How can I get a second passport?
You get a second passport by first becoming a citizen of a second country, usually through descent from a parent or grandparent, or through naturalization after years of legal residence. US law lets US citizens hold another nationality without losing US citizenship.
A passport follows citizenship. So the real question is how to gain a second citizenship. There are three common routes: descent, naturalization, and marriage, depending on the country.
Descent is often the fastest route if you qualify. Ireland, for example, registers people with an Irish-born grandparent on its Foreign Births Register. Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs says processing takes about 12 months, as of March 2026.
Naturalization means living in a country legally for years, then applying. Canada, for example, requires at least 1,095 days of physical presence in the five years before you apply, per IRCC as of February 2025.
Buying citizenship is now rarer and riskier. In April 2025 the EU's top court ruled Malta's investor citizenship scheme illegal. The US State Department says US law does not require you to choose between nationalities.
This is educational research, not legal advice. Confirm your eligibility with the official consulate or a qualified immigration professional.
Sources
- Dual Nationality · U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov
- Registering a Foreign Birth · Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland
- Canadian citizenship: Who can apply · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Malta investor citizenship scheme violates EU law · KPMG TaxNewsFlash
Written and reviewed by Todd Allyn, Founder, Sovereo Intelligence Research
Facts checked Oct 8, 2026 · Next review by Jan 8, 2027
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