance in certain countries.

What is the most citizenships held by one person?

The world record for holding citizenship to the most countries is 10, according to available reports.

Which countries allow multiple citizenships?

Countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, and Portugal allow multiple citizenships. However, policies vary, so it’s important to check each country’s specific laws.

Can a person have three or more citizenships?

Yes, if permitted by the countries involved, a person can hold three or more citizenships through birth, descent, investment programs or the naturalization process.

Does the US allow multiple citizenship?

Yes, the United States does allow multiple citizenships. US law does not require you to renounce your US citizenship if you acquire another nationality, meaning you remain a U.S. citizen.

Can you lose your citizenship if you acquire another one?

Yes. Some countries automatically revoke your citizenship if you acquire second citizenship, while others allow you to retain both but it’s country-dependent.

Do you need to renounce your original citizenship to gain a new one?

In some countries, yes. Nations like Germany and Japan generally require renunciation of your previous citizenship upon getting second citizenship, while others like the US and UK do not.

Are there restrictions on dual or multiple citizenships in certain countries?

Yes. Some countries restrict or ban dual nationality. For example, China and India generally do not permit it, while others may impose conditions or require government approval.

Can children inherit multiple citizenships?

Yes. Many countries allow children to acquire citizenship by descent from one or both parents, potentially giving them dual or multiple citizenships at birth.

Can you travel with more than one passport?

Yes. People with multiple citizenships can use different foreign passports depending on their destination, often to bypass visa requirements or speed up entry at borders.

How do taxes work for people with multiple citizenships?

Tax obligations depend on where you reside and each country’s tax laws. Some countries tax worldwide income (like the US), while others only tax income earned within their borders.

can you have multiple citizenships as a British citizen?

Yes, the UK permits dual citizenship, meaning you can hold both British citizenship and the citizenship of another foreign country at the same time.