Countries that Don't Allow Dual Citizenship

Countries that don’t allow dual citizenship.

Being born in a given country especially a country where your parents are citizens automatically qualifies you as a citizen of that country. However there are cases where one may claim the citizenship of another country in addition to their country of birth. When this is done successfully one is said to have dual citizenship. And there are many reasons this can happen. Maybe you married a citizen of that country, maybe your parents were born there or maybe you have lived and worked there for several years.

And in this age of uncertainty it appears more people are now seeking dual citizenship. And of course it comes with numerous advantages. But unfortunately, it is not all countries that sanction dual citizenship. In other words, there are countries that don’t allow dual citizenship. So in today’s post I will share with you the list of countries that don’t allow dual citizenship. It is important you know and avoid wasting your time on them if dual citizenship is what you are looking for.

But before we go ahead I will like to explain what dual citizenship means.

Table of Contents

What is Dual Citizenship?

Dual citizenship is holding two passports and citizenship certificates of two different countries. Dual citizens are nationals of two countries. And as such they enjoy the rights bestowed upon citizens in each of these countries. Many nations do not permit dual citizenship though.

In some cases you can find countries that allows dual citizenship under certain circumstances.

Countries that Don’t Allow Dual Citizenship Around the World

List of Countries that Don't Allow Dual Citizenship — List of Countries that Don’t Allow Dual Citizenship

In total, there are about 46 countries around the world that don’t allow or that place very strict restriction on dual citizenship. Incidentally the number spreads across different continents of the world. So I will first give an alphabetical listing of the 46 countries. After that, I will attempt to group them by continents for ease of navigation. Then finally, I will provide some information about the major countries that don’t allow dual citizenship and their policies around dual citizenship.

Countries in Africa that Don’t Allow Dual Citizenship

Liberia is the most recent country to allow dual citizenship for its citizens. For many years the Liberian law forbids dual citizenship, but there was an amendment to that law in July 2022 . It was amended to allow it’s citizens acquire another citizenship without losing their citizenship of birth. However, there are still other countries in Africa that are yet to sanction dual citizenship.

In fact, of the 46 countries that don’t allow (or that place strict restrictions on) dual citizenship 11 of them are in Africa. Like we said earlier, some of them place outright ban on dual citizenship while others allow it under certain conditions.

The 11 African countries that don’t allow dual citizenship are Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Djibouti, DR Congo and Eritrea. Others are Ethiopia, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Countries in Asia that Don’t Allow Dual Citizenship

There are equally Asia countries that have reservation about their citizens taking up another citizenship. In fact Asia has the highest number of countries that don’t allow dual citizenship. Most countries in Asia prefer their citizens to hold just one citizenship. And in like manner they are quite reluctant in allowing other nationals to become citizens in their country. The following Asia countries come under this umbrella:

Bhutan, China, Bahrain, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos and Macau. Others are Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, South Korea, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. To complete the list are Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and United Arab Emirates.

In total, there are 25 Asia countries that don’t permit dual citizenship.

Countries in Europe that Don’t Allow Dual Citizenship

In February 2022 Slovakia government amended the citizenship rule to allow Slovak citizens living abroad to keep their citizenship while acquiring a foreign citizenship. However, there are still a few countries in Europe that don’t allow one to take up another citizenship while still retaining their country identity. Such countries are Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Monaco, San Marino and Ukraine.

Countries in South America that Don’t Allow Dual Citizenship

South American countries tends to be the most generous countries when it comes to freedom of citizenship. From my research, no single country in South America forbids its citizens from taking up another citizenship. And in the same manner they are willing to grant citizenship to other nationals that meet their requirements. And guess what? They won’t demand you renounce your citizenship of birth before granting you second citizenship.

Distribution of Countries that Don’t Allow Dual Citizenship by Continents

Countries in North America that Don’t Allow Dual Citizenship

Just like South America, North American countries are very free in terms of granting citizenship to others. That probably accounts for why there are many Africans representing American countries in international sports. Probably, that also contributed to what is today known as ‘Black Americans’.

From my extensive research, only one country in North America restricts other nationals from taking up its citizenship. That country is The Bahamas. For you to become a citizen of Bahamas, you have to first renounce your previous nationality.

Countries in Oceania that Don’t Allow Dual Citizenship

Tonga started allowing dual nationality since 2007. Solomon Island is another country in Oceania that previously frowns at second citizenship. But started allowing it since 2018. However, we still have 3 major countries in Oceania that don’t allow dual citizenship. The three countries are Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guniea however has exceptions. They allow the citizens to hold another passport but that is only if it is of certain countries. And the countries are Australia, Fiji, Germany, New Zealand and Samoa. Others are United Kingdom, United States and Vanuatu. So Papua New Guinea allows its citizens to maintain citizenship with any of these 8 countries alone. And at the same time citizens of any of these countries can obtain Papua New Guinea citizenship without having to renounce their home countries.

Levels of Restriction and Exceptions

China – Citizenship elsewhere automatically invalidates your Chinese citizenship.

The Chinese government does not recognize dual citizenship at all. In fact, once you become a citizen of another nation, you lose citizenship in China immediately. Furthermore the government has some serious consequences for those who violate this.

One of the consequences is that anyone who violates this will have all his/her related documents invalidated by the Chinese Embassy. And that also implies the person will not be able to get Chinese visa nor enter China again.

In China you have to choose one country or the other

Japan: Citizens have up to 22 to decide their nationality

As a Japanese citizen you may have obtained another citizenship from any country of the world. But the government gives everyone up to the age of 22 to declare their loyalty as to which country to belong to. So once one clock 22, it is either they are Japanese or not. If one turns 22 and have not made a decision, the Ministry of Justice will give the person one month to take a decision. And if after the one month expires and the person did not make a decision such a person automatically loses his/her Japanese citizenship.

Japanese Children don't have to choose yet — Japanese Children don’t have to choose yet

Myanmar: Dual citizenship is not allowed at all

In Myanmar, dual citizenship is not allowed, full stop, there is no exceptions here. Additionally, being born within the borders of Myanmar does not guarantee citizenship at all. Children must at least have a mother who is a citizen of Myanmar to be considered a citizen. Naturalization is limited.

Myanmar does not permit dual citizenship

Indonesia: Dual citizenship is not permitted beyond 18

Though Indonesian citizens can be dual citizens, but they can only do so until they turn 18. Once 18, you have to renounce one and keep the other.

Singapore: Dual citizenship is permitted up to age 21

Although dual citizenship is not allowed in Singapore, there is one exception. According to the country’s Constitution. Similar to Japan, a child born abroad of Singaporean parents and who acquires the citizenship of the country of birth, may maintain dual citizenship until the age of 21 years.

After 21, that now-adult has 12 months to take the Oath of Allegiance and Loyalty and renounce the foreign citizenship of the other country. If the person fail to do so their Singaporean citizenship will be revoked.

Nepal: No exceptions

In Nepal there are variety of options as to how one can become a citizen. The available options are; by birth, descent, marriage or naturalization. However, for one to become a citizen through naturalization the person must first renounce their former country. And of course the person must have been residing in Nepal for a minimum of 15 years.

Conclusion

As we can see though dual citizenship have its advantages and a lot of people tends to be excited at the opportunity of having dual citizenship, yet it is not all countries that permit it. In all the continents of the world except South America you will always find countries that don’t permit in dual citizenship. So if you are seeking or considering the option of dual citizenship, this post should help you know where not to look.

Looking at the various continents of the world, you will see that Asia countries are the ones that don’t easily permit dual citizenship. A total of 25 countries in Asia frown at dual citizenship. Following in distant second position is Africa with 11 countries. Europe comes third with 6 countries. Oceania has 3 countries that don’t sanction dual citizenship. North America is one. While all the countries in South America permit other nationals to acquire dual citizenship with them.

So in total, there are about 46 countries around the world that do not allow dual citizenship is not.

But the good news is that for every one country that deny you dual citizenship there are 5 others that will grant it. So if dual citizenship is what you truly desire simply take a look at the countries that allow dual citizenship. Just like countries that don’t permit it, those that do cuts across all continents of the world.