Multiple citizenships – not just for celebrities

From time to time, news will pick up about one celebrity or another obtaining a second citizenship. Obtaining multiple citizenships is not the sole privilege of the rich and famous, however; if certain conditions are met, anyone can get a second passport.

Celebrities with multiple citizenships

From famous (or infamous) cases in the media, it may seem that obtaining a second citizenship is, for most of us, an unattainable privilege, but in fact it can be a tool for improving anyone’s options and freedom of movement. If you look at why some celebrities obtained additional citizenship, you might find their reasons relatable:

• Arnold Schwarzenegger obtained U.S. citizenship back in 1983 to further his acting career, while he held onto his Austrian passport.
• In contrast, U.S. actress Kirsten Dunst applied for a German passport to honor her father’s heritage as well as to make working on European film productions easier.
• George Clooney moved to France with his wife and their children in search of peace and tranquility, away from the constantly watching eyes of tabloids. He also praised the superior schooling options available to his children.
• James Cameron bought a home in New Zealand after filming Avatar there, and found the environment and political climate more to his taste than those in the U.S.
• Shane Tusup U.S. born swim coach moved to Hungary more than a decade ago, and his new Hungarian passport allows him to travel to 180 countries around the world without a visa, which he can take advantage of both as a coach and a businessman.

Second citizenships: more accessible than you might think

Celebrities like athletes, artists, scientists or investors often obtain have multiple citizenships, some of which they obtained in some kind of preferential procedure. Tech billionaire Peter Thiel got his New Zealand passport after just 4 visits to the country based on his significant local investment. Idris Elba became a citizen and a brand ambassador of Sierra Leone, his father’s country of origin, on his first visit. Just recently, we saw many athletes in the winter Olympics compete for a country other than their place of birth.

At the same time, many countries offer simplified citizenship application procedures to the descendants of their citizens, and celebrities often opt for these procedures instead of simply expecting preferential treatment. This is how Jimmy Kimmel got his Italian passport based on his grandparents, or how Mel Gibson gained Irish citizenship based on his mother.

In fact, citizenship by descent is one of the most accessible methods for people to obtain a second passport. Over the last wo hundred years, people have moved around a lot, so many people have parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, or even further ancestors who moved away from where they were born. Citizenship offered to descendants of people who emigrated is sometimes available only up to 2 or 3 generations, like in Ireland or Spain, but some countries, like Hungary, have no limitations on the number of generations; here the only requirement is to present the paperwork that will link you to your ancestor. While this will rarely mean anything before the first half of the 1800s, applications based on ancestors from the 19^th century are not at all uncommon!

Citizenship by descent made easy

If you are interested in obtaining a second citizenship by descent, start by taking a look at your family tree. Check where your ancestors come from, and then whether those countries offer simplified citizenship to their descendants. More people are eligible for this type of citizenship than you would think, and many even qualify for multiple citizenships. Just based on ancestors from present-day Hungary and former Hungarian territories, there are an estimated 1.5 million people eligible in the U.S. and up to 5 million people worldwide. 

If you have connections to Hungary, it might be an attractive choice too: as an EU member state, Hungary offers visa-free access to the Schengen zone, including the right to live and work anywhere in the EU without limitations, as well as simplified real estate purchase, faster bank account opening, and lower business taxes than anywhere in the EU. The Hungarian citizenship procedure is also faster and less complicated than in most EU countries.

In Hungary, Helpers is the leading provider of citizenship services with 20 years of experience in supporting international clients. Their website is an invaluable resource of information, whether you want to ask for a consultation or take advantage of their all-inclusive service. Should you employ their services, you will be treated like a celebrity!

Citizenship by descent in Hungary FAQ

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