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What Are The Simple Steps For You To Qualify As a Dual Citizen

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There’s nothing that can enrich your life experience as traveling and becoming a citizen of the world. Every time you visit a new country you get to experience life from a completely different perspective, you meet different people, and you get to understand how unique, yet similar, humans are all over the world. But if there’s one thing that can give you an even richer experience of different cultures  it’s getting dual citizenship. 

Many people dream of having a second passport for all the benefits that comes with it. But how do you do that, exactly? Here’s a simple guide to help you.

Dual Citizenship In Different Countries

Dual citizenship means you’re recognized as a citizen in two different countries. While that sounds exciting, unfortunately, not all countries accept dual citizenship. Some countries would require that you renounce your original nationality to acquire their citizenship, while others will revoke your citizenship if you acquire another one. However, many countries still accept dual citizenship and some even accept triple or multiple ones, such as Turkey and France.

 

Depending on the laws of both countries, the process of acquiring a second citizenship can be pretty straightforward and easy, or it can be quite complicated. It all depends on your situation. 

Simple Steps To Qualify As A Dual Citizen

To get a second citizenship, you’ll need to understand how the process works, the laws of your country, and the laws of the country you’re looking forward to joining. 

 

Here are some simple steps to take to qualify for dual citizenship:

  1. Determine If You’re Already A Dual Citizen

Believe it or not, you might already have dual citizenship without realizing it. Some countries, such as Italy, recognize anyone born to parents, grandparents, or any ancestors who were citizens of the country to also be citizens of the same country. So in case you have Italian ancestors, getting your Italian dual citizenship will merely require proving your ancestors were Italian. It’s a matter of getting what you already have by birthright, and it’s a fairly simple process after proving it. 

 

However, sometimes it’s not as straightforward as it seems. To be able to determine your situation and your options, it’s good to understand how dual citizenship works. 

Understanding How Dual Citizenship Works

In countries that accept dual citizenship, there are a few ways to become one. The options available are as follows:

  • Right of Blood (Jure Sanguinis)

Jure sanguinis, or right of blood, means anyone born to citizens of this country become citizens of the right of their blood. In this sense, if both or one of your parents have citizenship, you qualify as a citizen. It also means that even if your parents aren’t citizens (because they didn’t acquire their birthright) but you have an ancestor who was a citizen, then this qualifies you as well. 

 

However, there are a few catches here. Your ancestors will have to be citizens by the time they gave birth to your family-tree predecessors. If the ancestor had renounced their citizenship before birth, then you don’t qualify. You’ll also have to check the laws of the country, such as citizenship laws have been adjusted over time and can be country-specific. If your ancestors were living before the laws were adjusted to accept dual citizenship, there are high chances that you don’t qualify for their citizenship through this method. 

  • Right of Soil (Jure Soli)

Countries like the US place their citizenship laws on jure soli, or right of soil. This means anyone born on the soil of the US becomes a citizen, even if their parents weren’t. Needless to say, they also consider those who were born to American parents, or one American parent, to be US citizens — even if they weren’t born on US soil. 

  • Marriage

Countries that accept dual citizenship will give you their citizenship as well if you marry one of their citizens. Most of these countries provide accelerated procedures to acquire citizenship in this case, making it one of the easiest ways to get dual citizenship. 

  • Naturalization

Naturalization means acquiring citizenship even if you don’t have the right of blood or soil. In this process, you’ll have to become eligible by fulfilling the requirements of the country, which we’ll get to in a bit. However, it’s important to mention that many countries may require you to renounce your original citizenship to become naturalized. Make sure your original country accepts it and that your second country of choice allows you to keep your original citizenship. 

  • Investment

Many nations offer citizenship as a means to attract investors. By investing in the economy of the new country you can walk through an accelerated track to acquire your second citizenship after the investment is made. 

  1. Check Your Eligibility For Citizenship In The Second Country

Now that you understand the different ways you can become a dual citizen, and after checking the availability of becoming on in your country of origin and the second country, it’s time you check your eligibility. This is most common for those seeking to become naturalized citizens of the second country. 

 

Being eligible depends largely on how well they satisfy the citizenship requirements. To determine their eligibility, or understand what they need to do become eligible, they’ll need to satisfy the following requirements:

  1. Entry

This is pretty obvious, but the first step to qualify for dual citizenship is by entering the country legally. Being present in the country through illegal immigration disqualify, greatly hinder, or slow down the process for you. 

  1. Residence

The second step is getting legal and permanent residence in that country. Many countries impose a minimum amount of years to be spent as residents in order to acquire their citizenship. For instance, the US requires a minimum of 5 years, out of which you must be present more than 50% of your residency period on US grounds. During this time, you’ll become familiar with the culture and society of the country, which is necessary for assimilation after getting your citizenship.

  1. Age

To apply for your own citizenship, most countries puts an age restriction of being at least 18 years old. If you’re younger, your parents, or adoptive parents, can file an application for you while they’re submitting their own petitions. 

  1. Education 

Depending on the country you’ll find different minimum requirements for the level of education required. Certain countries will also require minimum level knowledge of their history to make sure you’ll be a knowledgeable citizen once you become one. 

  1. Financial Independence

This factor also depends on your country of choice. Many countries will demand you to be financially independent for a minimum number of years, during which you’ll have to prove you’ve never needed financial support from either other people or government assistance programs. 

  1. Language

Most countries will place minimum requirements of understanding, writing, and speaking their language as well. Some seniors can be exempt from these requirements if they’ve been long-standing residents of the country. 

  1. Commitment To Constitutional Principles

Individuals seeking to acquire dual citizenship should prove they fit well in their new country. As such, they should prove their agreement with and commitment to the constitutional principles applied in this country. 

  1. Moral Character

In short, moral character means showing good behavior during your residency in the country. While there’s no definitive definition for good morale, certain actions such as committing crimes, uncontrolled drunken behavior, gambling, adultery, polygamy, and perjury are usually unacceptable. 

  1. Allegiance

You’ll have to pledge your allegiance to the new country, which entitles you to support the constitution and the country whenever needed by you. 

 

Keep in mind that these are some general guidelines to give you an idea of the process. This process will vary depending on your country of choice. Always make sure you understand the requirements based on your specific case. 

  1. The Application Process

After fulfilling your eligibility requirements, you’ll file an application for citizenship. This process will vary greatly from one country to another, but you can expect to need the following documents:

  1. Completing the form of naturalization provided by the country. Most countries now provide these documents online through their official websites, but some countries offer them through their consulates present in your country of residence. Check online for your country of choice to understand how this application works. 

 

  1. Provide documents that prove you fulfill the requirements of eligibility. 

 

  1. Take passport pictures, the number of which is determined by the country. 

 

After filling out the application, preparing the necessary documents, and paying any obligatory processing fees you’ll submit your application. Once you do that, you’ll get a receipt notice that gives you details about the time of your scheduled hearing and any other processes you’ll need to get through.

  1. Taking Tests

Most countries will require that you pass their tests to qualify for their citizenship. Depending on the country’s requirements you might have to take the following tests:

 

  1. Language test: if you have to satisfy the minimum language requirements to qualify for dual citizenship, then you’ll have to take, and pass, their language test of choice.

 

  1. Biometrics appointment: some countries, such as the US, will require a biometric appointment to run your fingerprints and facial ID for a background check. This process determines whether you’ve had any criminal records in the FBI. 
  2. Cultural tests: in case you’re required to have a minimum amount of knowledge about the country’s culture, history, and politics, you’ll have to take, and pass, their citizenship tests. 

 

  1. Be Interviewed

When you’ve completed the previous steps successfully, you’ll be scheduled for an interview to complete the naturalization process. During the interview the officer will ask you questions to determine your eligibility for themselves. You may take language tests during the interview. You should also provide any documents that exempt you from certain requirements if needed during this step. After the interview is done, you’ll get a notice of the interview results and when to expect them. 

  1. Get A Response

The response you receive will state if your application was accepted or rejected. If you get accepted you’ll move on to the next step. In case of being rejected, understand the reasons for your rejection and whether or not you can re-apply after fulfilling the missing requirements or remedying the reason for refusal. 

  1. Perform An Oath

Once you’re accepted, you’ll be required to pledge your allegiance to the new country by performing an oath. Your oath can be taken directly after the interview if you’ve been accepted, or it can be scheduled at a later notice if your results are yet to be determined. 

  1. Acquire Citizenship

Now that you’ve successfully completed all the steps and have acquired your citizenship, you’re officially a dual citizen. Being a dual citizen comes with various responsibilities, that you must adhere to, and benefits you’ll come to enjoy. 

 

Your responsibilities as a citizen of the second country will include the following:

 

  1. Supporting the constitute. 
  2. Swearing allegiance to the new country. 
  3. Serving the military if required of you. 

 

As for the benefits you’ll get as an active citizen in your new country, you’ll get to enjoy the following:

 

  1. The right to vote. 
  2. Ability to hold public office. 
  3. Enhanced freedom of mobility to different countries. 
  4. Reuniting your family by accelerating their own naturalization process. 
  5. Security of residence in case there are instabilities in your home country.
  6. Safety during travel or residence provided by being recognized as an active citizen of your country.
  7. Tax benefits, although some countries place more taxes for you once you become a citizen. This is why it’s essential to check the country’s taxation system before committing to it. 
  8. Wealth expansion by having the ability to expand your business globally and operate from different countries across the world.
  9. Better chance for receiving a higher quality of education for you and your children.
  10. A military exemption, if imposed upon you by the laws mandated in your home country. 

 

Many people become overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork and the number of processes they have to go through to acquire dual citizenship. Eventually, many become discouraged and they give up on pursuing it any further. However, getting dual citizenship can sometimes be an easy and smooth process, if you understand how it works. There exists a chance that you might already be a dual citizen without knowing it! But in case you’re not, make sure to fulfill the requirements in order to increase your chances of being accepted. 

 

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