Updated
GL-D-02
Glossary · Statuses, passports, travel
Dual citizenship - Dual citizenship
Two passports at the same time. Most CBI countries allow it (Grenada, Dominica, Malta, Turkey). Some prohibit it (China, the UAE, Singapore). Russia allows it but requires notification within 60 days.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- When a person is a citizen of two countries at once and holds two passports
- In investment programmes
- The goal is usually to obtain a second passport while keeping the first
- Who allows it
- Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts, Malta, Turkey and others
- Who prohibits it
- Some countries (China, the UAE, Singapore) do not recognise a second citizenship
- Can you prepare
- Yes: check compatibility and any notification duty in advance
02 / In plain words
What Dual citizenship means
Dual citizenship means that a person holds two passports at the same time and is legally regarded as a citizen of two countries. For investment migration this is a key question: it is almost always about obtaining a second passport while keeping the first.
Not every country allows it. Most countries with investment programmes — Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts, Malta, Turkey — readily permit dual citizenship and do not require you to give up your previous passport. A number of states, however (China, the UAE, Singapore), do not recognise a second citizenship for their nationals, and on acquiring a foreign passport the previous one may be lost. So the first thing we look at is the rules of your own country.
A separate issue is the duty to notify your authorities. In Russia, for example, a second citizenship or residence permit must be reported within 60 days, or liability follows. This does not in itself prohibit having a second passport — it is a requirement to report it.
Vanuatu allows dual citizenship: the Citizenship Act (Cap. 112) does not require giving up the first one. A notice of second citizenship is filed under your own country's law.
A case from practice
A citizen obtains a Grenadian passport through investment and keeps their first passport — Grenada permits dual citizenship. Now they have two documents: they use one at home and the Grenadian one for visa-free travel and the US E-2 visa. If their country requires notification of a second citizenship, they file it within the set deadline.
Why dual citizenship is useful
- A second passport while keeping the first
- Visa-free travel on the new passport
- A fallback option for the family
- Access to the US E-2 visa (through Grenada)
- Freedom of movement and choice
- Passing the status on to children
03 / What it covers
What matters with dual citizenship
Who allows it
- Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts
- Malta, Turkey
- Most investment programmes
Who restricts it
- China, UAE, Singapore
- Do not recognise a second one
- The previous passport at risk
Obligations
- Notifying your authorities
- Deadlines (e.g. 60 days in Russia)
- Liability for silence
What to look at
- Your country’s rules
- The new country’s rules
- Compatibility of the two statuses
04 / How it works
How to obtain a second passport without problems with the first
Check your country’s rules
Choose a compatible programme
Obtain the second passport
Notify the authorities (where required)
The two statuses coexist calmly
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
Most investment programmes allow dual citizenship
02
Some countries (China, the UAE, Singapore) do not recognise a second citizenship
03
In some places the authorities must be notified of a second passport (in Russia within 60 days)
04
Notification is a duty to report, not a ban on holding the passport
05
The first thing to check is the rules of your own country
Common mistakes
- Not checking whether your country recognises a second citizenship
- Missing the deadline to notify of a second passport
- Assuming a second passport changes your taxes (it does not)
- Choosing a country without regard to compatibility with your current status
- Forgetting your obligations to both countries
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
The first step is to check the rules of your current country: does it recognise dual citizenship, and what notification duties will arise? Then choose a programme compatible with your status and plan the notification in time. That way the second passport causes no problems with the first, and the two statuses coexist calmly.
What we do for you. We check in advance whether the chosen citizenship is compatible with your current one and what notification duties will arise for you, so that the second passport causes no problems with the first. We choose the programme so that both statuses coexist calmly.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
In most investment programmes, no — they allow dual citizenship. Renunciation may be required only if your current country does not recognise a second citizenship.
In some countries, yes. In Russia, for example, a second citizenship or residence permit must be notified within 60 days. It is a duty to report; holding the second passport itself is permitted.
Among others, China, the UAE and Singapore: they do not recognise a second citizenship for their nationals. We check the rules of your particular country first.
Not by itself. Taxes are determined by tax residence, not citizenship. A second passport does not automatically make you a tax resident of the new country.
Usually you enter a country on the passport that gives better terms (visa-free access, citizen’s rights). At the same time, it is important to follow the entry and exit rules of each of your countries of citizenship.
As a rule, yes: children included in the programme or born to citizens acquire citizenship and can hold two passports — under the same compatibility rules.
Related terms
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