I've got two passports. My American one and one issued by Argentina. That may sound strange to some expats, or anyone thinking about the expat life, but there's a good reason.
Actually, there are two good reasons.
There are two reasons travellers can legally possess a valid second US passport: One is political, the other is logistical.
I frequently visit Venezuela. The country is persona non grata to America. But my work takes me there, so when it became possible to get an Argentine passport, I jumped at the chance. It would make travel a lot easier.
However, as an American citizen, I couldn't get a Venezuelan passport. As a legal Argentina resident, I could.
Argentina - 2-years
You will find lots of misinformation on the internet regarding Argentina. These are the definitive requirements:
- Proof that you've lived continuously in Argentina for two years.
- Be over 18 years old.
- Proof of adequate income or employment.
- A DNI card—an Argentine residence permit.
- Proof of no serious criminal record.
And that's it. Two short years in one of the world's truly beautiful countries and you can apply for citizenship and, thus, an Argentine passport—the 19th most powerful passport on the planet in that it gives you access to 170 countries without needing a visa.
Yes, Argentina has a financial crisis du jour. Still, if your life is denominated in dollars, your lifestyle in the land of tango will be pretty sweet. Argentina allows you to hold dual nationality as an American.
If you're looking to get your hands on a second passport without having to buy or inherit it, then consider this less-costly, more-organic, nearly assured path: Move somewhere and gain citizenship—and a passport—via the naturalization process.
That's not as difficult as it might sound. While lots of countries require that you live within their borders for a decade or longer before you can apply for citizenship, several impose a much-shorter timeline of between two and five years.
Peru: 2 years*
From the wonders of Machu Picchu to blissed-out beach-towns,
Peru offers a lot, including the potential to secure a second passport.
The asterisk here ties to Peru's requirement that a non-Peruvian can apply for citizenship two years after acquiring residence in the country. That's not hard; with the correct documents, you can apply for Peruvian residence while you're visiting on a tourist visa. But it could take several months to complete the residence process.
Once you've been a resident for two years, you can apply for citizenship. The necessary documents are similar to those in Argentina, but there are also requirements that you:
- Write an application to the president of Peru.
- Prove you're healthy.
- Can communicate in Spanish, and pass an exam about Peruvian history, culture, and geography.
Ecuador, Honduras, Poland, Paraguay: 3 years
Ecuador demands three continuous years, and if there is an interruption of more than 90 days, you have to start over.
Honduras shortens the requirement to two years if you are Ibero-American (from a Spanish or Portuguese-speaking country).
Poland is interesting because it is a European Union member, meaning this is the quickest path to an EU passport. You will also need proof of a stable source of income, such as Social Security or a pension. Perhaps the hardest requirement: proof—by way of official certificate—that you can speak Polish, not one of the world's easiest languages for native English speakers.
Paraguay is straightforward: Live there for three years as an upstanding citizen.
Brazil: 15 years
Very much like Paraguay in how easy it is. Fifteen years of continuous residence in the country, command of Portuguese, and no criminal record.
5-Years
Australia, Barbados, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ireland, Jamaica, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay: 5 years
Whether you're drawn by Australia's sandy shores or Ireland's green pastures, securing a second passport in your dream destination may be far easier than you think.
This is not a complete list of the five-year countries. Quite a few others impose requirements that make them less appealing (Indonesia and Japan require that you relinquish your US nationality), or they're countries most of us won't rush to, such as Iran, Congo, or Afghanistan.
