Which EU Countries Allow Dual Citizenship? (Complete Guide)

Last updated: March 2026

Dual citizenship means a person legally holds the nationality of two countries at the same time. In the European Union, there is no single EU rule that decides whether dual citizenship is allowed. EU citizenship comes from the citizenship of an individual member state, and each country keeps its own nationality law. That is why dual citizenship rules differ significantly across Europe.

For applicants, the practical issue is simple: some EU countries generally allow dual nationality, some allow it only in certain situations, and some still expect renunciation of the previous citizenship in many naturalization cases. That is why the rules on dual citizenship in Europe must always be checked country by country and route by route.

This guide explains how dual citizenship works in Europe, which countries are more permissive, which are more restrictive, and what applicants should check before filing.

Important: This is general information, not legal advice. Nationality rules can change, and the outcome always depends on the law of the specific country and the applicant’s legal basis.

What Dual Citizenship Means in Practice

Dual citizenship — also called dual nationality — means that one person is recognized as a citizen by two different states at the same time. In practical terms, this may allow a person to hold two passports, enjoy residence and work rights in both countries, and pass citizenship to children under certain legal frameworks. At the same time, it can also create parallel legal obligations, depending on the states involved.

Within the EU, dual citizenship matters because many applicants want to obtain an EU passport without losing their original nationality. For some families, that is a decisive factor. For others, especially in descent-based cases, dual citizenship is simply the natural result of how nationality is transmitted.

Do EU Countries Allow Dual Citizenship?

Many EU countries do allow dual citizenship, either broadly or in a large number of cases. Others still maintain important restrictions, especially for naturalization applicants. A useful way to look at the issue is to divide countries into three groups:

countries that generally allow dual citizenship
countries that allow it with important limitations
countries that remain relatively restrictive

That said, even in “restrictive” countries, exceptions often exist for citizenship by birth, descent, marriage, or cases where renunciation is impossible or unreasonable.

EU Countries That Generally Allow Dual Citizenship

France

France is one of the clearest examples of a country that allows multiple nationalities. The French public service states directly that it is possible to hold more than one nationality in France. In practice, France does not generally require applicants to renounce another nationality when acquiring French citizenship.

This makes France one of the more straightforward EU countries for applicants who want to keep their existing passport while becoming French. For country-specific procedures, see French Citizenship — All Legal Ways to Get a French Passport.

Portugal

Portugal is also generally considered permissive on dual nationality. Official Portuguese consular guidance expressly refers to dupla nacionalidade and states that Portuguese law admits both dual and multiple nationality. That is an important reason why Portugal remains highly attractive to applicants pursuing naturalization, descent, or marriage-based routes.

For the broader legal process, see Portuguese Citizenship & Passport — Complete Legal Guide.

Italy

Italy is another country that clearly allows dual citizenship. Official Italian consular guidance states that since Law No. 91/1992, Italian law expressly allows dual citizenship. In practice, this means Italian citizens can acquire another nationality without automatically losing Italian citizenship unless they formally renounce it.

This is one of the reasons Italian citizenship by descent remains so popular. For the full process, see Italian Citizenship — Complete Legal Guide.

Germany

Germany has become much more permissive than before. The German Federal Foreign Office states that since 27 June 2024, people naturalized in Germany are allowed to hold multiple citizenships. Before that reform, dual nationality was more restricted outside certain categories.

This reform is a major change and makes Germany far more relevant for applicants who previously avoided it because of renunciation requirements. For country-specific details, see German Citizenship — Legal Requirements and How Naturalisation Works.

Ireland

Ireland also permits dual citizenship. Citizens Information states clearly that Ireland allows dual citizenship, meaning a person can become an Irish citizen and remain a citizen of another country.

Although Ireland is not the focus of this article’s internal link structure, it is an important example of a broadly permissive EU country.

EU Countries That Allow Dual Citizenship, but with Important Conditions

Spain

Spain is often misunderstood. Spanish nationality law does allow dual citizenship in some circumstances, but not as broadly as France, Portugal, or Italy. Spain’s Ministry of Justice explains that people from Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, and Portugal do not need to renounce their prior nationality in the same way as other applicants. Spain also has a nationality convention with France that allows nationals of both countries to acquire the other nationality without renouncing their original one.

In other naturalization scenarios, renunciation may still appear as part of the procedure. That means Spain should not simply be described as either “yes” or “no” on dual citizenship; it is better understood as a country where dual nationality is allowed in defined legal categories, while more restrictive rules may still apply in others. For the broader Spanish framework, see Spanish Citizenship Requirements — All Legal Ways to Obtain Spanish Nationality.

Netherlands

The Netherlands remains more restrictive than countries such as France or Portugal. Official Dutch government guidance says that people who acquire Dutch citizenship through naturalization are, as a rule, required to give up their other nationality if possible, although important exceptions exist.

The Netherlands is a good example of why applicants should always check both the country and the acquisition route before assuming dual citizenship will be allowed.

EU Countries That Remain Strict

Austria

Austria is one of the strictest countries in Europe on dual citizenship. Official Austrian government guidance states that Austrian citizenship law generally does not allow dual or multiple citizenships, and the principle is waived only in special cases. Austrian foreign ministry guidance also states that anyone who voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship generally loses Austrian citizenship, unless a specific exception applies.

This does not mean dual citizenship never exists in Austria. It does exist in limited scenarios — for example, certain children who acquire two citizenships at birth, or applicants who fall under specific legal exceptions. But for naturalization planning, Austria should be treated as one of the most restrictive EU systems. For more detail, see Austrian Citizenship and Passport — Eligibility and Legal Framework.

Why the Route Matters: Descent, Marriage, and Naturalization

One of the most common mistakes applicants make is assuming that a country has one universal dual citizenship rule. In reality, the answer often depends on how citizenship is acquired.

Citizenship by descent

Dual citizenship is often easiest to keep in descent-based cases. When citizenship is recognized through a parent or ancestry line, countries may treat the person as having possessed that nationality from birth or by operation of law. In such cases, there may be no renunciation stage at all, or no reason to consider the person as voluntarily acquiring a second nationality in the same way as a naturalization applicant.

For the broader picture, see EU Citizenship by Descent — Which Countries Allow It and How It Works in Practice.

Citizenship by marriage

Marriage-based citizenship usually falls under simplified naturalization. Some countries that allow dual citizenship broadly will still allow spouses to keep their previous nationality, while stricter countries may apply the same or similar renunciation logic used in regular naturalization cases. That is why marriage to an EU citizen should never be analyzed separately from the country’s nationality law as a whole. For more detail, see EU Citizenship by Marriage — Which Countries Allow It and How It Works.

Citizenship by naturalization

Naturalization is where dual citizenship restrictions historically mattered most. Countries such as Germany have become more permissive, while Austria remains strict and the Netherlands still applies renunciation rules in many ordinary naturalization cases. Spain also remains nuanced, with different outcomes depending on nationality and legal basis.

For timelines and broader context, see How Long Does It Take to Get EU Citizenship? (By Country).

Why More EU Countries Now Allow Dual Citizenship

Over time, many European states have become more flexible about dual nationality. There are several reasons for this:

international migration and cross-border families
large diaspora communities
the reality of people living and working across multiple jurisdictions
the difficulty and political sensitivity of forcing renunciation

Germany’s 2024 reform is one of the clearest recent examples of this broader European trend. It reflects a shift away from the older assumption that citizenship must always be exclusive.

Advantages of Dual Citizenship in the EU

For many applicants, retaining their original nationality while obtaining an EU passport is one of the main goals of the process. The practical advantages often include:

preserving family, inheritance, or personal ties in the original country
gaining EU freedom of movement rights
broader residence and work options within the European Union
additional travel flexibility
greater long-term stability for families and children

Because EU citizenship gives access to residence, work, and study rights across the bloc, dual citizenship can create a significant increase in mobility and legal security.

Important Things to Check Before Applying

Even where dual citizenship is allowed, applicants should check three things carefully.

1. The law of the EU country they are applying to

The first question is whether the destination country allows dual citizenship freely, conditionally, or only by exception.

2. The law of the current country of citizenship

Even if the EU country allows dual nationality, the applicant’s original country may not. Some countries automatically strip nationality when a new one is acquired, while others allow multiple citizenships without restriction. Germany’s own guidance explicitly advises applicants to check the rules of their current nationality in advance.

3. The legal pathway used

Citizenship by descent, marriage, and naturalization may lead to different outcomes even within the same country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you have dual citizenship in Europe?

Yes, in many cases. But the answer depends on the nationality law of the specific country. Some EU states generally allow dual citizenship, while others still restrict it or allow it only in specific legal categories.

Which EU countries generally allow dual citizenship?

France, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and now Germany are among the countries that generally permit multiple citizenships in broad terms. Austria remains restrictive, and countries such as Spain and the Netherlands apply more nuanced rules.

Do you always have to renounce your original citizenship to become an EU citizen?

No. It depends on the country and the legal basis. In some countries, renunciation is not generally required; in others, it may still be part of the naturalization process unless an exception applies.

Does the EU itself regulate dual citizenship?

No. Nationality law remains primarily a matter for each member state. EU citizenship follows from national citizenship; it does not replace it.

Can you keep your original passport when obtaining EU citizenship?

In many cases yes, but this depends on the nationality law of the EU country involved and the rules of your current country of citizenship.

Final Takeaway

Many EU countries do allow dual citizenship, but not all in the same way. If you are choosing a country for citizenship planning, the right question is not simply “Does this country allow dual citizenship?” but rather:

Does this country allow dual citizenship on my legal route?
Will my current country of citizenship let me keep my original nationality?
Can I document the correct legal basis clearly from the start?

For detailed country-specific analysis, continue with: