How to Get a Second Passport: a Guide for 2025

What is a Second Passport?

Despite what many people think, a second passport is not exactly the same as a second citizenship, but concepts often interwind because it is quite common for people to obtain a new citizenship aiming mainly at getting a new passport. 

Even though the passport is simply a travel document, the benefits of both concepts are virtually the same, since you will only be able to require a passport after obtaining your citizenship status, and all the benefits that come with it. 

This is why, in this article, we will use both second passport and new or dual citizenship as equivalents, at least regarding the advantages they bring.

Why Seek Dual Citizenship?

In some countries, a residency visa or a permit to live permanently will bring you a lot of benefits that will maybe make you wonder if you need a second passport at all. Although applying for citizenship will most likely be a more meticulous task, a second passport will offer benefits that visas simply cannot.

Take Europe, for example: as a resident of a country that is within the Schengen Area, you can enter visa-free to other members of the agreement and stay there for up to 90 days, which is great. However, if you hold a passport from the same country, you can stay in that neighboring nation for as long as you want and even have the right to work there. You can actually simply pack your bags and move in altogether.

And that is not all. Many Caribbean Islands offer great tax benefits such as no income tax, and having citizenship will ensure you do not have to keep revalidating your visa permit. Besides enlarging your freedom of movement and potentially improving your tax life, holding a second passport will also pose an important safety net, especially if your home country faces any kind of instability. With that, unforeseen events may not cause you that much harm, as you can make a quick move to your other nation. Last, but not least, a second passport also opens doors to the possibility of diversifying business and investments, which is always a good move.

How to Get a Second Passport

There are a few different paths to obtain a new citizenship, and therefore a passport, and not everyone will be eligible for all of them. 

Descent

Some countries allow foreigners that have an ancestral tie to the nation, such as parents and grandparents to receive citizenship status. Although this is one of the most cost-effective forms of getting a second passport, there is usually a long process, and a lot of documents involved. 

Marriage

One of the most common forms of obtaining a new passport is through marriage. Almost every country will allow the spouses of their citizens to naturalize. 

Naturalization

Another common way to obtain a passport is by becoming a citizen by naturalization, and most of them are based on how long a person has lived legally in the country. This is also how residency by investment programs becomes pathways toward a second passport. This is not a particularly difficult route, but it is the longest one as the necessary residency period is usually from 5 to 10 years. 

Investment

Some countries will offer the easiest and fastest way to get a new passport, which is through investment. That means that, by investing a certain amount in the country, you can start your application to become a citizen, even if you decide not to live there full time. 

Best Countries to Get a Second Passport and Fastest Pathways

As ancestry and marriage are two things out of our personal control, we have gathered a list of places that are the best countries for dual citizenship or that have easy access to a second good passport either through naturalization or through citizenship by investment programs. That means that they are realistic options, with clear pathways towards citizenship and the travel document that comes with it. 

Malta

This beautiful Mediterranean Island has a Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations that follows a residency stage of either 36 months or a minimum of 12 months, depending on the situation.  

After 3 more stages (eligibility, approval, and citizenship), you can ask for a passport that will enable you to travel to more than 180 countries worldwide without a visa, including those in the European Schengen Area. 

>> Minimum Investment Amount: €750,000 

Antigua and Barbuda

This twin-island nation in the Caribbean offers a straightforward citizenship by investment program that leads to a passport that ranks in the top 25 of the 2024 Global Passport Index.

>> Minimum Investment Amount: USD $300,000

Dominica

Dominica, known as the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean," has a Golden Visa program that allows for quite an effortless pathway to the country’s passport, allowing for visa-free entry to over 135 countries and a very attractive tax regime, that does not levy tax on foreign income, capital gains, wealth and others.

>> Minimum Investment Amount: USD $200,000

Grenada

Another streamlined route toward a new passport is through Grenada’s Golden Visa Program. Only 3 to 6 months after your application you could have in your hands a travel document that will allow you to enter 135 countries worldwide with no need for a visa, including the United Kingdom the countries from the Schengen Zone. This is also the only Caribbean Island where citizens will be able to apply for the USA E2 Visa later on.

>> Minimum Investment Amount: USD $270,000

St. Kitts and Nevis

You can also find your plan B in St. Kitts and Nevis. They have just reduced the minimal investment threshold that leads to their passport, which comes along with easy entry to over 100 countries. Citizens are also not taxed on personal income, wealth, gifts, inheritance, and capital gains.

>> Minimum Investment Amount: €325,000

Portugal

The pathway to get a European passport as a citizen of Portugal is a little longer, but still very worthwhile since this is one of the top 5 strongest travel documents in the world. First, you will need to hold the country’s residency status for five years. Then, you can start your Citizenship process. Thankfully the country has many residency by investment options like the Golden Visa and the D2 Visa.

>> Minimum Investment Amount: €250,000

Greece

Just like Portugal, Greece’s Golden Visa also leads to an EU passport, unlocked after 7 years of holding a Greek residency. The plus is that the program still offers residency through the purchase of real estate. If you need a safe haven to call home in this country, you are able to have property right from the first steps towards the higher goal of obtaining a top-ranked passport.

>> Minimum Investment Amount: €250,000

How to Start Your Second Passport Journey

There are a few things you need to take into account before choosing whether or not to pursue a new passport. First of all, you need to check if your home country allows dual citizenship. Places like India and China, for example, do not. That means: to obtain a new passport, nationals of these countries will have to give up their original citizenship.

Another point that is important to check is the tax regime of both the current and the potential country that will be issuing the new passport. If the idea is to also live in the new nation, be sure to check if it has a tax treaty to where you are originally from, so you do not fall under a double taxation situation that will weigh on your earnings. 

That is why the best way to start your second passport journey (or third) is to count on the support of a specialist, such as the Investment Visa’s advisors. They will have all the information necessary to give you proper guidance, so your goals are met, whether they are related to freedom of movement, tax optimization, future safety and stability, or all of them.

FAQ

What is a Second Passport?
A second passport is an official travel document issued by a country to someone who already holds citizenship and a passport from another nation. It allows the holder to travel, reside, and enjoy rights and privileges in the issuing country as a recognized citizen.

How Much Does a Second Passport Cost?
That will wildly depend on how it will be obtained and where. A passport that is received through marriage or ancestry will cost less, as the applicant will only have to pay for administration fees and documentation translation and certification. Passports acquired through investment will also vary but will always be over the USD 100.000 mark.

Can US Citizens Get a Second Passport?
Yes, U.S. citizens can obtain a second passport, as the country allows for dual citizenship. However, the U.S. requires its citizens to continue to meet U.S. obligations, such as paying taxes on worldwide income and to comply with national laws.

What is the most affordable second passport?
Taking Citizenship by Investment programs into account, Vanuatu offers the most affordable path for a second passport, with the minimum threshold being USD $138,000. The Caribbean Islands also have very affordable options, starting at USD $200,000.

Which country gives the fastest passport?
The Caribbean Islands, as well as Vanuatu, have pretty fast processing times, averaging from 3-6 months.

Are there any disadvantages to having a second passport?
The main disadvantage will be related to taxes, if the countries involved do not have a double taxation treaty. Also, some nations do not allow dual citizenship, requiring you to renounce your original citizenship to acquire a second passport.

Why do countries offer second passports by investment?
Countries offer second passports through investment programs, often referred to as Citizenship by Investment (CBI), for strategic and economic reasons. These programs allow individuals to obtain citizenship in exchange for a significant financial contribution, which benefits the host country that will be able to best develop with the help of the foreign capital those programs attract.

What is the validity period of a second passport?
The validity period of a second passport depends on the issuing country's policies and the type of passport issued. The average is from 5 to 10 years, just like a regular passport.

Are there restrictions on the use of a second passport?
Yes, some restrictions may occur. The U.S., for example, will require its citizens to enter and leave the country using their original passport, even for those who have a second passport.