Understanding Dual Citizenship, the Benefits, and the Process

1. Global Mobility - Some passports do not allow you the luxury of travelling to any destination and can be pretty restrictive. Restrictive passports make travelling a complex matter as travel visas must be obtained. A second passport can solve that problem by increasing one’s mobility and removing the bureaucracy from the equation. 
2. Residence - One of the benefits of dual citizenship is guaranteed residence in multiple countries. Residence can be a significant advantage for individuals who wish to live and work in more than one country. 
3. Property Ownership - Following local laws and regulations, dual citizenship makes property ownership possible. 
4. Business - Acquiring second citizenship opens the doors to many business opportunities and concludes business deals that were otherwise unavailable or hard to come by based on the original passport. 
5. Security - Obtaining a second passport from a stable country puts your mind at rest. In the event of any social, political or economic instability in one’s own country, you maintain a plan B.
6. Cultural Immersion - Being a citizen of another country is an opportunity to learn about another culture, tradition, and way of life.
7. Quality of Life -By obtaining dual citizenship, you can access world-class education and health care and an overall enhanced lifestyle.

High net worth families, in particular, gain several benefits through dual citizenship. By obtaining Dual Citizenship status, these families have the means to unlock their full potential by accessing better opportunities in another country. These opportunities include securing the family’s future through education, health care or simply a better lifestyle.  

The Processes of Obtaining Dual Citizenship

The process of obtaining dual citizenship varies from one country to the other. It is essential to look into the laws and regulations of the countries where you want to obtain dual citizenship. The following are just some of the processes:  

Birth    

An individual can be a non-resident but still gain citizenship if their parents were born in that country. You might claim dual citizenship if you were born in certain countries. For instance, if you were born in the United States to parents from another country, you may be eligible for dual citizenship. 

Naturalisation    

An individual can acquire citizenship for a certain number of years as a permanent resident. For example, permanent residents of Canada must reside in Canada for four out of six years to be eligible to apply for citizenship. However, individuals with temporary status must gain permanent residency to start counting their years as residents toward the citizenship requirement.    

Marriage    

Some countries grant permanent resident status upon marriage with a citizen, which speeds up the time needed to become an official citizen. 

Investment    

Many countries now offer citizenship or residency by investment programmes to high-net-worth individuals. Citizenship by investment is acquiring second citizenship by investing in the host country’s economy. Residency by investment programmes offers permanent residency after the investment, which again speeds up the time to citizenship.   

Many countries allow dual citizenship outright, while others allow it only in particular circumstances. Here is a comprehensive list of countries that allow dual citizenship. 

We're here to help you with every step of obtaining your Maltese citizenship. Our team of immigration law experts at Endevio can guide you through the application process and ensure the preparation of all documents in accordance with Maltese regulations.  

Contact us today and we will provide you with all the necessary information and assistance.