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Exploring The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Dual Citizenship

3 August 2015

Suzanne Hamilton

Dual citizenship occurs when a person holds citizenship in two countries. This can occur at birth, particularly if a child is born while visiting another country and that country provides birth citizenship. In that case, the child would be granted citizenship to the country he or she was born in, and may still retain citizenship to the country that his or her parents are from.

In other cases, adults can choose to become naturalized citizens of another country while retaining their previous citizenship. If you travel to the same country a lot, you may be considering it. Here's a look at the pros and cons of dual citizenship:

Advantages

• Flexibility – dual citizenship makes it easier for you to come and go between the countries, because you no longer have to apply for and receive a visa or other legal authorization to travel into or out of the country.

• Property – some countries limit property purchases to citizens, so even if you're going to be there on a long-term project, you may not be able to buy a house. Becoming a dual citizen allows you the citizenship to buy property without sacrificing the citizenship of your native country.

• Work – many countries require that you be a citizen in order to have the legal right to work there. By obtaining dual citizenship, you'll have the freedom to work in either country, or both. If you're working for a company with offices in both countries, you can travel between the two and live in either country.

• Rights – dual citizens are typically afforded all of the rights of any citizen of the country. This means that you'd have the right to vote in elections and seek state benefits. If you have dual citizenship in a country with easy access to healthcare or a government pension, you should be able to take advantage of it.

Disadvantages

• Taxes – as a citizen of more than one country, you may be responsible for paying employment taxes in both countries. This is of particular concern if you're holding a residence in both countries and traveling between the two so frequently that neither one could be considered primary.

Some countries don't permit dual citizenship, though many do. If you are considering a dual citizenship status, you should talk with an immigration lawyer about the situation. Immigration lawyers can help you understand the process, if it's permitted in the country you're considering.

Contact a company such as Carmen DiAmore-Siah Attorney At Law to learn more.

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