Dual Citizenship: What You Need to Know
Dual citizenship (also called dual nationality) means being a citizen of two countries simultaneously. All five countries in our full guides — Italy, Ireland, Poland, Hungary, and Croatia — allow dual citizenship for citizenship by descent applicants.
Countries That Allow Dual Citizenship:
- Italy — Fully allows since Law 91/1992
- Ireland — Fully allows
- Poland — Fully allows since the 2009 Act
- Hungary — Fully allows
- Croatia — Fully allows (Article 8, Citizenship Act)
What Dual Citizenship Means:
- You hold passports from both countries
- You have rights and obligations in both countries
- You can live, work, and study in any EU country (with an EU passport)
- You may have tax obligations in both countries
Important Considerations:
Taxes: The US taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence. Other countries generally tax based on residence. Consult a tax advisor specializing in international tax.
Military Service: None of these countries currently require military service for citizenship by descent recipients. However, check current requirements as laws can change.
Travel: An EU passport gives you the right to enter and live in any EU/EEA country. This is one of the main benefits of obtaining European citizenship.
Voting: You may have voting rights in both countries. Italy and Ireland allow citizens abroad to vote in certain elections.
Renunciation: If you ever wish to renounce your new citizenship, each country has a specific process. Renunciation is generally permanent and difficult to reverse.