You’ve probably heard the rumor. It’s the one where people claim you have to "choose" at age 18, or that the State Department will hunt you down if they catch you carrying a second passport. It sounds intense. It also happens to be mostly wrong.
The truth about United States dual citizenship is a lot more "don't ask, don't tell" than most people realize. The U.S. government doesn't technically encourage it. They’d prefer you were just American. But—and this is the big but—they don't actually forbid it either.
The Supreme Court Case That Changed Everything
We aren't just making this up. It’s actually settled law, thanks to a guy named Beys Afroyim. Back in the 1960s, Afroyim was a naturalized U.S. citizen who went to Israel and voted in an election there. The U.S. tried to strip his citizenship, saying he'd shown allegiance to another country.
He sued. He won.
In Afroyim v. Rusk (1967), the Supreme Court ruled that the government can't just take away your citizenship unless you specifically intend to give it up. Voting in a foreign election? Not enough. Getting a second passport? Not enough. Joining a foreign military (unless it's one at war with the U.S.)? Usually still not enough. This case is basically the bedrock of why United States dual citizenship exists in a legal gray area today. You have to mean to leave. If you don't sign a formal oath of renunciation in front of a consular officer, you’re likely staying American whether the State Department loves it or not.
How Do You Actually Get It?
There isn't a "dual citizenship" application. You don't fill out a form that grants you both at once. Instead, it’s a collision of laws.
Maybe you were born in New York to Italian parents. Because you were born on U.S. soil, you’re American (jus soli). Because your parents are Italian, Italy sees you as a citizen (jus sanguinis). Boom. You have United States dual citizenship from birth. You didn't ask for it, but you have it.
Then there’s the naturalization route. This is where things get slightly awkward during the ceremony. When you become a U.S. citizen, you have to recite the Oath of Allegiance. You literally say, "I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty."
🔗 Read more: Curtain Bangs on Fine Hair: Why Yours Probably Look Flat and How to Fix It
That sounds pretty final, right?
But here’s the kicker: The U.S. doesn't actually force you to go to your old embassy and hand over your original passport. Many countries, like the UK or Canada, don't care if you swear an oath to the U.S.; they still consider you one of theirs. So you walk out of that ceremony with a naturalization certificate in one hand and your old passport still tucked in your pocket. The U.S. knows this happens. They just sort of look the other way because enforcing a ban on dual nationality would be a diplomatic and legal nightmare.
The Taxes: The Part Nobody Likes
Let’s be real for a second. Being a dual citizen feels like a superpower until tax season hits. The United States is one of only two countries in the entire world (the other being Eritrea) that taxes based on citizenship, not residence.
If you are a holder of United States dual citizenship living in London, making pounds, and paying UK taxes, the IRS still wants to hear from you. You have to file every year.
You might not owe anything thanks to the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or Foreign Tax Credits, but the paperwork is brutal. If you have more than $10,000 in foreign bank accounts at any point in the year, you have to file an FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report). Forget to do it? The penalties are terrifying. We're talking "lose a massive chunk of your savings" terrifying. This is the main reason why some people actually choose to renounce their U.S. citizenship. It’s not that they don't like America; they just don't like the IRS following them across the globe.
Traveling with Two Passports
This is where people get nervous at airport security. "Which one do I show?"
It’s actually simple. Under U.S. law, specifically Section 215 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, U.S. citizens must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. No exceptions. If you try to enter the U.S. on your Swiss passport because the line is shorter, you’re asking for a very long afternoon in a windowless room with Customs and Border Protection.
💡 You might also like: Bates Nut Farm Woods Valley Road Valley Center CA: Why Everyone Still Goes After 100 Years
When you're heading to your other country, say France, you show the French passport to the French authorities. It saves you from standing in the "All Other Passports" line and lets you stay as long as you want.
Essentially, you are a "citizen of the port." Use the passport of the country you are standing in. Just make sure the airline knows you have the right documentation for your destination so they actually let you board the plane.
The Security Clearance Headache
If you’re dreaming of a high-level job at the CIA or the State Department, United States dual citizenship can be a bit of a hurdle. It doesn't automatically disqualify you, but it’s a "condition" that investigators will scrutinize. They’ll want to know if you’ve used your foreign passport since becoming a U.S. citizen, if you own property abroad, or if you have "foreign preference." In some cases, they might ask you to destroy your foreign passport or formally renounce your other citizenship to get a Top Secret clearance. It’s about "dual interests," and the U.S. government wants to be 100% sure where your loyalty lies if things get messy.
The Myth of "Automatic" Loss of Citizenship
There's a lot of fear-mongering online about losing your U.S. status. People think if they stay outside the country for too long, it just expires.
Nope.
U.S. citizenship is remarkably hard to lose. You can live in a hut in the Himalayas for 40 years, never pay a dime in taxes (though you should), and never visit the States, and you’re still a citizen. You have to perform an "expatriating act" with the specific intent of giving up citizenship.
What's an expatriating act?
📖 Related: Why T. Pepin’s Hospitality Centre Still Dominates the Tampa Event Scene
- Running for high political office in a foreign country.
- Serving as a high-ranking officer in a foreign military.
- Formally renouncing at a U.S. embassy.
Even then, the State Department usually assumes you want to keep your U.S. citizenship unless you explicitly tell them otherwise. They’ve moved toward a "uniform administrative standard" that favors keeping you on the rolls.
Practical Realities of the Second Passport
Is it worth the hassle? For most, yeah.
Holding United States dual citizenship means you have a Plan B. If one country goes through a political upheaval or an economic collapse, you have somewhere else to go. You can work in the EU without a visa if you have an Irish or German passport. You can own land in countries that restrict foreign ownership. You can pass those rights down to your kids.
But you also inherit the obligations. If your other country has mandatory military service—like South Korea or Israel—being American might not save you from the draft if you’re physically in that country. The U.S. government is often limited in how much it can help you if you get into legal trouble in the country of your other citizenship. To them, you aren't a foreigner; you're one of their own, and they’ll treat you according to their own laws.
Actionable Steps for Current or Aspiring Dual Citizens
If you're looking into this, don't just wing it. Laws change, and the stakes are high.
- Audit your lineage. Many people are dual citizens and don't even know it. Countries like Italy, Ireland, and Poland have jus sanguinis (right of blood) laws that can go back several generations. Check your grandparents' birth certificates.
- Get a tax pro. If you’re living abroad, find an accountant who specifically understands "Expat Taxes." Regular CPAs in the States often have no clue about FBARs or the complexities of dual-status filing.
- Keep your passports current. Don't let one expire just because you aren't using it. It’s much harder to renew a passport that’s been dead for ten years than one that’s about to expire.
- Understand the "Entry/Exit" rule. Always enter the U.S. on your U.S. passport. Always. No matter how much faster the other line looks.
- Check military obligations. Before you visit your other home country, verify if they have compulsory service. You don't want your vacation to turn into a two-year stint in the infantry.
The reality of United States dual citizenship is that it's a legal "don't ask, don't tell" arrangement that offers massive freedom at the cost of some fairly annoying paperwork. It’s not for everyone, but for those who have it, it’s one of the most valuable assets you can own. Just make sure you're playing by both sets of rules, especially when the IRS is involved.