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on May 8, 2025
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There might have been a time when having a “second passport” – which, for the purposes of this article, we are largely defining as having dual citizenship – might have seemed like more of a status symbol than something that was strictly “necessary”.
But of course, times change. It is difficult to argue against the notion that we are now in a much more uncertain geopolitical era than seemed the case even just five years or a decade ago.
It perhaps shouldn’t be any great surprise, then, that reports have been filtering through indicating that many people are becoming more inclined to seek out a second passport.
A CNBC report last year, for example, cited a law firm as saying that wealthy families in the United States were increasingly applying for second citizenships – and even third or fourth citizenships – in case they needed to flee their country of origin.
If you, too, have concluded that a second passport might now be a strategic necessity for you, rather than a mere luxury, you may be interested in learning more about the benefits of such dual citizenship – as well as what some of the challenges and drawbacks may be.
The word “passport” technically refers, of course, to the travel document, rather than to any specific nationality or citizenship status. However, it is also true that the term is often used in reference to the latter, rather than just the former.
There are, then, two ways in which the term “having a second passport” may be broadly defined:
An example of this would be a UK citizen who also acquires French nationality.
As the UK and France both allow the existence of double citizenship or multiple nationalities, in this instance, the UK citizen would not be required to give up their British citizenship in order to become a French national.
Some countries, however, don’t recognise dual citizenship. Examples of such jurisdictions include – but are not limited to – China, Nepal, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. So, anyone wishing to acquire the nationality of one of these states would be obliged to renounce their original passport, thereby potentially complicating future migration.
For example, we have written previously here at Cranbrook Legal about some of the circumstances in which someone may seek to apply for a second UK passport.
Such circumstances include if they travel frequently, need to obtain visas for business travel purposes, or need to travel to “incompatible” countries (countries with political differences, which may prevent people travelling between them).
The focus of this article will be chiefly on the first of these definitions of “having a second passport”, rather than the second.
Inevitably, there is no single “best” country to target for anyone and everyone who is interested in obtaining a second passport. The right choice for you will depend on your particular circumstances, priorities, and requirements.
There are various countries that are especially sought-after choices for people who wish to obtain dual nationality, such as:
However, to determine the “best” country for your own second passport, you will need to consider such factors as:
To answer the question at the top of this article: yes, having a second passport can still be an invaluable enabler of global mobility – and with it, financial flexibility and personal security.
The usefulness of having a second passport in 2025 will inevitably depend on such factors as the nationality of that passport, how you intend to use it, how much it costs you to obtain your second passport, and global trends.
However, the benefits can include:
As we touched on above, this advantage will greatly depend on the specific nationality of second passport that you have.
Conde Nast Traveller recently reported that as of January 2025, a Singaporean passport was the world’s “most powerful” such travel document, allowing for visa-free travel to 195 destinations around the world, of a total of 227 jurisdictions. The likes of Japan, Finland, France, Italy, and South Korea placed closely behind in the rankings of the strongest passports.
Naturally, if your main priority in obtaining a second passport is to enable more straightforward global migration, targeting a less powerful passport, such as Pakistan (which only allows visa-free travel to 33 destinations), would make a lot less sense.
Getting approved for dual nationality can provide a legal base for you to live, work, and/or study in the country that issues your second passport, and/or affiliated regions.
Again, the particular nationality of your second passport will dictate exactly what you can, and cannot, do.
If you were to obtain a Malta passport, for instance, there isn’t any requirement for you to live in Malta following approval of your citizenship. But with Malta being a member state of the EU, you would be able to live, work, and/or retire in any EU member country.
As we referenced above, the current geopolitical sphere is not an obviously stable or predictable one. Recent news headlines often give the sense that almost anything could happen over the months and years ahead.
If you presently only have one nationality, how confident can you be that your country of origin won’t one day be hit by a military conflict, oppressive government, natural disaster, and/or economic crisis that could leave you needing to flee?
Obtaining a second passport, then, could enable you to preserve your ties to your home country, at the same time as expanding your options elsewhere.
The question of which country is “hardest” to obtain citizenship for, does not have a single answer. The difficulty in obtaining a second passport for a certain part of the world will depend on aspects such as:
Countries that are known to be “hard” to get a second passport for, include – but are not restricted to:
As we have explained, there can be a lot of benefits to holding dual nationality. However, our specialists in UK immigration law at Cranbrook Legal would also urge you to think very carefully about certain issues, challenges, and obligations that can come with having a second passport.
The possible drawbacks include, but will not necessarily be limited to:
If, for instance, you are drawn towards a particular country’s CBI program, you may need to invest many hundreds of thousands of pounds (or the equivalent in your currency) in order to take advantage of it. You will need to think carefully, then, about whether this would be a sensible investment of your funds.
Before you commit yourself to seeking a second passport from a particular jurisdiction, you should take time to educate yourself on what your obligations would be as a national of that country. These obligations can encompass such aspects as taxes, legal requirements, and even military service.
Acquiring citizenship in a second country could affect your eligibility for social and financial benefits in your first country – so, again, it is crucial to research this beforehand. It might be the case, for instance, that your first country reduces your social security payments if you have spent an extended period living elsewhere.
If you’re looking to engage with any aspect of the UK immigration system – such as by applying for a second UK passport, or seeking a visa or British citizenship – please feel free to contact the Cranbrook Legal team now for advice and guidance.
You are welcome to enquire to our central London-based specialists in UK immigration law by calling 0208 215 0053. Alternatively, please fill in and submit our online contact form to arrange a free consultation with us.
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