Three Primary Methods for Securing a Second Passport, According to Olga Nechita

Acquiring a second passport transforms living abroad from a temporary experience into a permanent reality, though the immigration process remains complicated across different nations.

Distinction Between Passports and Citizenship

Possessing a passport does not automatically confer legal citizenship. Parviz Malakouti, an attorney at Malakouti Law, notes that conflating the two terms is a damaging mistake for applicants. Dozens of countries issue travel documents and passports to non-citizens.

While a second passport provides visa-free travel and simplifies opening foreign bank accounts, it usually lacks the full rights and protections granted to legal citizens. Malakouti cautions that holding a second citizenship also introduces a second set of legal obligations, including mandatory military service, financial restrictions, and potential travel bans.

Picking up a second citizenship means picking up a second set of legal obligations, some of which apply to you extraterritorially.

Parviz Malakouti

Three Common Paths to International Mobility

Olga Nechita, practice leader at the immigration law firm Fragomen, outlines three primary methods for securing a second passport, starting with a thorough evaluation of qualification categories. Citizenship-by-descent represents the easiest option for many applicants.

Individuals may qualify through parents, grandparents, or more distant ancestors depending on specific national laws. Popular programs include citizenship-by-descent programs in Germany and Poland, along with Ireland’s Foreign Birth Registration system.

Nechita describes these applications as a blend of genealogy and immigration work. Assembling historical records across generations often presents a bigger hurdle than the legal application itself.

Malakouti warns that shifting historical borders and past conflicts can create unexpected complications in ancestry cases. Applicants should avoid assuming an ancestor’s birthplace matches their official country of citizenship.

Investment and Residency Routes Lead to Citizenship

Citizenship-by-investment programs offer passports in exchange for financial contributions to economic development or government initiatives. Nechita characterizes this approach as capital-intensive, requiring extensive compliance, background due diligence, and proof of funds.

Alternatively, residential ties provide another avenue through programs like Portugal’s Golden Visa and similar options in Italy. These permits require relatively limited physical presence to maintain residency status.

Residency does not equate to citizenship. Securing citizenship through residency typically requires meeting separate thresholds, such as extended residence periods and language proficiencies.

Legal Representation Requirements

International mobility law requires specialized guidance to avoid unqualified advisors. Malakouti advises applicants to hire legal representatives with direct, local knowledge of the desired destination.

There isn’t any real shortcut to avoid pitfalls other than to take the time to learn the fundamentals of citizenship and mobility law from actual citizenship practitioners.

Parviz Malakouti