For most people, a passport is a blue (or burgundy, or green) booklet that lives in a drawer until vacation.
For globally-minded weirdos like us?
A passport is a tool.
Now take that tool and duplicate it. Maybe even a third time.
Suddenly you’re not just “from” one country anymore. Now you’re the person who:
Flashes one passport at the EU border and walks right in
Uses another to visit the U.S. visa-free
Gets local tuition rates, public healthcare, and the right to live in places people are fighting to get into
On paper, dual citizenship sounds like a travel superpower.
And sometimes, it is.
But here’s the part Instagram leaves out:
If you mismanage multiple citizenships, you can also end up with:
Tax obligations in two countries
Surprise military service requirements
Conflicting laws (you’re allowed to do X here, but not there)
Or, worst case, losing one of your citizenships entirely
So in this issue of The Passport Newsletter, we’re going to walk through how to do dual citizenship the smart way—legally, calmly, and intentionally.
Not just “How do I get a second passport?”
But:
“Should I? What does it really change about my life? And how do I keep it from biting me later?”
Let’s dive in.
What Dual Citizenship Actually Is (and What It’s Not)
Dual citizenship (or multiple citizenship) simply means two or more countries legally recognize you as a citizen at the same time.
You’re not “half this and half that.”
You’re 100% a citizen of each country—with the rights and responsibilities that come with each.
You can end up in this situation through:
Birthplace – Born in the U.S. (birthright citizenship) to foreign parents
Descent – Grandparents or parents from Italy, Ireland, Poland, etc.
Naturalization – You move, live legally, and eventually qualify
Marriage – Spouse fast-tracks your path to citizenship
Investment – You write a very large check to a very small country
Example:
A kid born in New York to Italian parents might automatically be:
American (by jus soli – right of the soil)
Italian (by jus sanguinis – right of blood)
Congratulations, baby. You’re 2 hours old and already have more passport privileges than most adults.
Step One: Do Your Countries Even Allow Dual Citizenship?
Before you start dreaming in multiple passport colors, there’s a boring but crucial question:
“Does each country I’m dealing with actually allow dual citizenship?”
Because here’s the thing:
Some countries are chill about it
Some are tolerant but fussy
Some are absolutely not, pick one
Broad categories:
Liberal with dual citizenship
Examples: Canada, the U.K., much of Latin America, many EU states
These generally say: “If someone else wants to call you a citizen too, that’s between you and them.”
Conditional or restrictive
Example: Japan – often expects you to choose one nationality by a certain age
If you keep both and pretend nothing’s happening, you may be breaking local law
Generally against dual citizenship
Examples: Singapore, India
Typically require you to renounce your old citizenship when you become a citizen there
Trying to secretly keep both can put you in “fraud” territory
If you’re thinking of naturalizing in a new country, you must know:
Does this country require you to renounce anything?
Does your home country treat foreign naturalization as an automatic renunciation?
If you get this part wrong, you don’t get a cool loophole—you get a mess.
The Four Big Paths to Dual Citizenship (and What They’re Really Like)
Most people come into dual citizenship through one of four routes.
1. Citizenship by Descent (“Grandma Clause”)
Many countries—especially in Europe—offer citizenship to descendants of their nationals.
Think:
Italy
Ireland
Poland
Germany
Others with diaspora policies
Pros:
Often no requirement to give up your existing citizenship
You may not need to move there
Opens the door to the entire EU in some cases (free movement, work, residency)
Cons:
Paperwork scavenger hunt: Old birth certificates, marriage records, naturalization dates
Waiting times can be long
Rules can be weirdly specific (e.g., no broken chain, no ancestor who naturalized too early, etc.)
This is one of the most powerful and underused paths. If your family tree is even a little European, it’s worth checking.
2. Naturalization (The Long Game)
You move to a new country, get legal residency, stay put, pay your taxes, and after a certain number of years, you qualify for citizenship.
Pros:
You’ve actually lived there—better integration, better understanding
Often doesn’t require giving up your original citizenship (depending on the country)
You get full rights: vote, work, stay indefinitely
Cons:
Time-consuming: 3, 5, 7+ years depending on the country
Requires legal status first (visa, residency, etc.)
You may be taxed, drafted, or obligated along the way
This is the classic “I moved abroad and stayed” path.
3. Marriage (Fast Track… Sort Of)
Marrying a citizen can shorten the residency period or make the process easier—but it rarely grants instant citizenship.
Pros:
Faster path in many countries
Sometimes waives tests or reduces timeline
Cons:
Still involves paperwork, background checks, language expectations
Marriage of convenience = very bad idea, legally and otherwise
This path is less “hack” and more “life happened and the law recognizes that.”
4. Citizenship by Investment
Some countries offer citizenship (or long-term residency that leads to it) in exchange for significant financial contributions.
Think:
Caribbean states like St. Kitts & Nevis
Other nations with official economic citizenship programs
Pros:
Fast—sometimes months, not years
Can offer excellent travel freedom (especially for restricted passports)
Cons:
Very expensive (we’re talking six-figure contributions)
Programs can change or be scrutinized
You still have to manage all your new obligations properly
Great if you’re high net worth, need mobility, and don’t want to uproot your life.
Why People Actually Want Dual Citizenship
It’s not just bragging rights. When done right, dual (or multiple) citizenship can dramatically expand your options.
1. More Travel Freedom
Second passports can:
Unlock visa-free access to countries that are hard to reach with your first passport
Reduce friction at borders
Let you avoid expensive, slow visa applications for certain routes
For frequent travelers or remote workers, this alone can be a game-changer.
2. Live & Work Where You Actually Want to Be
If you’re a citizen, you usually have:
The right to live and work in that country without visas
Permanent access that doesn’t depend on one immigration officer’s mood
EU passports are especially powerful here:
Italian, Irish, Spanish, Portuguese, etc. → You can live and work across the entire EU.
That’s not just travel freedom—that’s career and family freedom.
3. Education and Healthcare
With citizenship, you’re often entitled to:
Local university tuition rates (which in many countries are dramatically lower than foreign student rates)
Access to public healthcare systems
Eligibility for scholarships, grants, and other locals-only benefits
For a family with kids, this can be worth six figures over time.
4. Security and Plan B
Dual citizenship is also:
A back-up plan if your home country becomes unstable, unsafe, or unpredictable
A way to always have somewhere to go that you’re legally allowed to stay
When the world gets weird (and it does), having options isn’t a luxury. It’s a strategy.
The Downsides Nobody Likes to Talk About
Now for the unsexy side. Multiple citizenships mean multiple obligations.
1. Double (or Triple) Taxation Risk
Some countries tax you based on residency (you live here → you’re taxed here).
The United States (and a very small club of others) taxes based on citizenship, meaning:
If you’re a U.S. citizen, the IRS still cares about your income, even if you haven’t set foot in the U.S. in years.
Tools like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and foreign tax credits can soften the blow—but they don’t erase filing requirements.
More passports = more potential tax systems to navigate. This is professional-advisor territory, not “I watched a YouTube video” territory.
2. Military Service
Some countries still require mandatory service, especially for male citizens:
Examples often cited: South Korea, Israel, and others with conscription rules
Your second citizenship doesn’t always get you out of those obligations.
If you’re of service age, this is not a detail you want to discover after the fact.
3. Conflicting Laws and Obligations
What happens when:
One country says “You must do X”
The other country says “X is illegal”?
Or:
One country wants you for jury duty, military service, or tax residency
The other country expects you to be physically present there
When you hold multiple citizenships, you’re not above the law—you’re woven into more of them.
4. Renewal Logistics and Admin Overload
More passports mean:
Multiple expiration dates
Different renewal rules (some require in-person visits to consulates)
Keeping track of entry/exit stamps for different systems
It’s manageable—but it’s not effortless.
How to Manage Multiple Passports Like a Pro
A few best practices go a long way.
1. Know Your Rights and Duties
Read up on:
Nationality laws
Tax obligations
Military or civil service requirements
Rules for loss of citizenship
If you don’t want to read raw law text (understandable), work with a qualified immigration or nationality lawyer in that country.
2. Keep Everything Updated & Organized
Renew passports early, not at the last minute
Keep digital and physical copies of:
Birth and marriage certificates
Naturalization documents
Old passports and ID cards
Track your travel days if residency or tax rules depend on them
Think of yourself as your own small international admin office.
3. Use the Right Passport at the Right Time
General rule of thumb:
When you enter a country of which you are a citizen, use that country’s passport.
That avoids awkward questions like “Why are you here?” when the correct legal answer is “Because I’m from here.”
For other countries you’re visiting, you can pick the passport that gives you better access (fewer visas, more time, etc.), as long as you’re obeying each country’s rules.
4. Watch Residency Requirements
Some citizenships can be lost if:
You never renew certain registrations
You don’t spend any time there over a defined period
You don’t keep your address or civil registry updated
This is especially true for some naturalized citizens.
If you worked hard to get that passport, don’t lose it because you forgot to file a simple form.
5. Plan Taxes Intentionally
This is the part where I say the thing you already know is coming:
If you’re earning, investing, or running businesses across borders, you should talk to an international tax advisor, not just your cousin’s accountant.
Good structuring can:
Reduce double taxation
Keep you compliant in all relevant countries
Prevent ugly surprises 5–10 years down the line
Multiple passports can be a tax advantage, or a tax nightmare. The difference is planning.
Case Study: Sofia, the Triangular Life
Let’s revisit Sofia, our example from the transcript—and connect the dots.
She’s Canadian-Italian (dual citizen).
She lives in Spain.
She works remotely for a U.S.-based company.
Here’s how her setup works for her:
Uses her Italian passport to live in Spain as an EU citizen—no visa drama, full rights to work and reside.
Uses her Canadian passport to travel easily to places where it has better access.
Gets EU healthcare by virtue of being an EU citizen resident in Spain.
Files taxes according to Canadian rules for her foreign income (and may also have obligations depending on her Spanish tax residency).
Her biggest job isn’t just doing the work for her company—it’s managing time and status:
She has to track where she spends her days to avoid triggering extra tax residency rules in the wrong place.
She has to keep both passports current.
She needs to be aware of Canadian, Spanish, and EU rules that affect her.
Done well, her setup means:
She can live in Spain
Work globally
Leverage EU systems
Travel with flexibility
Done badly, it could turn into three tax systems and a migraine.
This is dual citizenship in the real world: powerful, but you have to treat it like a serious tool—not a collectible.
When It Might Make Sense to Give One Up
This is the nuclear option—but for some people, it’s the right move.
Reasons people consider renouncing a citizenship:
The tax burden is too heavy or complex relative to the benefit
Mandatory military service they don’t want or can’t fulfill
Access to another citizenship is blocked unless they renounce the first
They have no meaningful connection to the country anymore
But renouncing is:
Often expensive (hello, U.S. exit fees)
Frequently irreversible
Sometimes emotionally painful
If you’re considering this, it’s not a TikTok question. It’s a lawyer, accountant, and long walk with your thoughts question.
The Bottom Line: Dual Citizenship as a Strategy, Not a Flex
Dual (or multiple) citizenship can absolutely change your life:
It can make moving abroad easier
It can open whole regions of the world
It can give your kids opportunities you never had
But like everything in the global mobility world, the key word is intentional.
Don’t chase extra passports just for the selfie.
Do it because you:
Understand the obligations
Have a plan to stay compliant
Know how it fits your vision for where and how you want to live
When you treat dual citizenship like a long-term strategy instead of a shiny toy, it stops being risky and starts becoming one of the most powerful tools in your global living toolkit.