Dual citizenship is governed by complex regulations that vary depending on where you’re from, and where you’re hoping to become a dual-citizenship national. In some countries, dual citizenship has been an established option for decades now, while in others the entire concept is a no-no.
In a third set of countries, dual citizenship can be granted, provided a certain number of conditions are met. And in others, taking citizenship requires citizens to renounce any other citizenship they might have first.
We bring you our breakdown of dual-citizenship countries, in addition to countries that don’t allow dual citizenship, for a quick and easy guide to where to look to acquire multiple citizenships as well as countries that offer 2nd citizenship by investment.
Relocate Antigua is on hand to answer any questions you might have about the possibility of dual citizenship in your own specific circumstances. Each and every country has its own unique set of double-nationality rules that will apply to varying degrees, depending on your original citizenship. Can you be a citizen of two countries? Does Canada allow dual citizenship? Get in touch with us for assistance in unraveling the complex tapestry of regulations relevant to your own case.
Relocate Antigua specializes in helping clients get to grips with the ins and outs of relocating to Antigua and Barbuda, securing residency and working towards gaining citizenship. Our expert consultants and specialist relocation teams are on hand to talk you through the citizenship-by-investment schemes and residency programmes open to you – get in touch to find out how we can help.
And read on for a general overview of the state of play…
Countries that allow dual citizenship
Although each country differs in outlook and approach, entire continents tend to follow similar trends.
The list of African countries allowing individuals to hold dual citizenship is growing every year, yet remains restricted – in many nations in Africa, dual citizenship is illegal.
Just a decade ago, there were only seven countries in Asia that allowed individuals to hold dual citizenship. Ten years on, and the dual citizenship countries list for the continent has grown significantly.
Over half of North America’s twenty-three countries allow dual citizenship, making it a safe bet for many international travelers, and South America is similarly relaxed.
Over in Europe and across the ocean in Oceania, most countries give dual citizenship the green light – with a handful of exceptions we’ve flagged below, nonetheless.
We guide you through a continent-by-continent breakdown of the rules, complete with pointers for countries where quirks or specifics apply. At the end of this article, you’ll find a downloadable kit for you to refer back to any time.
| Country | Good to know | Status |
| Algeria | Requires renunciation of previous citizenship – although a loophole applies. | ✅ |
| Angola | ✅ | |
| Benin | ✅ | |
| Burundi | ✅ | |
| Cape Verde | ✅ | |
| Comoros | Officially, dual citizenship is not permitted, but in practice this rule isn’t often applied. | ✅ |
| Egypt | Officials must be informed of the citizen’s intention to apply for dual citizenship. | ✅ |
| Ghana | ✅ | |
| Ivory Coast | ✅ | |
| Kenya | ✅ | |
| Lesotho | ✅ | |
| Libya | ✅ | |
| Madagascar | ✅ | |
| Malawi | ✅ | |
| Mauritius | ✅ | |
| Morocco | ✅ | |
| Senegal | ✅ | |
| Sierra Leone | ✅ | |
| Somalia | ✅ | |
| South Africa | Citizens over the age of eighteen must apply to retain their South African passport before acquiring dual nationality. | ✅ |
| Sudan | ✅ | |
| Tunisia | ✅ | |
| Uganda | ✅ | |
| Zambia | Citizens who lost their original nationality before the law was changed can apply to have their citizenship reinstated. | ✅ |
Asia
| Country | Good to know | Status |
| Bangladesh | Citizens lose their passport, however, if they commit a crime within five years of being awarded nationality. | ✅ |
| East Timor | ✅ | |
| Hong Kong | ✅ | |
| Iraq | ✅ | |
| Israel | Jews are permitted to claim citizenship under the Law of Return legislation. | ✅ |
| Jordan | Citizens who lost their original nationality before the law was changed can apply to have their citizenship reinstated. | ✅ |
| Pakistan | Pakistan only allows individuals from sixteen specified countries to hold dual citizenship. Pakistani dual citizenship bars citizens from certain rights. | ✅ |
| Philippines | Dual citizenship is much easier to acquire if the original citizenship is Filipino, as opposed to the other way around – it’s difficult for foreign nationals to be granted it. | ✅ |
| Sri Lanka | ✅ |
North America
| Country | Good to know | Status |
| Canada | Dual citizenship is actively promoted in Canada. | ✅ |
| The United States | Dual citizenship is discouraged in the United States. | ✅ |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | An extremely relaxed citizenship-by-investment scheme operates here. | ✅ |
| Mexico | Citizens are required to enter and leave Mexico using their Mexican passports. | ✅ |
| Dominican Republic | ✅ | |
| Honduras | ✅ | |
| Costa Rica | ✅ | |
| Panama | Citizens are required to take an oath proclaiming renunciation of their original citizenship, but in practice this isn’t recognised by other countries. The Friendly Nations Visa is one alternative worth considering. | ✅ |
| Jamaica | ✅ | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | ✅ | |
| Barbados | Barbados actively encourages dual citizenship. | ✅ |
| Saint Lucia | ✅ | |
| Grenada | ✅ | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Not only does Antigua and Barbuda allow dual citizenship – it also has a very strong citizenship-by-investment scheme. | ✅ |
| Dominica | ✅ |
South America
| Country | Good to know | Status |
| Argentina | Citizens are required to enter and leave Argentina using their Argentinian passports if visiting the country for more than 90 days. | ✅ |
| Bolivia | ✅ | |
| Brazil | Citizens are required to enter and leave Brazil using their Brazilian passports. | ✅ |
| Chile | ✅ | |
| Colombia | Dual citizens cannot hold certain government positions. Citizens who lost their nationality can apply to have their citizenship reinstated. | ✅ |
| Ecuador | Citizens who lost their nationality as a result of naturalisation elsewhere can apply to have their citizenship reinstated. | ✅ |
| Paraguay | One of the easiest places in the world to acquire dual nationality. | ✅ |
| Peru | This primarily applies to citizens of Hispanic countries, although in practice Peru applies relaxed dual citizenship laws. | ✅ |
| Uruguay | ✅ |
Europe
| Country | Good to know | Status |
| Albania | ✅ | |
| Armenia | ✅ | |
| Belgium | ✅ | |
| Cyprus | In addition to citizenship by naturalisation, Cyprus also has an economic citizenship scheme. | ✅ |
| Czech Republic | Citizens who lost their nationality can apply to have their citizenship reinstated. | ✅ |
| Denmark | ✅ | |
| Finland | ✅ | |
| France | ✅ | |
| Greece | ✅ | |
| Hungary | In addition to citizenship by naturalisation, Hungary also has an economic citizenship scheme. | ✅ |
| Iceland | ✅ | |
| Ireland | Irish citizenship can be acquired by individuals who can prove Irish ancestry. | ✅ |
| Italy | Italian citizenship can be acquired by individuals who can prove Italian ancestry. | ✅ |
| Latvia | ✅ | |
| Luxembourg | ✅ | |
| Macedonia | ✅ | |
| Malta | In addition to citizenship by naturalisation, Malta also has an economic citizenship scheme. | ✅ |
| Portugal | Portugal has a generous citizenship-by-investment scheme. | ✅ |
| Romania | No residency conditions need to be fulfilled for Romanian citizenship to be awarded. | ✅ |
| Russia | ✅ | |
| Serbia | Serbia has a citizenship-by-ancestry scheme, similarly to Ireland and Italy. | ✅ |
| Sweden | ✅ | |
| Switzerland | ✅ | |
| Turkey | ✅ | |
| United Kingdom | In some cases, British Overseas Territories’ nationals may not be granted dual citizenship. | ✅ |
Oceania
| Country | Good to know | Status |
| Australia | Australia actively encourages dual citizenship, and has a very relaxed citizenship-by-investment scheme. | ✅ |
| Fiji | In addition to standard dual citizenship regulations, spouses of citizens may also apply for citizenship provided a certain number of conditions are met. | ✅ |
| Nauru | ✅ | |
| New Zealand | Citizens run the risk of losing their dual citizenship in the event of any acts contrary to the country’s interests. | ✅ |
| Palau | ✅ | |
| Samoa | ✅ | |
| Tuvalu | ✅ | |
| Vanuatu | ✅ |
Countries that allow dual citizenship under special circumstances
This dual citizenship countries list features countries where dual citizenship is permitted under particular circumstances, or in specific cases. Contact Relocate Antigua for more in-depth detail of each country’s requirements, and check official authorities’ website for guidance, as these requirements and cases can often change.
Afghanistan
Austria
Bosnia
Bulgaria
Croatia
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Georgia
Germany
Guatemala
Guyana
Liechtenstein
Moldova
Montenegro
Namibia
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Norway
Panama
Poland
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Seychelles
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Taiwan
Tanzania
The Netherlands
Countries that don’t allow dual citizenship
The countries listed below do not currently allow dual citizenship – but as the number of nations that permit dual citizenship increases, you can expect to see it shorten in the future.
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Belarus
Bhutan
Botswana
China
Congo
Cuba
Djibouti
Ethiopia
Haiti
India
Indonesia
Iran
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Macau
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Monaco
Mongolia
Mozambique
Myanmar
Nepal
North Korea
Oman
Papua New Guinea
Qatar
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Slovakia
Solomon Islands
Swaziland
Tajikistan
Thailand
Tonga
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zimbabwe
Antigua and Barbuda second passport by Investment
Tucked away in the heart of the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation that offers the opportunity to gain second citizenship. The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by investment program is one of the best in the Caribbean. So, you may be wondering: how do I become a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda? Well, the first step is to invest in one of the three available options:
- Contribution to the NDF- A one-time minimum contribution of US$100,000 to the government’s National Development fund.
- Investment in approved businesses- A minimum investment into government-approved businesses of US$150,000.
- Investment in UWI- A minimum investment of US$150,000 to the UWI.
Although there are multiple options, real estate is generally the best one. If you want to learn more about Antigua citizenship by investing in property, let us know and we will assist you. We are looking forward to assisting you on your journey.
For easy access on the go, Relocate Antigua offers downloadable lists to refer back to – and we’re always on hand to provide you with the most up-to-date information for each specific country.
Get in touch for more in-depth details of countries that allow dual citizenship in your case!
Please note that you should always check each country’s official guidance and regulations, as legislation changes frequently over time.
Downloadable guides to countries that allow dual citizenship, countries that don’t allow dual citizenship, and countries where special conditions apply to dual citizenship.
