Nowadays, a second passport is a must. Plan B is your reliable protection in the situation when the world is becoming a less safe place and some kind of major turmoil may be expected. Many people don’t know the difference between second and dual citizenship so we will talk about it in this post. You will also be able to see what ways of obtaining one more citizenship exist. If you want to get more detailed information on your rights and obligations if you have dual citizenship and those available if you have a second citizenship, please click on the above link to visit a trusted portal and read a more detailed article. And if you want to discuss obtaining a second passport with a specialist, use the live chat on the portal.
Second vs. Dual Citizenship
No matter whether you have second or dual citizenship, it means that you are a citizen of two countries at the same time. However, there are differences between these two concepts that we are going to look at.
Dual Citizenship
This is a legal concept that makes it possible for the person to be a bipartite, that is, a citizen of two countries at the same time. This is only possible if there is a bilateral agreement allowing dual citizenship that has been concluded between the two countries. If you have dual citizenship, you have double rights and double obligations as you can use the benefits of each country, but you are also liable to it.
The bilateral agreement parties exchange data about bipartite and regulate their civil status, rights, and obligations.
Second Citizenship
If you have a second citizenship, you have two passports as in the previous case. However, there is no bilateral agreement in this case, which means that each country considers the person its lawful citizen and disregards the fact that he or she possesses one more passport.
The authorities of your home country may be unaware of the fact that you have a second passport, and it may be perfectly fine in many cases. However, some states require their citizens to notify the relevant authorities if they acquire a second citizenship.
What’s the Difference Then?
To sum up, two characteristics make all the difference:
- The countries may have a bilateral agreement that allows dual citizenship or not.
- If you have a second citizenship, each country considers you to be its citizen. In the case of dual citizenship, each state recognizes the public duties imposed on you by the other country.
Second and Dual Citizenship: Pros and ConsDual Citizenship
Let’s look at the main advantages of being a bipartite:
- You have to pay taxes, serve in the army, and perform all the other public duties only in one country.
- When you are abroad, you may request help from a diplomatic mission of either country.
- Both countries give you every opportunity to buy property, carry out business operations, and perform any other legal actions.
- You can be a legal resident of either country.
However, dual citizenship also has its disadvantages, and it would be useful to know them:
- If you have dual citizenship, you will have certain limitations accessing some state-specific positions, like being a secret service agent, a police officer, a member of Parliament, or a holder of any other public office.
- Second, you cannot use the benefits provided by the two countries at a time. You will have to comply with the laws of the country where you actually live.
Second Citizenship
Second citizenship has its undeniable advantages:
- The fact that you possess a second passport may remain your secret until the laws of your home country oblige you to disclose it to the authorities. However, if this is not required, the second passport will become your reliable protection in case of any political or economic turmoil in the country where you currently reside.
- There are not so many countries that have a bilateral agreement on bipartite. It means that you have numerous opportunities to obtain second citizenship, but not dual citizenship. You can acquire a passport from another state even if it does not have any diplomatic relations with your home country. This option gives you great opportunities related to geographical diversification of assets and tax planning.
As for the disadvantages of second citizenship, they do exist:
- If you want to have access to state secrets, work for law enforcement authorities, or take public office, it is often impossible to do so if you have a second passport.
- If you have two passports, you may have to comply with double obligations – for example, both countries may want you to join the army.
How to Acquire Another Passport? Second citizenship
Here are the possible ways of acquiring second citizenship:
- By birth. If a child is born in the territory of some countries, he or she is automatically granted citizenship (this is also known as the right of soil).
- By descent. You obtain citizenship from your parents (one of them may be a foreigner) if you prove that you have (or had) relatives in another country (right of blood).
- By naturalization. You can acquire a local passport if you live in a country for quite a long period (from 2 to 20 years, depending on the country). You are usually required to pass a language/history test.
- By investment. You need to make a considerable investment in the country’s economy and pass verification to obtain your citizenship in a matter of several months (it may be longer, though).
- By providing outstanding services. These are exceptional cases, and you become an honorary citizen in this situation.
Dual Citizenship
Here are some ways of acquiring dual citizenship in addition to naturalization:
- A child is adopted by a foreign family.
- A child born into an international family usually acquires dual citizenship.
- A child born to a parent with dual citizenship usually has the right to dual citizenship as well.
Are you interested in obtaining a second passport? You can follow the link above and explore the portal where you will find a lot of opportunities to do so. Do not hesitate to book a free initial session with a specialist to get professional advice.