Dual citizenship means being a citizen of two countries simultaneously. The US fully permits dual citizenship — acquiring foreign citizenship does not forfeit your American citizenship.
13 steps across 2 sections
1. Steps Process
- Determine eligibility — Check if the other country allows dual citizenship with the US. Common paths: birth in that country, descent (parent/grandparent was a citizen), marriage, naturalization (re...
- Research requirements — Each country has unique naturalization requirements: residency periods (3-10 years), language tests, civic knowledge tests, and renunciation policies.
- Gather documentation — Birth certificates, ancestry documents, marriage certificates, proof of residency, police clearances. Many documents need apostille or consular authentication.
- Apply through the foreign country — Submit to the foreign immigration authority or consulate. Processing times vary from months to years.
- Maintain US citizenship — You do NOT need to notify the US government. Continue using your US passport to enter/leave the US. Continue filing US tax returns.
- Obtain your second passport — Once citizenship is granted, apply for the second passport.
2. Key Details
- US law does not require choosing one citizenship over another
- You MUST use your US passport to enter and leave the United States
- US tax filing required regardless of where you live or additional citizenships
- FBAR reporting required if foreign accounts exceed $10,000 aggregate (see topic #794)
- Popular countries for dual citizenship: Ireland, Italy, UK, Canada, Mexico, Israel, Portugal
- Countries that do NOT allow dual citizenship: Japan, China, India, Singapore
- Citizenship by descent available in many European countries with no generational limit (Italy, Ireland with grandparent)
Common Mistakes
- Assuming you lose US citizenship when naturalizing abroad (you do not)
- Not researching whether the other country allows dual citizenship
- Failing to continue filing US tax returns
- Not using your US passport at US borders
- Not checking children's eligibility for the second citizenship
Pro Tips
- Citizenship by descent (parents/grandparents) is often the easiest path — res...
- Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis) often has no generational limit
- Irish citizenship available with an Irish-born grandparent
- Some countries offer citizenship through investment ($100K-$500K+)
- Dual citizens can often pass both citizenships to children