How to Get Dual Citizenship in 2026
Dual citizenship means you are a citizen of two countries at the same time. You carry two passports, you can live and work in both countries without a visa, and you have the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in each. For many people, dual citizenship provides more freedom, better travel access, and a backup plan.
This guide explains how dual citizenship works, how to get it in some of the most popular countries, and which countries do not allow it.
What is dual citizenship?
When you hold dual citizenship, both countries consider you a full citizen. You can vote, own property, access public services, and live in either country for as long as you want. You may also have obligations in both countries, such as paying taxes or completing military service.
Not every country allows dual citizenship. Some countries require you to give up your existing citizenship before you can become a citizen there. Others allow it with no restrictions. Before pursuing a second citizenship, you need to check the rules in both your current country and the country where you want to become a citizen.
How to get US citizenship
The most common path to US citizenship is naturalization. This means you apply for citizenship after living in the United States as a permanent resident (green card holder) for a certain period of time.
Requirements for naturalization:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years (or 3 years if married to a US citizen)
- Have been physically present in the US for at least 30 months out of the last 5 years
- Have lived in the same state or district for at least 3 months before applying
- Demonstrate good moral character
- Pass an English language test (reading, writing, and speaking)
- Pass a US civics test (questions about American history and government)
Timeline: The application (Form N-400) takes approximately 8 to 14 months to process, depending on your location. After approval, you attend a naturalization ceremony where you take the Oath of Allegiance.
Cost: The filing fee is 760 USD, which includes biometrics. Fee waivers are available for applicants with low income.
The United States allows dual citizenship. You do not need to give up your other citizenship when you naturalize, and the US government generally does not require you to choose one over the other. However, some countries may revoke your original citizenship if you voluntarily take US citizenship, so check the rules of your home country first.
How to get UK citizenship
The main pathway to British citizenship is naturalization after a period of residence in the United Kingdom.
Requirements for naturalization:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have held Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or EU settled status for at least 12 months
- Have lived in the UK for at least 5 years before your application (or 3 years if married to a British citizen)
- Have not spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the 5-year period
- Have not spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months
- Pass the Life in the UK test (a multiple-choice test about British history, culture, and values)
- Meet the English language requirement (B1 level or above on an approved test)
- Be of good character (no serious criminal convictions or immigration violations)
Timeline: Processing takes approximately 6 months after you submit your application. If approved, you attend a citizenship ceremony within 90 days.
Cost: The application fee is 1,580 GBP for adults. Add the Life in the UK test fee (50 GBP), English language test fee (approximately 150 to 200 GBP), and the citizenship ceremony fee (80 GBP). Total costs are approximately 1,850 to 1,900 GBP.
The UK allows dual citizenship with no restrictions. You can hold British citizenship alongside any other nationality.
How to get Irish citizenship
Ireland is unique because it offers citizenship by descent to people who may never have lived in Ireland. This makes it one of the most accessible EU citizenships for people with Irish heritage.
Citizenship by descent
If one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, you are automatically an Irish citizen, even if you were born outside Ireland. You simply need to register your birth on the Foreign Births Register.
If one of your grandparents was born in Ireland (but your parents were not), you can also claim Irish citizenship. You must first register on the Foreign Births Register before passing citizenship to any future children.
Cost: The registration fee is 278 EUR for adults. Processing times vary but typically take 12 to 18 months due to high demand.
Citizenship by naturalization
If you do not have Irish ancestry, you can apply for citizenship after living in Ireland for a qualifying period.
Requirements:
- Have lived in Ireland for at least 5 of the last 9 years, including 1 continuous year immediately before your application
- Be of good character
- Intend to continue living in Ireland after naturalization
There is no language test for Irish citizenship by naturalization, which makes it unusual among European countries.
Timeline: Processing takes approximately 12 to 23 months.
Cost: The application fee is 175 EUR, and the certificate of naturalization fee is 950 EUR.
Ireland allows dual citizenship. You can hold Irish and any other citizenship at the same time.
How to get Australian citizenship
Australia grants citizenship through both descent and naturalization.
Citizenship by descent
If at least one of your parents was an Australian citizen at the time of your birth, you are eligible for Australian citizenship by descent, regardless of where you were born. You apply by submitting evidence of your parent's citizenship and your birth certificate.
Cost: The application fee is approximately 390 AUD.
Citizenship by naturalization
If you are a permanent resident of Australia, you can apply for citizenship after meeting the residence requirement.
Requirements:
- Be a permanent resident
- Have lived in Australia for at least 4 years, including at least 12 months as a permanent resident
- Have not been absent from Australia for more than 12 months in total during the 4-year period, including no more than 90 days in the 12 months before applying
- Be of good character
- Pass the Australian citizenship test (a multiple-choice test about Australian values, history, and government). This test is only required for applicants aged 18 to 59.
- Demonstrate a basic knowledge of English
Timeline: Processing takes approximately 4 to 8 months for most applicants. After approval, you attend a citizenship ceremony where you make the Australian Citizenship Pledge.
Cost: The application fee is approximately 490 AUD. There is no additional fee for the citizenship test.
Australia allows dual citizenship. This has been the case since 2002, when the Australian Citizenship Act was amended. Before that, Australians who took another citizenship automatically lost their Australian citizenship.
Countries that do not allow dual citizenship
Not every country permits dual citizenship. If you are a citizen of one of these countries and take a second citizenship, you may automatically lose your original nationality. Some notable examples include:
- China: Chinese citizens who voluntarily acquire a foreign nationality automatically lose their Chinese citizenship.
- India: India does not allow dual citizenship. However, it offers an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which provides many of the same benefits as citizenship (lifetime visa, right to work) without voting rights.
- Japan: Japanese citizens are expected to choose one nationality by age 22. In practice, Japan does not always enforce this rule, but it is a legal requirement.
- Singapore: Male citizens who acquire a foreign nationality before completing National Service may face serious consequences, including being unable to return to Singapore.
- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE: These Gulf states generally do not allow dual citizenship.
If your home country restricts dual citizenship, acquiring a second passport could mean giving up your first one. Research the rules carefully before you apply.
Is dual citizenship right for you?
Dual citizenship offers significant advantages: visa-free travel to more countries, the ability to live and work in two places, access to two sets of public services, and a safety net if conditions change in one country. But it also comes with responsibilities, including potential tax obligations in both countries and the complexity of managing two sets of legal requirements.
The first step is understanding which citizenships you might qualify for. Some paths, like Irish citizenship by descent, may already be available to you without years of residence. Others, like US or UK naturalization, require a long-term plan.
Passpoort can help you see which countries offer pathways that match your profile, including citizenship options you may not have considered. Create a free Passpoort profile to explore your options.