How Many Passports Can You Have? Here’s What to Know

Spy thrillers have often included characters with multiple passports to evoke drama and suspense. The reality of having more than one passport is far tamer, but can help travelers navigate difficult visa situations and provide more flexibility for trips abroad. Even having a duplicate of a passport can be helpful if your primary passport is damaged, lost, or stolen.

Here’s everything travelers need to know about holding multiple passports, including how many you can have, how to obtain a second passport, and the facts behind the “golden passport” myth.

What are the benefits of having multiple passports?

Multiple passports can unlock visa-free entry to additional countries, provide peace of mind in the event a primary passport is lost or damaged while in transit, and come with relocation perks.

Before obtaining multiple passports, travelers should evaluate the potential visa-free entry options of each passport. For example, a German passport holder eligible for a Brazilian passport should reconsider getting the second passport since German passports can access more countries visa-free than a Brazilian passport. (The most valuable passport in the world is Singapore’s, which comes with 192 visa-free country entry opportunities, according to the Henley Passport Index.)

“Having multiple passports provides options for applicants; having other passports provides alternative documents to travel with in the event one passport is restricted, such as what happened during COVID, where there were significant travel restrictions,” Basil Mohr-Elzeki, Henley & Partners’ managing partner, told Travel + Leisure. The additional passport can also be helpful to other family members and future generations seeking one, Mohr-Elzeki added. 

Then there’s the relocation element. Those with a European Union passport can live and work in the 27 countries that are part of the EU, and those with a Caribbean passport can do the same within select countries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Lastly, global investors can benefit from tax and financial implications by holding multiple passports.

How many passports can you have?

The number of passports a person can have varies based on where their original citizenship is held. For citizens of the United States, there is no limit to how many foreign passports one can hold. This means that a citizen with dual citizenship can hold both a United States passport and a passport from a second country. That said, many countries (like China, India, Japan, and South Korea) don’t allow dual citizenship, and, in turn, those citizens can only hold one passport.

Can you have multiple U.S. passports?

The United States government allows citizens with a valid passport to obtain a second passport. The only difference to note is that the second passport would be valid for four years instead of the usual 10 years.

The U.S. Department of State provides several reasons that an individual would need multiple United States passports, including the need for several visas due to visiting multiple countries, or someone needing a passport for urgent travel while their existing passport is being used to process a visa. Other reasons include foreign countries potentially prohibiting entry access, due to another country stamping the passport, or to provide validation for travel to a restricted country.

According to the State Department, it only provides second United States passport books, and not passport cards.

How do I get a second U.S. passport?

The process to obtain a second passport is straightforward and similar to the process of renewing an existing passport. The current processing times to receive a second passport book are four to six weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for expedited service. 

Travelers must submit a Form DS-82 (if you have your valid U.S. passport and plan to mail it with the application) or Form DS-11 (if you’re planning to apply in person and not submit your application via mail), along with a signed statement providing the reason for needing the second book, a new passport photo, and a fee.

Which countries allow dual citizenship?

Over 140 countries allow dual citizenship, including Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, Peru, and the United States. However, several large countries, such as China and India, do not permit it. Below are some circumstances that may allow you to obtain dual citizenship.

Birthright Citizenship or Citizenship by Descent

Many countries offer citizenship based on place of birth (also known as jus soli) or having blood relatives (known as jus sanguinis or jure sanguinis). Most commonly, the relative would be a mother or father, but some nations offer citizenship to those with other blood ties to the country, such as grandparents. These include Italy, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.

In recent years, travelers have documented delving into their roots to identify their lineage and as a way to gain dual citizenship. In 2023, T+L contributing writer Jamie Ditaranto shared her journey of seeking Italian citizenship by exploring her family tree. 

Citizenship by Naturalization

You can become a citizen of a country by meeting the requirements of its naturalization processes, which can vary. Some require just a short residency, while others require language proficiency tests and knowledge of the history and laws.

Citizenship by Marriage

In many countries, a second passport will be granted through citizenship by marriage. For example, foreign spouses of Italian citizens can apply for Italian citizenship after three years of marriage. The process (which goes through an Italian consulate if you’re living outside the country) requires completing documentation and verifying proficiency in the Italian language.

Investment and Economic Citizenship

Travelers can also purchase a second passport through donations, contributions, or investments in another country. For example, Grenada has a program that starts at $235,000, and Turkey has a program that starts at $400,000. 

Travelers may have encountered the phrase “golden passport,” but experts share that this is technically misleading. While it may seem like it applies to citizenship, it is more aligned with visas, which provide residency. 

“The term ‘golden visa’ is another phrase for a residence permit that can be obtained by making an investment, often in real estate, donating, or starting a business,” Mohr-Elzeki told T+L. “Depending on the country, the golden visa will allow the ability to live, work, and study within the country offering it.”

Portugal and Greece have golden visa programs (Spain ended its version in 2025), as well as digital nomad visas, a similar program to entice remote workers to visit and work from the country.