Since leaving the European Union, the British government has made several changes to its immigration rules, which has raised many questions for foreign nationals seeking UK dual citizenship.
At the same time, certain rules for British nationals seeking foreign citizenship and becoming dual citizens have also changed in certain countries. British citizens no longer hold the right to a relaxed naturalization process in EU countries and must go through the same application process as third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss).
However, this doesn’t spell the end of the right to acquire British citizenship or for a UK national to get dual citizenship in other countries, including those in the European Union.
In this guide to UK dual citizenship and Brexit, we walk you through your options for gaining UK citizenship as a foreign national. We also discuss options for UK citizens looking to maintain global mobility by adding second citizenship to their current passport. We are here to show you it is possible to enjoy life in the UK and abroad with multiple citizenships.
Post Brexit: Dual Citizenship is a Real Possibility
Since Brexit was finalized at the end of 2020, specific nationality laws have changed, and UK citizens now have certain freedom of movement restrictions that weren’t present before. Namely, they’ve lost the right to seek dual nationality in EU nations without first proving their right to live in an EU country and fulfilling the qualifying residency period for naturalization.
At the same time, EU nationals have also lost access to the simplified route of obtaining permanent settled status in the UK through Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). While an EU national can still become a British citizen, unless they’re married to a British citizen or settled person with remain status, they would be required to obtain a residence visa and fulfill all the formalities for naturalization before they can hold dual citizenship with the UK.
The good news is that although there are now specific barriers and the entire process of obtaining citizenship in an EU country may take longer than for EU citizens, you can still add a British passport to your current one. Even for UK citizens, adding a second passport is still possible.
Did Brexit change dual nationality laws?
There has been no change to UK nationality law regarding dual citizenship. The UK allows dual citizenship; when you become a British citizen, you can keep your original citizenship. British citizens seeking foreign citizenship are not required to surrender their British citizenship and UK passport.
Unless you have claims of dual citizenship in a foreign country, such as birthright citizenship through a parent born in the country or you’re married to a foreign national, you have two viable options to add an alternative citizenship to your original citizenship:
- Apply for a second residency and complete the minimum period of residence to qualify for citizenship by naturalization
- Apply directly through a citizenship-by-investment program
The quickest way to achieve United Kingdom dual citizenship after Brexit is to apply for citizenship by investment (CBI). This investment immigration program is offered by several countries, allowing foreign nationals to invest in their economy to acquire a second nationality and an alternative passport.
Aside from citizenship by investment, countries like Portugal and Greece offer what is known as Golden Visas. These invite UK passport holders and other third-country nationals to invest in the country and gain residency in return. Citizenship is usually possible after maintaining the investment and the golden visa for several years.
Six Residence Visas that Lead to UK Dual Citizenship
As highlighted, foreign nationals or EU citizens must acquire residence visas to become British citizens and go through the naturalization route. Here are six residence visas that will take you through the naturalization process and eventually to UK citizenship, as well as their eligibility requirements.
1. Spouse or Partner Visa (Family Visa)
The Spouse or Partner Visa allows non-British citizens to live in the UK with their British spouse or partner. It’s designed for individuals married to, in a civil partnership with, or in a long-term relationship with a British citizen or someone who holds Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Visa duration: This visa is initially granted for 30 months (2.5 years). However, it can be extended for another 30 months, and after five years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
The requirements for this visa include:
- You must be married, in a civil partnership, or have lived together in a relationship for at least 2 years.
- You must provide evidence of your genuine relationship, such as photos, correspondence, and joint bills.
- You and your partner must meet a minimum income requirement of £18,600 annually. This amount increases if you have dependent children:
- £22,400 for one child.
- An additional £2,400 per child after the first.
- You must prove that you have suitable accommodation in the UK.
- You must prove your proficiency in English by passing a basic English test (A1) or showing you are from an exempt country.
- You must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to access the UK’s NHS during your stay.
Path to citizenship: After holding ILR, if you’ve been in the UK for 12 months (unless married to a British citizen, in which case you can apply immediately), you can apply for UK citizenship through naturalization.
2. Ancestry Visa
The Ancestry Visa is available to Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK. It allows individuals with UK heritage to live and work in the UK.
Visa duration: Granted for five years, you can extend it further if needed.
The requirements include:
- You must be a Commonwealth citizen (e.g., from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, etc.).
- You must have at least one grandparent born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. This includes those born before March 31, 1922, in what is now the Republic of Ireland.
- You must prove your intention to work in the UK. You don’t need a job offer before applying, but you must commit to seeking employment or self-employment.
- You must show that you can support yourself without relying on public funds during your stay in the UK.
Path to citizenship: After five years of residence, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Then, after holding ILR for 12 months, you can apply for UK citizenship through naturalization.
3. UK Student Visa (Tier 4 General Student Visa)
Another option to get closer to British dual citizenship is through the General Student Visa. However, a student visa alone doesn’t directly lead to citizenship; after completing your studies, you can switch to a work visa (e.g., a Graduate or Skilled Worker Visa) to begin a pathway that may eventually lead to citizenship.
Visa duration: The Student Visa duration depends on the course length you are studying.
The requirements for this visa include:
- You must have an unconditional offer from a licensed UK educational institution.
- Show sufficient financial resources to cover tuition and living costs for the first year.
- You must pass an English language test (like IELTS) unless exempt.
- To confirm your place, you must have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), for which the institution provides a CAS number.
- Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for healthcare during your stay.
Path to citizenship: After completing your studies, you may switch to another visa category, such as the Skilled Worker Visa or Graduate Visa, which can eventually lead to ILR. Then, after 5 years on a Skilled Worker Visa, you can apply for ILR. When you have had the ILR for 12 months, you can apply for UK citizenship through naturalization.
4. Graduate Visa (Post-Study Work Visa)
The Graduate Visa is a post-study work visa for international students who have successfully completed a degree at a UK university. It allows graduates to stay in the UK to work or look for work for a period after their studies.
Visa duration: If you’ve completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree, the visa is valid for two years. If you’ve completed a PhD, the visa is valid for three years.
These are the requirements:
- You must have completed a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree (master’s), or a doctoral degree (PhD) at a licensed UK educational institution.
- You must be in the UK and hold a valid Tier 4 or Student Visa at the time of your application.
- You must apply for the Graduate Visa before your Student Visa expires.
- Unlike other work visas, you do not need a job offer or sponsorship to apply for this visa.
Path to citizenship: The Graduate Visa does not directly lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain or citizenship. However, it gives you the flexibility to work in the UK, and you can switch to a Skilled Worker Visa after gaining employment in a qualifying role, which can lead to ILR after five years of residence and then naturalization.
5. UK Work Visa (Skilled Worker Visa)
As mentioned, a work visa is a great option for getting citizenship. It is designed to allow non-UK citizens to live and work in the UK for a sponsored job. It aims to fill skill gaps in the UK workforce by attracting foreign talent in specific industries or professions that face shortages.
Visa duration: Generally granted for five years.
The requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa include:
- You must have a job offer from a UK employer with a licensed sponsor.
- The job must meet the required skill level (RQF Level 3 or above, typically A-levels or equivalent).
- The job must pay at least £26,200 per year (or the going rate for the job).
- You must prove your ability to speak, read, and write English.
- To confirm sponsorship, you must have a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS), for which the employer provides a COS reference number.
Path to citizenship: After holding a work visa for 5 years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Then, after having ILR for 12 months, you become eligible to apply for UK citizenship through naturalization.
6. UK Citizenship by Investment (Tier 1 Investor Visa)
There is also the route to UK citizenship by investment, which allows high-net-worth individuals to become UK citizens by obtaining a Tier 1 Investor Visa.
Visa duration: The initial visa is usually granted for three years and four months. If you continue to meet the investment criteria, you can apply to extend it for two more years.
The time it takes to qualify for ILR depends on the size of your investment:
- £2 million investment: Eligible for ILR after five years.
- £5 million investment: Eligible for ILR after three years.
- £10 million investment: Eligible for ILR after two years.
Path to citizenship: After holding ILR for 12 months, you can apply for UK citizenship through naturalization.
Brexit and dual citizenship, what are my options as a UK citizen?
The legal process of obtaining dual nationality might seem complex after Brexit. The time you could once step foot in an EU country, live there stress-free, and later announce your desire to gain dual citizenship and submit a second passport application, adding to your British passport, no longer exists.
However, several immigrant investor visas have been introduced in many countries worldwide, providing a straightforward path to gaining dual citizenship with the UK and becoming a dual national. As a UK citizen, you can opt for residency or citizenship by investment, depending on your preferences and goals.
To start the path to dual citizenship, UK citizens can opt for investment programs in several countries, including:
- Portugal
- Malta
- Caribbean countries (St Lucia, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda)
- Vanuatu
Dual Citizenship through a Golden Visa
Portugal Golden Visa
There’s a reason why Portugal attracts so many visitors and expats each year. It’s a gorgeous country, offering sunshine year-round, a safe and stable lifestyle, as well as an optimal lifestyle balance. The Golden Visa allows investors and their family members to live in Portugal, with an eventual pathway to permanent residency or dual citizenship with the UK after five years.
The Portugal Golden Visa starts with a minimum investment of €250,000, and UK nationals can choose from numerous qualifying investments to obtain the visa. Some Portugal Golden Visa benefits include:
- Opportunity to gain a Portuguese passport after five years.
- EU and United Kingdom dual citizenship status after Brexit.
- Short stay requirement.
- Travel freely through the EU after Brexit.
- The right to reside in other EU countries.
Greece Golden Visa
Like Portugal, Greece may offer dual citizenship in the EU, but the country has its unique charm. From the sun-drenched Greek Islands to vibrant cities like Athens, you’ll be captivated by Greece’s stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage.
The Greece Golden Visa is another investor visa that grants a residence permit to any UK national who invests in the Greek economy. An appealing aspect of the program is that purchasing a Greek home for €250,000 qualifies as a qualifying investment, and visa holders can renew their residence permits indefinitely, provided they maintain their investment.
After gaining permanent residency and seven years of residence, British nationals can apply for dual citizenship with the UK. Some Greek Golden Visa benefits include:
- Opportunity to obtain a Greek passport after seven years.
- EU and United Kingdom dual citizenship status after Brexit.
- Short stay requirement.
- Travel freely through the EU after Brexit.
- The right to reside in other EU countries.
Malta Dual Citizenship with the UK
Despite its small size, Malta is a golden opportunity for individuals seeking dual citizenship, especially within the EU. Aside from being politically stable and having a small yet resilient economy, there are lucrative opportunities for real estate investors and entrepreneurs, and the country has established itself as a hub for startups.
The Malta Citizenship by Investment program, also known as the Malta Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment program (CES), is the fastest route to obtaining dual citizenship in the European Union.
A British citizen can acquire Malta dual citizenship by completing a set of three investments:
- A contribution of €600,000 or €750,000 to the Maltese national development fund
- A real estate purchase worth €700,000 or a five-year lease worth €16,000 per annum
- A philanthropic donation of €10,000 to a non-governmental organization or society as approved by the Community Malta Agency (CMA)
After fulfilling due diligence checks and 12 or 36 months of residency, British nationals can add Maltese citizenship to their existing citizenship. Some benefits of Malta’s Citizenship Program include:
- Obtain a Maltese passport and dual nationality within 12 months
- Enjoy European citizenship, along with the right to live and travel anywhere in the EU
- Friendly tax benefits for Maltese residents
- A politically stable and peaceful country in the Mediterranean Sea
A Caribbean Passport and UK Citizenship
As previously mentioned, Brexit doesn’t spell an end to your right to second citizenship and is largely irrelevant concerning dual nationality in the United States, the UK, or other countries worldwide. Caribbean citizenship has been particularly popular among those wishing to add another citizenship to their British or American nationality.
Several Caribbean island nations allow dual citizenship and offer citizenship by investment programs, granting the right to obtain a second passport with British citizenship. Suppose you’re looking to acquire post-Brexit dual citizenship. In that case, you can purchase a second home in paradise or directly contribute to the economy through a donation and obtain dual nationality.
St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, and St Kitts and Nevis provide this unique Caribbean and British citizenship path.
St Lucia
From its booming tourism industry to its picturesque beaches and peaceful lifestyle, St Lucia’s citizenship by investment program offers qualifying investors a hassle-free route to dual citizenship. Investing at least $240,000 in the St Lucian economy can qualify foreign nationals to add St Lucian citizenship to their current citizenship and obtain a passport, providing visa-free travel to 148 countries. The best part is that you can pick from four investment options to qualify for the program and earn dual citizenship status.
Antigua and Barbuda
If you’re a UK passport holder with a family, Antigua and Barbuda’s citizenship by investment program offers the lowest investment for a family of four. A UK citizen can gain dual citizenship for themselves and four immediate family members by donating $230,000 to Antigua and Barbuda’s National Development Fund.
The application and approval process takes three to six months, and double taxation is also not a concern as Antigua and Barbuda doesn’t levy tax on worldwide income.
St Kitts and Nevis
As the quintessential dual citizenship by investment country, St Kitts and Nevis’ citizenship by investment program has incredible value when combined with British nationality. Its program has been running for decades, establishing a refined application process to obtain dual citizenship within four months by contributing $250,000 to the country’s Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC).
A UK citizen can also purchase pre-approved property through a joint or sole investment and qualify for dual citizenship. A significant advantage to being a St Kitts and Nevis and British citizen is that you gain the strongest passport of Caribbean CBI countries, which offers the ultimate travel privileges when combined with a British passport.
Dominica
Dominica’s citizenship by investment program is by far the cheapest for a single applicant. For a $200,000 donation to Dominica’s government fund, you can get dual citizenship status and a second passport within three to six months.
That’s not all; for the fourth year in a row, Dominica has been ranked as having the best citizenship by investment program, according to the CBI Index Report — the most prestigious study of citizenship by investment programs in the world.
Grenada
Grenada’s citizenship by investment program stands out because it is the only Caribbean country with an E-2 Visa Treaty with the United States. This means if you hold a Grenadian passport, you can apply for a US non-immigrant visa and be on the path to American citizenship after five years.
Regarding travel privileges, Grenada is also the only Caribbean CBI country whose citizens can travel to China without a visa, which isn’t possible with a British passport. This makes Grenada the ideal choice for obtaining dual citizenship.
Vanuatu
Made up of 80 islands, Vanuatu is a paradise for expats looking to improve their lifestyles. The Vanuatu citizenship by investment program is the only South Pacific investment immigration program providing dual nationality by investment.
From the security of having a plan B in case of a crisis like a pandemic to diversifying your assets and avoiding double taxation, Vanuatu citizenship benefits are clearly apparent.
There are many options to consider but to make your life easier; we have our Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Comparison Guide.
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 UK Dual Citizenship
Does the UK allow dual citizenship after Brexit?
The UK government allows dual citizenship, meaning when you become a British citizen and gain a British passport, you can keep the original citizenship of your home country. At the same time, a British citizen applying for foreign citizenship is not obliged to renounce their British citizenship, provided the other country permits dual nationality.
Will Brexit affect dual citizenship?
Brexit has not affected British citizens seeking multiple citizenships and foreign nationals seeking UK citizenship and a British passport. It is perfectly legal to acquire dual citizenship in the UK. To get dual citizenship, you can apply through immigration investor programs.
Likewise, foreign nationals who hold settled status through Indefinite Leave to Remain and have not breached UK immigration rules can submit a British citizenship application, provided they fulfill the additional criteria to become a British citizen, such as passing an English language test and life in the UK test.
Where can I get post-Brexit dual citizenship?
Many countries allow dual citizenship after Brexit. These include:
- Malta
- St Lucia
- St Kitts and Nevis
- Grenada
- Dominica
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Vanuatu
Can I apply for a Golden Visa and get dual citizenship after Brexit?
A Golden Visa doesn’t provide an automatic path to multiple citizenship. Countries such as Portugal and Greece offer Golden Visas, which grant residence permits to foreign investors. After completing a specified residency period, you may be eligible to become a dual citizen and add a second citizenship to your existing nationality.
Can you hold a British and Spanish passport?
While the UK government permits dual nationality for UK citizens, Spain is not among the countries that allow dual citizenship with the UK. Should you wish to obtain Spanish citizenship, you may be required to renounce your original citizenship.
Which passport should I use if I have United Kingdom dual citizenship?
As a standard practice, citizens should present the passport of their respective country when entering it. This means, as a UK citizen with two passports, you should use your British passport when entering the UK and your second passport when entering your second country of citizenship.
Is my nationality British if I have dual citizenship?
If you have dual citizenship, one of them being British citizenship, you are considered a British citizen by UK nationality law. However, it’s important to note that the specific rights and responsibilities associated with your dual citizenship may vary depending on the nationality laws and regulations of the other country or countries of citizenship.
Can my child get UK citizenship if born overseas?
A child born abroad is considered a British citizen by descent if at least one parent had British citizenship at the time of their birth. The child of an EU citizen who had settled status in the UK via Indefinite Leave to Remain at the time of birth may also have the right to British citizenship, depending on when they were born.
Can I be a dual citizen of the US and UK?
Yes, a US citizen is allowed to have dual citizenship with the UK. This arrangement is officially recognized and agreed upon by both the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
Can a U.S. citizen become a UK citizen?
Americans can obtain British citizenship through various avenues. The main route is through naturalization. Additionally, eligibility for British citizenship can also come through birth, descent, or double descent.
What countries allow dual citizenship with UK?
Some of the countries that accept dual citizenship with the UK are:
- Australia
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Finland
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Portugal
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United States
Does being born in the UK make you a citizen?
A child who is born in the UK will gain automatic British citizenship.
The child will usually acquire automatic British citizenship if they were both:
- born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983
- born when one of your parents was a British citizen or ‘settled’ in the UK
What are the benefits of having dual citizenship in the UK?
Having dual citizenship in the UK offers several benefits, including living, working, and traveling freely in both countries. It allows access to social services like healthcare and education in both nations and provides diplomatic protection from both governments. Additionally, dual citizens can own property, vote, and hold specific jobs in both countries.
