Is dual citizenship allowed in European countries?

To understand the issue of dual citizenship one should understand how it differs from second citizenship. While the concepts seem to be quite similar, they differ in some ways. It is the second citizenship that is more common in Europe. It implies the possibility of obtaining a passport of another country, even though there are no such official agreements between these states.

To understand what this means in practice, you can consider the following situation. A Russian citizen receives a Portuguese passport, becoming the owner of real estate there and having lived for a certain period of time. That citizen can enjoy all the rights that are provided for him, but he must also fulfill the obligations associated with being a citizen of that country. At the same time, he cannot choose in which country to pay taxes, serve in the army, etc. That is, all the duties will be relevant for him in both states, since Russia will not recognize the Portuguese passport and vice versa.

In the case of dual citizenship, the holder of two passports can choose in which country it is more profitable for him to, say, to pay taxes.

In which European countries can you obtain a second or dual citizenship?

Today, residents of Europe are rarely interested in the possibility of obtaining a second passport, since most of them are citizens of the European Union, which already simplifies the rules of movement between countries, gives more opportunities for buying foreign real estate, employment abroad, etc. However, for residents of the CIS space, this question remains relevant.

You can get a second citizenship in Europe in the following countries:

• Malta, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus - no restrictions;
• Germany - for EU citizens only;
• Austria - only upon obtaining a second citizenship by birth;
• Spain - with the exception of those who wish to obtain a second passport by naturalization (stay in the country for a certain period of time for a residence permit).

As for dual citizenship, the choice is not great but we can mention the following countries:

• Italy and Argentina;
• Great Britain and the countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations;
• Portugal and Brazil;
• France and Canada;
• Spain / Portugal and Latin American countries.

These countries have concluded special agreements that allow a person with dual citizenship to obtain the rights of both countries, but at the same time share responsibilities in a convenient way.