48 %63 %20 %81 %
62 % 91 % 71 %18 %23 %of countries allow
this route to
citizenshipfamily^ tiesot
her(^) bon
ds
SOURCE: GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP OBSERVATORY (GLOBALCIT)
EXPLORE | DATA SHEET
HALF A CENTURY AGO, most countries revoked the citizenship of
a person who became a national of another country. Today some
75 percent let their people hold foreign passports, dramatically
increasing citizenship options for children. There are more paths to
citizenship in European countries, fewer in the Americas (although
birthright citizenship is more common), and limited routes in non-
democratic countries, says Maarten Vink, of Maastricht University.
Having nine passports is rare; here’s how it could happen.
NINE PATHS
TO MULTIPLE
CITIZENSHIP BY MANUEL CANALES AND KELSEY NOWAKOWSKI
Children can become citi-
zens of the country where
their mother was born
and holds citizenship.
Citizenship is automatic at
birth, a law that’s rare globally
but is more common in the
Western Hemisphere.
In 47 countries, it’s easier for men
than women to pass citizenship
to their children.
A person can get citizen-
ship within five years of
immigrating in nearly half
the world’s countries.
NO CITIZENSHIP
The exact number of stateless people isn’t known,
but many millions around the world aren’t recog-
nized as a citizen by any country.
ANTI-TERRORISM TACTIC
Countries are increasingly stripping away
citizenship from people who’ve engaged in
terrorist activities at home or abroad.
Nearly two-thirds
of all countries
grant citizenship
through marriage
after three years.
A large investment in a
country can come with full
citizenship, often without
habitual residence.
Citizenship is
granted because
of ethnic, historical,
or cultural ties to
a country.
Applicable to the U.S.
Children can pick up their
mother’s second citizen-
ship, even if she wasn’t
born in that country.
Children can become
citizens of the coun-
try where their father
was born.
Children can inherit
their father’s dual citi-
zenship regardless of
where he was born.
MARRIAGE
INVESTMENT
PATERNAL DUAL CITIZENSHIP
HISTORY
BIRTH
MATERNAL DUAL CITIZENSHIP
MIGRATION