Dual citizenship
Should a person hold the citizenship of two countries? I vote yes, if it will work for the person in question. I admit to having a bias on the subject. I personally hold two citizenships, both of which I am entitled to by birth, with one through my father and the other through my mother. I have the official proof of citizenship documentation from each country. I am not required to maintain both citizenships. I could renounce one or the other or both and apply for citizenship elsewhere. But I won’t.
Not Renouncing a Citizenship
Why not? Because having both of these two specific citizenships provides me with the best of both worlds. The options they present are of significant value to me personally and professionally. I can leverage the best citizenship benefits of each country while mitigating the impact of the more negative aspects. I can pursue both my love of international affairs and travel and have a job that pays sufficiently to allow me to do so while keeping in touch with my relatives.
Benefits by Country
In one country, I have access to a national social security scheme, a pension, an acceptable standard of living, a job, a stable and peaceful life, and several close family members in country. In the other, I have even more family, a beautiful climate, a global perspective, an element of vivacity, a better quality of life, no taxes on foreign income; and the ability to buy a residence, make investments, and establish a bank account even while living abroad.
Benefits of Both Countries
I can also enter both countries without a visa as long as I have the respective passport in my possession while travelling. Being a city dweller, I have all the major utilities and services I need in both countries even as I work in one and enjoy the lifestyle in the other. I can vote, own homes, visit friends and family, live where I please for as long as I like, obtain medical care, have domestic and international transportation options, and cell phone service. My dual citizenship status gives me more choices that matter to me by eliminating barriers that non-citizens would face.
Two Valuable Assets
Both my citizenships are of great value to me. The loss of either citizenship would have a negative impact on me personally and professionally.