How can you get a second passport when your home country or new jurisdiction does not allow dual citizenship?
Published at: 14/06/2021 11:37 am
Most of the applicants for citizenship by investment programs arrive from China and India, and neither countries allow their citizens to have dual citizenship. Let's take a closer look, how does the second citizenship ban work in practice?
Sovereign countries may or not allow their citizens to obtain the passports of other countries. Meanwhile, most of the jurisdictions allow dual or multiple citizenships, which is a great advantage. And there are some states, which would enable dual citizenship under particular conditions.
Are there countries with citizenship programs, which do not allow dual citizenship?
Yes, and it's a strategic decision. You can obtain citizenship directly through investment or residency by investment programs, where you have to renounce your original citizenship.
Interestingly, in 2021, both European countries with available citizenship by investment programs are in this category: Austria and Montenegro. Neither states allow dual citizenship. By the way, Montenegro's passport scheme is closing in 2021. Click here to read all the detailed information about this scheme, and you still have time to participate in the single affordable European citizenship by investment program.
Among those countries that offer residency by investment programs, which may lead to citizenship, several jurisdictions strictly forbid dual citizenship as the Netherlands, Thailand, Singapore, Andorra, Estonia, Bahrain, and the UAE.
Which countries do not allow dual citizenship at all?
Bahrain, China, Djibouti, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Nepal, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
Some countries allow dual citizenship only in family reunification cases or international agreements for some countries, such as Panama and Paraguay.
Does your new country inform the original one that you obtained second citizenship?
No, they don't. However, the practical examples will not calm you. Some countries keep the name of their new citizens secret, like Hungary, where the Hungarian minorities from Ukraine and Slovakia usually obtain passports. The Hungarian state helps them with the secrecy to avoid punishment. But in most countries with citizenship programs, the governments must publish the names of the new citizens in the official Gazettes. And if your home country's government is looking for information, you may find the news about your successful naturalisation process.
However, according to the facts, thousands of Chinese and Indian citizens obtain their second citizenships without any hassle every year.
Do you have doubts about your legal situation following a successful immigration process? Are you an investor who needs second citizenship or residency for business, tax or personal reasons? Ask for consultation here to clear your possibilities.
We have more than 25 years of experience planning the legal and financial background of our investor clients' immigration processes.