To get a second passport, you first need a second citizenship. A passport is only the travel document a country issues to its own citizens, so the real question is which country will accept you as a citizen, and on what basis.
There are seven legal routes. Most people qualify for at least one of them without knowing it: a grandparent born abroad, a spouse with another nationality, or a few years of legal residence can all lead to citizenship. Investment is the fastest route, but it is also the most expensive and, in 2026, the most politically exposed.
This guide explains each route, the typical timelines, the steps involved and the warning signs of offers that are not legal at all.
Key takeaways
- A second passport follows from a second citizenship, and every legal route runs through a government decision or a statutory right.
- Descent and naturalization are the most common routes; investment is the fastest but costs at least $200,000 in the Caribbean as of October 2026.
- Check your current country's rules first: some countries cancel your citizenship when you take another.
- Expect document work: birth, marriage and naturalization records, apostilles and certified translations drive most timelines.
- Offers of 'diplomatic passports', promised approvals or passports without a citizenship process are red flags.
Step zero: check whether you can hold two citizenships
Before choosing a route, confirm that your current country permits dual citizenship. China, India and Singapore, for example, do not generally allow their adult citizens to hold another nationality, and acquiring one can end your existing citizenship. Japan expects people with dual nationality from birth to choose one. Germany, by contrast, has allowed multiple citizenship since June 2024. Our list of countries that do not allow dual citizenship covers the main restrictions.
The second country matters too. Some countries ask new citizens to renounce their previous nationality, either in all cases or unless they come from certain countries. Checking both sides early avoids an unpleasant surprise at the end of a long process.
The seven routes at a glance
| Route | Typical timeline | What it mainly costs | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descent | Months to several years | Documents, translations, fees | People with a parent, grandparent or sometimes earlier ancestor from another country |
| Naturalization by residence | 2 to 10 years of residence, plus processing | Time, living costs, permit fees | People willing to live in a country for years |
| Marriage or partnership | Usually shortens naturalization | Time and fees | Spouses and partners of citizens |
| Investment | Months, in most programs | From $90,000 to over $1 million | People who need speed and can fund it |
| Birth | At birth | Nothing for the child | Children born in birthright countries or to citizen parents |
| Return and heritage laws | Varies | Documents and fees | People of a specific religion, ethnicity or heritage |
| Exceptional grants and service | Varies | Merit or service | Athletes, scientists, investors of national interest, foreign legion soldiers |
Route 1: Citizenship by descent
Many countries pass citizenship by blood, so a person born abroad to a citizen may already be a citizen, or may be entitled to register as one. The rules differ in how many generations they reach and what breaks the chain.
Ireland is the best-known example: a person with a grandparent born on the island of Ireland can usually become a citizen by registering on the Foreign Births Register. Italy allowed claims through many generations until 2025, when it narrowed the rules so that most new claims now depend on a close link, such as a parent or grandparent. Poland, Hungary, Lithuania and several other central European countries also have ancestry routes. Our article on Irish citizenship through grandparents walks through one of the clearest processes.
The work is mostly archival. Applicants usually need birth, marriage and death records for each generation, proof that the ancestor did not lose citizenship before passing it on, and certified translations. Consulate backlogs, not legal complexity, are often the main source of delay.
Route 2: Naturalization by residence
Naturalization is the route most countries offer: live there legally for a set period, show integration, and apply. The residence period ranges widely.
| Country | General residence requirement |
|---|---|
| Paraguay | 3 years |
| Canada | 1,095 days of physical presence in the last 5 years |
| Brazil | 4 years, reduced in some cases such as having a Brazilian child or spouse |
| United States | 5 years as a permanent resident, or 3 if married to a US citizen |
| Germany | 5 years since the 2024 reform |
| Spain | 10 years, or 2 for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal |
Residence usually has to be legal and continuous, and many countries count only time spent on a qualifying permit. Canada's eligibility rules, for example, require at least 1,095 days in the five years before applying, with at least 730 of those days as a permanent resident. Language tests, civics tests and clean criminal records are common requirements.
Naturalization costs less in money than investment but more in time. It also tends to produce the strongest long-term ties, which matters as governments increasingly look for a genuine link between a citizen and the country.
Route 3: Marriage or partnership
Marriage to a citizen rarely grants citizenship by itself. What it usually does is shorten the naturalization period. In Spain, a foreign spouse of a Spanish citizen can apply after one year of legal residence while married. In the US, the general five-year rule drops to three years for people married to and living with a US citizen.
Authorities check these applications closely for genuine relationships. Separation or divorce before the application is decided usually ends eligibility under the spouse rules.
Route 4: Citizenship by investment
A small number of countries grant citizenship in return for a contribution to a government fund or a qualifying investment, usually without requiring residence first. As of October 2026, official minimums include $250,000 for St. Kitts and Nevis, $240,000 for St. Lucia, $235,000 for Grenada, $230,000 for Antigua and Barbuda and $200,000 for Dominica. Türkiye requires at least $400,000 in real estate held for three years, and Nauru's limited-time price is $90,000 for applications filed by 31 December 2026.
The process typically runs through a licensed agent. It includes due diligence on the applicant and family members, proof of the source of funds, and, in several programs, an interview. Payment of the main contribution usually follows approval in principle. Our article on source of funds checks explains what programs look for.
This route carries specific risks. In April 2025 the Court of Justice of the EU ruled that Malta's investor citizenship scheme breached EU law. The US placed partial entry restrictions on Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica from January 2026, citing citizenship by investment without residency. The best citizenship by investment programs compares the current options in more depth.
Route 5: Citizenship by birth
Children can acquire citizenship at birth in two ways. Under the soil principle, a child born in the country becomes a citizen; this is common in the Americas, including Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Under the blood principle, a child born anywhere to a citizen parent becomes a citizen, subject to the parent country's rules on births abroad.
This route matters for families planning ahead. A child born in a birthright country, or to parents of two nationalities, may hold two or three citizenships from birth. Our list of countries with birthright citizenship shows where the soil principle applies.
Route 6: Return and heritage laws
Some countries offer citizenship to people with a specific religious, ethnic or historical connection. Israel's Law of Return gives Jewish people, and certain relatives, the right to immigrate and become citizens. Hungary allows simplified naturalization for people with Hungarian ancestry who speak Hungarian, without requiring residence in Hungary. Armenia, Greece and several other countries have heritage provisions for their diasporas.
These routes are generally narrow and depend on proof of the qualifying connection, but for people who fit, they can be faster and cheaper than ordinary naturalization.
Route 7: Exceptional grants and service
Most countries allow the government to grant citizenship at its discretion to people whose presence serves the national interest: athletes, scientists, artists, major investors or people who have performed special services. Serbia, Austria and France all use discretionary grants. These are case-by-case decisions with no fixed criteria an applicant can simply meet. Our guide to citizenship by exception explains how they work.
Military service is a separate path in a few countries. The French Foreign Legion, for example, accepts foreign recruits, and its official recruitment site says legionnaires can apply for French nationality after five years of service.
How the process usually works
Whatever the route, most applications follow a similar sequence:
- Confirm eligibility. Identify the legal basis and check the current rules on official government sites, since requirements change often.
- Gather documents. Birth, marriage, police and financial records, usually with apostilles and certified translations.
- Submit the application. Through a consulate, an immigration office, a licensed agent (for investment programs) or a court, depending on the country.
- Pass checks and interviews. Background checks, due diligence, language or civics tests where required.
- Receive the decision. Approval may come as a certificate, a registration or a decree, sometimes followed by an oath.
- Apply for the passport. This is a separate application, often requiring an in-person visit for biometrics.
The gap between approval and holding a passport can be weeks or months, which is worth building into any travel plans.
Red flags to avoid
Legitimate citizenship never comes from a shortcut around the law. Warning signs include offers of 'diplomatic passports' for sale, promises that approval is certain, passports issued without any citizenship decision, 'camouflage' passports from countries that no longer exist, and agents who cannot show government authorization. Using a fraudulently obtained passport can lead to criminal charges, loss of the citizenship and travel bans.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to get a second passport?
For people who already qualify by descent, registration can be fast once documents are in order. For everyone else, investment programs are usually the fastest, with many processed in a matter of months, though timelines vary and have lengthened in some programs.
How much does a second passport cost?
It depends on the route. Descent and naturalization mostly cost document, legal and government fees. Investment routes start at $90,000 for Nauru's limited-time offer and $200,000 or more for Caribbean programs as of October 2026, before government and professional fees.
Can I get a second passport without living in the country?
Yes, through descent, some heritage routes, and most investment programs. Naturalization by residence requires living in the country, and some investment programs are adding short presence requirements after citizenship is granted.
Do I need a lawyer to get a second passport?
Not always. Many descent and naturalization applications are filed directly by applicants. Investment programs generally require a licensed agent, and complex ancestry claims often benefit from specialist help.
Does a second passport affect my taxes?
In most countries tax depends on residence, not citizenship, so a new passport alone usually has no tax effect. The United States is the main exception, as it taxes citizens on worldwide income wherever they live.
Important: This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules change often and depend on your personal circumstances. Speak with a qualified professional in each relevant country before you act.