5 benefits of getting a second citizenship for children

Second citizenship or residency can make children’s life abroad easier: enrol in a university, pay lower tuition fees, get a good job and stay in the selected country after graduation. But there is more.

Learn more about why a second passport is a beneficial investment in the children’s future.

#1. Study without a student visa

One must collect documents and meet the application deadline to get a student visa. They can get denied getting or renewing a visa for many reasons, including incorrectly completed documents, students’ poor performance, a conflict between the countries, or switching to distance learning due to a pandemic.

Malta citizenship allows its holder to choose any EU country to live, study and work. A Maltese citizen doesn’t need a student visa; for them, it’s enough to register in the country of study under a simplified procedure. In addition, Maltese citizens are eligible for 5-year student visas to the USA.

Nkosi, 46 years old

A businessman from Egypt

Malta citizenship for living in Europe with children

Nkosi moved to Germany with his family. But bureaucracy blighted the family’s life: Nkosi and his wife had to renew their residence permits for financially independent persons once every two years, while their children renewed student residence permits yearly.

It isn’t easy to obtain citizenship in Germany, and the applicant has to give up their first passport. Besides, Nkosi’s son Waaiz wanted to continue his studies in France. Therefore, he would lose the opportunity to get German permanent residence after relocation.

Malta citizenship helped the family solve all the problems by allowing them to live in any EU country with a simplified relocation procedure.

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A temporary or permanent residence permit allows the holder to study in the country of residence without a student visa. There is a way to get residence permits by investment under a simplified procedure. Such offers are available in Portugal, Greece, and Spain. Investors and their family members can become permanent residents in Malta and Cyprus.

Austria and Switzerland offer residence permits to financially independent persons, allowing the holder to study but not work in the country.

Caribbean passports help to get a US student visa that will be valid for longer. Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, and St Lucia qualify for a 5‑year student visa, and St Kitts and Nevis citizens get visas for up to 25 months. In comparison, citizens of Kyrgyzstan get 1-year student visas only.

#2. Prepare for enrollment in a university

Going to a school abroad requires a student visa, too. It can be skipped or obtained under a simplified procedure if a child has a second citizenship or residency.

Enrolling in most British, US and EU universities requires finishing school with the A-level or International Baccalaureate (IB) program available to teenagers aged 16 to 18.

If a child finishes school in the home country, they can take a Foundation course at the selected university or private school to prepare for enrollment. Preparatory courses last for six months to one year.

Armen and Elinar,

Owners of a real estate agency from Armenia

Caribbean citizenship for future cosmopolitans

Armen and Elinar have two sons, David and Norik. The couple wants their children to freely speak foreign languages, see the world and decide where to live.

The family obtained second citizenship by investment to travel with their kids and make it easier for them to get student visas in future.

Thus, Armen, Elinar, David, and Norik became St Kitts and Nevis citizens in 2020. A year later, the boys went to a language school in London.

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#3. Save money on tuition fees

Studying in Europe. EU citizens and third-country nationals enrol in universities on different terms.

It’s easier to become a student for an EU citizen: more quotas are usually allocated for them, and tuition fees are lower. Conditions depend on the particular country and institution. For example, EU citizens enjoy free education at public universities in Austria and Portugal.

For non-EU citizens, it’s more challenging to enrol in a university, and education is more expensive for them.

Studying in other countries. A second passport can help to save money on education in the country of second citizenship. For example, studying at the St George’s University in Grenada is possible.

Daniel and Edon,

Investor and his grandson

Second citizenship to study in Grenada

Daniel’s grandson Edon wanted to become a doctor. The family analysed available options and concluded that the St George’s University in Grenada was the best-suited one.

Students of the St George’s University walk the hospitals for 16 weeks in the USA, and their diplomas are acknowledged in 47 countries.

Grenada citizenship helps Edon get an education and save $47,000 on tuition fees.

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#4. See family anytime you want

The whole family can get citizenship or residency by investment. Family members receive passports and the right to enter the Schengen Area, the UK, and other countries visa-free.

Therefore, you won’t need a visa to see your child: support during competitions, public speeches, exams, graduation, or to spend a weekend together.

#5. Find a job abroad

Extend job search time. The student visa limits the time for finding a job after graduation. In the UK, an international graduate has four months to get employed. In Switzerland or Austria, they will have six months.

In the USA, a graduate can get a paid internship for up to one year. In the case of scientific and technical specialities, an internship can last for up to three years.

It might be hard for a yesterday’s student without experience to get a job in few months. According to Economiesuisse, only 10—15% of graduates stay in Switzerland if they come from non-EU countries.

Second citizenship or residence makes it possible to stay in the country after graduation, choose another state or fly to job interviews without obtaining visas.

Get an employment advantage. Obtaining work permits for foreign employees sometimes puts employers off. Thus, in many European countries, companies must prepare documents and take responsibility for the new employee. Employers also prove they have been ready to hire a country’s citizen but couldn’t find a qualified person.

EU citizenship or residency makes it easier to get employed in the region, and the employer doesn’t experience too much trouble when preparing documents and justifying their choice of a specialist.

Key points on why to get second passports for children

A second passport is an investment in the child’s education. It helps prepare for university enrollment and study without obtaining a student visa.
Second citizenship sometimes helps save money on education without sacrificing quality.
Almost all family members can participate in citizenship and residency investment programs: parents, children, and grandparents. With second passports, relatives can freely visit their kids while they study abroad.
A residence permit or a second passport can extend the time for job searching. For example, to attend job interviews in different countries without needing visas. In addition, a graduate with two passports sometimes has an employment advantage.

Material prepared by Julia Loko, Investment programs expert

Updated:

21 December, 2024

Frequently asked questions

Can a child have two passports in the UK?
Yes, they can. The UK allows dual citizenship, meaning a British citizen can hold several passports if other countries of citizenship also allow it.
Can my child have dual citizenship?
Yes, they can if the first country of citizenship allows having several passports at once.
Can a child have triple citizenship?
Yes, they can. If a country allows dual citizenship, it usually doesn’t limit the number of passports people can hold simultaneously.