Dual‑citizenship rules vary widely. Some states merely want to be informed, others automatically terminate the original nationality, and a few make a declaration a condition for keeping it. Failing to comply can trigger administrative fines, criminal charges, loss of citizenship or even expulsion.
Three reporting models
| Model | What the law does | Example countries |
|---|---|---|
| Inform‑only – the state wants to know about the new citizenship, but acquiring it does not automatically end the original one. | Citizens must notify authorities within a set period; the original citizenship remains unless other provisions apply. | Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Latvia |
| Automatic loss – acquiring a foreign nationality terminates the original one by law. | The person must report the loss or surrender the former passport/identity documents. | Kazakhstan, India, Japan, South Korea, Lithuania, China |
| Declaration to retain – the original citizenship is lost unless a declaration is filed within a deadline. | Failure to declare results in loss of the original nationality. | Spain, Egypt |
Inform‑only reporting
Russia
- Law: Federal Law No. 138‑FZ (2023) – report any new foreign citizenship or permanent‑residence permit within 60 days.
- Where to file: Interior Ministry (inside Russia) or a Russian consulate abroad. If abroad at the deadline, the report must be made within 60 days of the next entry into Russia.
- Penalties:
- Late or false filing – administrative fine 500–1 000 RUB.
- No filing – criminal offence (Art. 330.2). Fine up to 200 000 RUB, up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory labour.
- Enforcement: 4 585 administrative cases in 2023 (nearly double 2022); 52 criminal convictions between 2022 and mid‑2025.
- Proposed change: Draft law (public comment ended Jan 2024) would require reporting within 60 days of obtaining a foreign residence permit or citizenship, even for those living abroad, with a one‑year grace period for consular notification. Expected to take effect 2028.
Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Latvia
- Belarus (2023): Report acquisition of foreign citizenship or residence permit within 3 months to internal affairs or a diplomatic mission. No penalty yet, but a draft administrative fine is being considered.
- Azerbaijan: Written notice to authorities within 1 month. The law lists voluntary acquisition of another citizenship as a ground for loss, but the loss is not automatic. Criminal penalty for non‑reporting was removed in 2020.
- Turkey: Written notice to the local population directorate or a consulate; no deadline or fine. Civil events (marriage, birth) under the foreign citizenship are not entered into the Turkish population register until reporting.
- Latvia: Notify the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs when acquiring another citizenship. Dual citizenship is permitted only with EU, EFTA, NATO states, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, or countries having a bilateral agreement. For other states, Cabinet permission is required; failure to apply for renunciation within 30 days can lead to revocation (not if it would cause statelessness). Re‑acquisition after revocation requires at least 5 years of residence.
Automatic loss of original citizenship
Kazakhstan (Constitution effective 2026)
- Citizenship ends automatically upon acquiring another.
- Must report the new citizenship and surrender Kazakh passport/ID within 30 calendar days.
- Penalty for late or missing report: fine of 100 monthly calculation indices (MCI) or expulsion; higher fines for civil servants and state‑owned‑company managers.
India
- Citizenship Act 1955 ends Indian citizenship automatically when a person voluntarily acquires another nationality.
- Indian passport must be surrendered immediately; retaining it is an offence under the Passports Act 1967.
- Fines:
- No fine for holding the passport up to 3 years after acquisition.
- After 3 years: 10 000 INR per offence, up to 50 000 INR total.
- Re‑issuance of an Indian passport after foreign naturalisation adds 25 000 INR.
- Surrender/renunciation certificate is required for an OCI card.
China
- Nationality Law (Art. 9) ends Chinese nationality automatically when a citizen voluntarily acquires foreign nationality.
- The household registration (hukou) must be cancelled at the local police station; no statutory deadline.
- For visa applications, the applicant must present a certificate of hukou cancellation.
- Travel to China thereafter requires a foreign passport with a Chinese visa.
Japan & South Korea
- Japan: Nationality Act ends Japanese citizenship upon voluntary acquisition of another nationality. The Family Register Act requires notification within 1 month (or 3 months if abroad). Fine up to 50 000 JPY for missed deadline. Using an old Japanese passport after loss can lead to punishment.
- South Korea: Same loss rule. Notification to the Minister of Justice (or a spouse/relative) within 1 month; missed deadline incurs a fine (amount not specified).
Lithuania
- Citizenship ends on the date the new one is acquired, except where law provides otherwise.
- Must inform the Migration Department in writing within 2 months via the Migris online system.
Declaration required to retain citizenship
Spain
- Spaniards abroad lose Spanish nationality 3 years after voluntarily acquiring another nationality, unless they file a declaration with the Civil Registry within that period.
- No declaration is needed if the new nationality is from an Ibero‑American country, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, or Portugal.
Egypt
- Permission from the Minister of Interior is required before acquiring a foreign nationality (Law No. 26 / 1975).
- With permission, the original Egyptian nationality ends unless the permission also allows retention; the holder must declare the wish to retain within 1 year.
- Without permission, the person remains Egyptian unless a cabinet decision strips the nationality.
Countries with no reporting duty
- Canada: No dual‑citizenship reporting or certificate requirement.
- United States: No specific dual‑nationality reporting; the IRS considered (and later dropped) a checkbox on Form 1040.
- Denmark: Notification duty was abolished in 2015; no longer required.
- Germany: Since 2024, acquiring a foreign citizenship does not cause loss of German citizenship and no permission is needed.
- Singapore & Malaysia: Constitutions allow deprivation of citizenship for voluntary acquisition of another, but no formal reporting duty exists.
Practical checklist before acquiring a second citizenship
- Identify your home‑country model (inform‑only, automatic loss, or declaration‑required).
- Mark the reporting deadline – e.g., 60 days in Russia, 30 days in Kazakhstan, 2 months in Lithuania, 3 years for Spain.
- Gather proof of filing (receipt, copy of notice) and keep it with your citizenship documents.
- Surrender or cancel the old passport/ID where required (India, Kazakhstan, China).
- Avoid travel on the former passport after the grace period to prevent fines or criminal liability.
- Check for upcoming legislative changes (e.g., Russia’s draft law, Belarus’s pending penalty) that could shorten reporting windows.
Understanding the specific obligations of your country of origin can prevent costly fines, criminal charges, or the involuntary loss of citizenship when you obtain a second passport.
Source article: www.imidaily.com
