by admin | August 4th, 2009
There are somewhere between 55 and 60 countries that allow dual citizenship, and about the same that do not allow it. There are different views of dual citizenship depending on where your primary citizenship is located. Some countries have no problem with a person having dual citizenship and in some cases encourage it. Many countries in recent years have loosened their requirements on dual citizenship, openly welcoming citizens from other countries with dual citizenship. Much of these citizenship changes have been economically motivated.
Officially the United States does not allow dual citizenship. This is stated clearly in the following section of the U.S. citizenship oath:
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreigh prince, potentate, state or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen”
Some countries, like Canada, choose to ignore this renunciation and consider the new U.S. citizen as a citizen still of Canada also.
Why have dual citizenship? For most people, it is not relevant. For others it may be important because of the different regulations on right to work, vote, or have property rights in these second countries. Being a dual citizen can have beneficial consequences or may create dual headaches. Whether being a dual citizen is right for you can only be answered by you and your circumstances. If you think having a dual citizenship is something that would work for you, check with an attorney that specializes in such matters. It is definitely not a “do-it-yourself” project.
