Dual Citizenship in Australia

While Australia now recognises dual citizenship, there are still many countries that do not allow their citizens to hold an additional foreign citizenship. It is a long-standing principle of citizenship law that the citizenship of a state is bestowed by that state. Hence, arrangements that allow for multiple citizenships (or not) are a matter for the state concerned.

Australian citizens who wish to hold multiple citizenship (whether for themselves or their children) should assure themselves that the laws of the relevant foreign countries permit multiple citizenship, by contacting the governments of the countries concerned.

Australian citizens with children born overseas may wish to apply to acquire Australian citizenship by descent for their children and should take care to ensure that such an action does not cause the loss of other citizenships a child may already hold.

Countries that allow dual citizenship

Bangladesh

Ireland

South Africa

Brazil

Israel

Spain

Canada

Italy

Switzerland

Colombia 

Jordan

Syria

Egypt

Lebanon

Tonga

Fed. Rep. Yugoslavia

Malta

Turkey

France

Netherlands

United Kingdom

Hungary

New Zealand

United States

Macedonia

Portugal

Western Samoa

Norway

Countries that prohibit dual citizenship

Austria

Indonesia

Pakistan

Belgium

Iran

Papua New Guinea

Brunei

Japan

Kenya

Philippines

Chile

Kiribati

Poland

China

Korea

Romania

Denmark

Latvia

Singapore

Ecuador

Lithuania

Solomon Islands

Fiji

Malaysia

Sweden

Finland

Mauritius

Thailand

Germany

Mexico

Vietnam

Iceland

Nepal

Venezuela

India

Zimbabwe

Such lists however are neither comprehensive nor definitive. For example Mexico is listed as not permitting dual citizenship. However while immigrants are still required to renounce former allegiances, Mexico legislated in 1998 to remove constitutional impediments to dual nationality for its nationals abroad. Countries which have enacted legislation similar to Mexico’s over the last decade include Colombia, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.

The US Center for Immigration Studies, in a July 2000 Backgrounder, listed the following 89 countries as allowing some form of dual or multiple citizenship.

Countries/territories allowing dual citizenship in some form

Albania

Ghana

Northern Ireland

Antigua & Barbuda

Greece

Panama

Argentina

Grenada

Paraguay

Australia

Guatemala

Peru

Bahamas

Haiti

Pitcairn

Bangladesh

Hungary

Philippines

Barbados

India

Poland

Belize

Iran

Portugal

Benin

Ireland

Romania

Bolivia

Israel

Russia

Brazil

Italy

Saint Kitts & Nevis

Bulgaria

Jamaica

Saint Lucia

Burkina Faso

Jordan

Saint Vincent

Cambodia

Latvia

Serbia (Yugoslavia)

Canada

Lebanon

Slovenia

Cape Verde

Lesotho

South Africa

Chile

Liechtenstein

Sri Lanka

Colombia

Lithuania

Sweden

Costa Rica

Macao (with Portugal)

Switzerland

Croatia

Macedonia

Taiwan

Cyprus

Madagascar

Trinidad/Tobago

Cyprus (North)

Malta

Thailand

Dominica

Mexico

Tibet

Dominican Republic

Montenegro (Yugoslavia)

Turkey

Ecuador

Mongolia

United Kingdom

Egypt

Morocco

United States

El Salvador

Netherlands

Ukraine

Fiji

New Zealand

Uruguay

France

Nicaragua

Vietnam

Germany

Nigeria

Dual Citizenship in China

While Chinese nationality law does not recognize multiple nationalities, the current legal framework and its practical implementation allow for certain situations where de facto dual nationality occurs: While children born to Chinese parents abroad in general would not acquire Chinese nationality if they acquired foreign nationality by birth, those children who are born to Chinese parents living abroad only temporarily, such as diplomatic staff, humanitarian workers or overseas students, will still be regarded as Chinese nationals and hence be de facto nationals of both the Chinese and the foreign state. Chinese officials who naturalize in another country cannot renounce their Chinese nationality and hence will continue to be treated as Chinese nationals by the Chinese state.

Dual Citizenship in India

The Constitution of India does not allow holding Indian citizenship and citizenship of a foreign country simultaneously. Based on the recommendation of the High Level committee on Indian Diaspora, the Government of India decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) commonly known as “dual citizenship”. Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain category as has been specified in the column “eligibility criteria” who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country other than Pakistan and Bangladesh, are eligible for grant of OCI as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or the other under their local laws.

Dual Citizenship in Philippines

Republic Act 9225 otherwise known as the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003 (more popularly known as the Dual Citizenship Law) enables former natural-born Filipinos who have become naturalized citizens of another country to retain/reacquire their Philippine citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines before a Philippine Consular Officer. Upon retaining or reacquiring their Philippine citizenship, they shall enjoy full civil, economic and political rights as Filipinos.

Dual Citizenship in Vietnam

Vietnam accepts multi-nationality in the following circumstances:

  • Children where father or mother are vietnamese
  •  Overseas Vietnamese living abroad who have lost or do not have Vietnamese citizenship but wish to apply for it
  • Living abroad with Vietnamese citizenship and having another citizenship

Dual Citizenship or Nationality in US

Dual citizenship (or dual nationality) means a person may be a citizen of the United States and another country at the same time. U.S. law does not require a person to choose one citizenship or another.

If you’re a citizen of another country, contact that country’s embassy or consulate for information about its:

  • Laws and policies, including those about dual nationality
  • Mandatory military service

If you have dual citizenship and plan to travel to or from the United States, you must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States.

A licensed attorney skilled in citizenship matters can assist you with questions about your situation.

Dual Citizenship in Nepal

Nepal does not allow its citizens to hold dual nationality. But the current constitution has a provision of Non Resident Nepali citizenship for nationals of other countries. A person having a NRN citizenship enjoys economic, social and cultural rights. However, the provision has yet to be implemented through necessary amendment in existing Citizenship Act and in Rules.

Dual Citizenship in Hong Kong (SAR of the PRC)

Hong Kong, like other parts of China, does not recognise dual nationality. If you have both Australian and Chinese nationality you may be treated as a Chinese citizen by local authorities, even if you enter Hong Kong on your Australian passport. If this is the case, the Australian Consulate-General may not be able to offer you consular assistance.

Dual Citizenship in Pakistan

Government of Pakistan has dual nationality arrangements with following 21 countries. Citizens of these countries are not required to renounce their nationality while acquiring Pakistani Citizenship.

Name of Country Name of Country
1 United Kingdom 11 Jordan
2 France 12 Syria
3 Italy 13 Switzerland
4 Belgium 14 Netherland
5 Iceland 15 United States of America
6 Australia 16 Sweden
7 New Zealand 17 Ireland
8 Canada 18 Bahrain
9 Finland 19 Denmark
10 Egypt 20 Germany *
21 Norway

* Children of Pakistani parents who have grown up in Germany and who have due to their birth in Germany acquired German nationality in addition to their parent’s nationality from the other state.

Dual Citizenship in Thailand

A Thai who is born with another nationality, a person who naturalises as a Thai, or a Thai who takes a foreign citizenship are generally allowed to maintain their Thai citizenship without issue.

Dual Citizenship in Denmark

On 1 September 2015, Danish law came in effect, allowing certain people to apply for Danish citizenship.

The Danish Ministry for Foreigners, Integration and Housing provide information on dual nationality in Denmark:

Dual Citizenship in Norway

From 1 January 2020, Norway will allow dual citizenship

Australia has recognised dual citizenship since 2002 so you can apply for Norwegian citizenship without losing your Australian Citizenship

For queries on dual citizenship, please contact the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) for their advice.

Dual Citizenship in Iceland

Iceland recognises dual nationality.
Details on the law governing dual nationality in Iceland can be found in the Icelandic Nationality Act

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