In order to give you an overview of the opportunities available to you and your family, below we list citizenship laws and eligibility requirements of a few countries:
Pakistan
Allows citizens over the age of 21 to hold dual citizenship of just 20 other countries, including Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. However, such citizens are barred from serving in the military, holding various public offices, and taking certain civil service jobs.
Philippines
Filipinos who get second citizenship will not lose their Philippine nationality. The country’s passport is valid for 10 years for adults, and five years for minors, and gives holders access to over 65 destinations.
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda allows dual citizenship, enabling overseas nationals to obtain its citizenship and, if they wish, apply for an Antigua and Barbuda passport. The country’s citizenship by investment programme allows eligible, reputable individuals who make a one-time contribution of at least US$100,000 to gain citizenship.
Argentina
Argentina does allow dual citizenship, but dual citizens are recognised as exclusively Argentinian while they are in Argentina, so they must (with some exceptions) enter and leave the country on their Argentine passport. Argentina only has a residency by investment scheme, not a citizenship by investment programme.
Dominica
The Commonwealth of Dominica allows dual citizenship. There is no residence requirement under the country’s well-known Citizenship by Investment Programme, whether before, during, or after the process, and Dominica allows many family members (including siblings) to be included in an application for citizenship. The average processing time is three months from submission of an application. Upon obtaining citizenship of Dominica, one may choose to obtain a passport that is valid for ten years.
Grenada
Grenada allows dual citizenship. The Caribbean country enables reputable individuals to obtain citizenship through its citizenship by investment programme, which has a minimum contribution amount of US$150,000 for a single applicant, and no residency requirement. Upon obtaining citizenship of Grenada, one may choose to apply for a passport that is valid for five years.
Panama
Persons with birth-right citizenship of Panama may acquire second citizenship. However, all naturalised citizens must take an oath to renounce their original citizenship. Panama’s Friendly Nations Visa grants permanent residency to nationals from 50 countries with which it has economic and professional ties, providing an alternative means of living in Panama.
St Kitts and Nevis
The dual island nation has the world’s oldest citizenship by investment programme. There are no travel or residence requirements under the Programme, so individuals need not visit the country before, during, or after the citizenship by investment process. What’s more, St Kitts and Nevis allows the inclusion of a wide range of family members in an application for citizenship. The nation allows dual citizenship.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia allows dual citizenship and under the Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme, anyone who meets the country’s requirements may obtain citizenship of St Lucia, and should they choose to apply for one, a Saint Lucian passport. The island’s citizenship by investment programme has no residency requirement, with an average processing time of 90 days from submission of an application to approval in principle.
Egypt
Under Egyptian law, dual citizenship is allowed but individuals must inform appropriate Egyptian officials. Holders of dual citizenship are prohibited from enrolling in military and police academies or being elected to Parliament. The country approved its new citizenship law in 2019, which paved the way for investors to obtain citizenship of Egypt for a minimum investment of US$250,000.
Italy
Italy permits dual citizenship and anyone with an Italian ancestor born in Italy may be entitled to citizenship by descent. Those who own an Italian passport must renew it every 10 years as an adult, every five years if aged between three and 17, and after three years if issued before the age of three. Italy does not have a citizenship by investment programme, but it does have a residency by investment programme.
Malta
The Southern European island-state of Malta has no restrictions on dual citizenship. Reputable investors who meet the requirements under the Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations, including a residence requirement of at least 12 months, can obtain citizenship of Malta, and may subsequently apply for a passport. Under the Regulations, in addition to the completion of a residence requirement, overseas nationals must pass an eligibility assessment and make a minimum investment of average €690,000.
