| Some people have dual citizenship by birth. For others | | | | either wish to enlist in or avoid enlisting in the military of |
| it is a choice. In the first case, any consequences of | | | | a specific country. |
| the duality comes as a part of your birthright. In the | | | | - Ease of travel: Having a second passport from an |
| second, you must decide if the consequences of | | | | European Union country for example facilitates |
| seeking dual citizenship will provide you additional life | | | | movement and the ability to work in other E.U. |
| benefits or only create dual headaches. | | | | countries. In the case of a U.S. citizen, it might facilitate |
| If you are in the second group, you must decide if the | | | | travel into a country that is on the U.S. forbidden list by |
| advantages of such a status outweigh the | | | | having and being able to use an additional passport. |
| disadvantages. This will depend on each individual case. | | | | - Work Benefits: Being a citizen of a country includes |
| The first consideration is whether your native country | | | | the right to work and earn income in that country. |
| allows dual citizenship. If so, you go on to the next | | | | Having citizenship in more than one country expands |
| consideration, why you wish to have dual citizenship | | | | your income possibilities in each. |
| and where?. If your country either does not allow dual | | | | Finally, once you decide that dual citizenship is desirable |
| citizenship or strongly discourages it, like in the case of | | | | for you, you must proceed through the legal steps of |
| the United States, you have a totally different set of | | | | your second country to obtain it. All countries have |
| considerations and hurdles to jump. A country may | | | | specific legal and residential requirements that have to |
| discourage, ignore, or or actively prohibit its citizens | | | | be met. Some require that you first spend time living in |
| from being a citizen of another country. The degree of | | | | their country under a temporary visa before you can |
| acceptance of a dual citizenship status will largely | | | | even apply for citizenship. Part of this requirement may |
| determine your choice. | | | | be demonstrating that you have the financial capability |
| Why you wish to have citizenship in two or more | | | | of supporting yourself during this period of time. |
| countries is the next consideration. Some of the more | | | | Some few have a second passport program that is |
| common reasons follow. | | | | largely based on financial considerations. These require |
| - Tax considerations: (some tax only income earned in | | | | a certain financial investment to be made in the |
| their country -- others like the U.S. also tax foreign | | | | country and little else. If your only goal is to have a |
| earned income) | | | | second passport that will give you freer travel to |
| - Political considerations: Being a citizen of two or more | | | | certain countries, and have the financial capability to |
| countries gives you more freedom of movement, and | | | | participate in the programs of these countries; you can |
| a ready option to remove yourself from one of the | | | | obtain dual citizenship and the second passport that |
| countries and move to the other if the need arises. | | | | goes with it rather quickly. |
| - Military considerations: This could be because you | | | | |