Second Passports that Let You Visit the United States

One of the biggest fears we hear from US citizens looking to get a second citizenship is the concern they won’t be able to return to the United States to visit. 

Many people find the idea of not being able to return to their place of birth more than a little scary. 

The truth is, if you intend to live in or spend time in the United States, there are options that make obtaining another citizenship worthwhile. 

If you’re reading this, you probably understand at least some of the reasons for having a second passport. 

Dual nationality or multiple citizenships unlock the benefits of international diversification, as well as greater freedom to live, invest, protect your wealth and travel the world.

Indeed, getting a second passport is one step closer to going where you’re treated best. 

However, the pathways to citizenship and residence are changing and even vanishing. For example, Spain’s golden visa program is set to end in April 2025. 

In the meantime, citizenship-by-investment programs, like those in the Caribbean, are becoming more and more expensive.

It’s a bit messy at the moment, but the second citizenship world still has a few golden nuggets for those willing to act fast. 

At Nomad Capitalist, we can help you make the most of the current citizenship opportunities that are still available. 

Our list of the best second passports for US citizens offering visa-free travel to the US is a good place to start. But first, let’s explore the basics.

Can US Citizens Have a Second Passport?

US citizens are free, though not overtly encouraged, to hold a second passport. The only real issue you might encounter is if the country you’re getting a second passport from does not allow dual citizenship or if you decide to renounce your US citizenship after acquiring your second citizenship.

In terms of the first scenario, Spain is one such example. Technically, US citizens are not allowed to hold both US and Spanish citizenship at the same time, requiring you to renounce US citizenship to obtain a Spanish passport.

However, in almost all cases, merely obtaining a second citizenship in most countries doesn’t mean that you are no longer a US citizen. As we’ve said, the United States does recognise dual citizenship. 

The key factor here is whether the country from which you are acquiring citizenship is from the relatively small list of countries that don’t allow dual citizenship. 

As long as you carry a US passport, you can enter and exit the US whenever you please, and you will also continue to be responsible for filing taxes and reporting any foreign bank accounts and foreign corporations.

Only by renouncing your US passport are you free of your obligations to the Internal Revenue Service. 

For Americans who have no intention of renouncing their citizenship, the best second passport is one that is both beneficial and easy to obtain, even if the visa-free travel options aren’t as good. 

In this case, your US passport will always be available for travel, while a second passport will serve as a ‘Plan B’. US citizens and dual nationals must still file and pay US income tax on their worldwide earnings and investments. 

To reiterate, merely having a second passport doesn’t invalidate the tax and filing requirements that come with holding a US passport. 

In addition, there are several onerous regulations that only apply to US citizens overseas, including dual nationals, such as the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Travelling to the US after Renouncing US Citizenship

Many people want the best of both worlds: the ability to renounce their US citizenship without giving up the ability to visit family and friends in the United States. 

However, this is inherently tricky. Even as record numbers renounce their US citizenship, there is still a remote possibility that the government can bar a former citizen deemed to have expatriated for tax reasons from entering the country again. 

The US government rarely, if ever, enforces that clause, partially because it would involve more bureaucracy and partly because most people don’t come out and say, ‘I’m renouncing to avoid paying taxes.’

On top of that, you can’t simply renounce US citizenship and then come back full-time. 

As a best-case scenario, anyone spending 183 days per year on US soil must pay taxes and comply with regulations. 

If you do plan to renounce US citizenship but want to return to visit later, you will fall into one of two camps: someone who needs a visa and someone who doesn’t.

If you hope to visit the US after renouncing your citizenship, you’ll likely need a visa. 

Unlike somewhere like Malaysia, where practically anyone can visit as a tourist, the United States is one of the most difficult countries in the world to visit. 

Now, that doesn’t make it impossible. Unless you have a criminal conviction or have a second passport from a country with a high visa-refusal rate, there are ways to visit the US. 

The most straightforward passport for travelling to the US is a Canadian passport. 

Canada is the only country that actually has visa-free travel to the US. When Canadians arrive at the border with their passports, they usually only have to answer a few questions. 

However, other countries around the world have ‘visa-free’ access to the US because they belong to a Visa Waiver program. 

If you have a passport from the United Kingdom, Australia or one of the other countries we list below, you will need pre-authorisation through a process called Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), which costs US$21 and is valid for a couple of years. 

Other countries, like Canada, are now copying this, in essence imposing a softer visa requirement on citizens of other countries. 

For many of the people we work with, the second passport they obtain does not allow for visa-free travel to the US simply because very few nationals of other countries can enter without a visa. 

If you renounce US citizenship for a passport that falls into this camp, you will need to make an appointment at the US Embassy where you legally reside and apply for a visa like everyone else. 

This doesn’t mean that getting into the US is impossible if you’re from a developed country like Argentina or Malaysia that doesn’t belong to the Visa Waiver Program. 

The key to getting a US visa is a lack of ‘immigration intent.’ In other words, it should be clear that you are a bona fide tourist with ties to somewhere else and intend to return. 

Overall, if you want to avoid the hassle of applying for a US tourist visa (even for merely transiting through a US airport), we recommend obtaining a second passport from a country that is a member of the Visa Waiver Program list below. 

Travelling Under the Visa Waiver Program

There are currently 42 Visa Waiver Program countries whose citizens are allowed to visit the US for tourism, business or merely for transit. 

These countries are Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. 

The US is currently reviewing several ‘road map’ countries with low visa refusal rates for possible inclusion. These countries include Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, Turkey and Uruguay. 

If you can obtain a passport from a Visa Waiver Country, you’ll enjoy excellent visa-free travel around the world and the ability to visit the US. 

However, only US citizens have guaranteed admittance upon arrival. Even foreigners who pass ESTA may be denied at their port of entry. 

The Best Second Passports from Visa Waiver Countries

The following Visa Waiver Program countries make obtaining citizenship reasonably easy for those who want easy access to the US:

Australia

While Australia may be a high-tax country and has its own issues with declining freedoms, skilled workers in high demand may be able to obtain residence in Australia, where the naturalisation period is four years.

Belgium

While immigrating to Belgium isn’t cheap, it is possible to do so by starting a small business, securing employment or proving that you have a substantial net worth and independent means. 

You will need to have an actual home in Belgium during your entire residency period, but you don’t need to spend all your time there. After five years of established residency, you can apply for citizenship as long as you meet the language proficiency requirements of either French or Dutch.

Canada

Canada isn’t actually a Visa Waiver Country, as Canadians have exclusive privileges to enter the United States. 

If your parents are Canadian, you can apply for Canadian citizenship on that basis. 

You can also invest CAD$1.2 million in a provincial government investment program such as Quebec’s to obtain permanent residence. After spending 1,095 days of physical presence in the previous five years in Canada, you can apply for naturalisation. Learn more in our guide to How to Get Canadian Citizenship. 

Chile

If you have six months to spend on the ground, Chile is an interesting option. You can become a resident by showing yourself to be self-sufficient or running some form of small business in Chile. 

Once approved, you must be physically present in Chile for 183 days in your first year there to trigger tax residency. After that, you only need to spend one day per year in Chile to keep your residence active. Then, after five years, you can apply for Chilean citizenship.

Estonia

Estonia is a decent option if you are an entrepreneur and don’t mind the cold. The Estonian government aims to be the least bureaucratic country on earth and welcomes foreign investment; corporate taxes on undistributed profits are zero. 

Most Westerners can obtain Estonian residence by starting a business with a low-five-figure sum. The downside is you must stay in Estonia for six months per year to apply for Estonian citizenship after eight years. 

Greece

Greece offers a citizenship by descent program to those with Greek ancestry. It also offers one of Europe’s cheapest golden visas, and you can work towards citizenship by spending seven consecutive years in Greece. 

However, the country doesn’t make it easy for those who don’t have familial or ethnic ties with Greece to obtain citizenship.

Hungary

As with other European nations, ethnic Hungarians can apply for citizenship by descent. 

In addition, Hungary recently relaunched its own golden visa program, officially referred to as the Guest Investor Residence permit. 

To be considered, candidates must either put €250,000 into a designated fund, spend €500,000 on residential real estate or donate a non-refundable contribution of €1 million to a trust foundation for public benefit.

Entrepreneurs also have the option to start a small business in Hungary. 

Either way, residents are eligible to apply for citizenship after eight years, provided they speak Hungarian. 

Ireland

If you have parents or grandparents who hold Irish citizenship, you can apply for Irish citizenship by descent. The process is straightforward and affordable. 

For those without direct lineage, you can apply through the STEP program, designed for High Potential Start-Ups, which requires €50,000 in funding for the start-up and €30,000 for any subsequent entrepreneurs involved in the venture. 

You may be eligible for an Irish passport through naturalisation after five years of continuous residence and meet the requirements, but it is not guaranteed. 

Italy

If you have ancestors, even great-grandparents, who have held Italian citizenship and did not renounce it at any point, you qualify to be an Italian citizen by descent. Although the process can be more bureaucratic than Ireland’s, it remains relatively straightforward.

Alternatively, you can obtain a residence permit to live in Italy by showing a mid-five-figure bank balance and can then apply for naturalisation after ten years.

Latvia

Latvia allows foreigners to become residents in one of three ways. You may choose to purchase real estate valued at €250,000 or more, deposit around €280,000 in a Latvian bank or start or invest in a Latvian business that generates substantial jobs and tax revenue. It is then possible to apply for Latvian citizenship after ten years of residence.

Lithuania

Lithuania has a rather complicated citizenship-by-descent program, allowing you to go back to a third- or fourth-generation ancestor. 

While starting a business can also lead to naturalisation, dual citizenship is rare and granted only in exceptional circumstances.

Malta

Malta’s citizenship by investment option was replaced by a new naturalisation program which involves various investment pathways. You can contribute to Malta’s Government Fund by investing in government-sanctioned bonds or stocks or by buying real estate. 

The minimum investment requirement starts at €600,000, with a minimum one-year residence period required before Maltese citizenship can be granted. This Mediterranean island nation offers a high quality of life, a stable economy and access to the EU.

Portugal

Non-EU citizens can acquire residence and potentially citizenship in Portugal through the D7 visa once they meet the passive income requirements.

Along with the D2 visa for remote workers, the D7 is currently the easiest and best option for investors, entrepreneurs and retirees interested in getting a Portuguese passport. 

This allows you to qualify for citizenship after five years of residence – a much shorter period than in most EU countries. 

South Korea

If your parents are Korean, you may apply for South Korean citizenship even if you previously gave it up when the government forbade dual nationality. 

Alternatively, foreigners can make a mid-six-figure investment in South Korea to obtain residency. After five years of residency, you can apply for citizenship, gaining access to this dynamic East Asian nation.

Second Passports that Let You Visit the United States: FAQs

Find the Best Second Passport

The bottom line is that visiting the United States isn’t an automatic right for any foreigner and will be harder for those who renounce US citizenship on a passport from Panama, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic or any other country that does not have a Visa Waiver status. 

As of 2024, US citizens will lose visa-free travel rights and must undergo a visa application process before travelling to Europe, including the Schengen Area.

If you’re seriously considering renouncing or relinquishing your US citizenship, you’ll need to know what you’re getting into if visits to the US are part of your future plans.

Do you have European ancestry? With our Citizenship by Descent Eligibility Checker, you can easily see if you may be eligible for a potential second passport that lets you visit the United States.