citizenship, passport, expat

I've got what I believe to be one of the most useful passports in the world (UK) but would like to have another non-European passport to allow easy travel to say OZ/NZ but I wouldn't say its essential to have that passport as you can get by with visa's etc (although its easier if you are given a passport of course, lol).

A lot of countries don't allow dual citizenship though so if it came to living in another country and asking me to give up my passport for theirs I don't think there would be a country I would do that for - mostly for the (apparent) safety and security provided for me in old age. I know others have better services but I'd rather be old and sick in a country I can complain about justifiably! :)

If you could collect them from just living in the country for X number of years and build up a collection I'd probably try to pick one for Asia / S America and Australia so I could travel among the lot throughout my life.

Liechtenstein and Monegasque passports give tremendous tax advantages that no other passport can match. I am not so sure about Andorra and Switzerland,
Liechtenstein passport is basically an "enhanced" Swiss passport but with out all the taxation issues. Liechtenstein consular services are done by the Swiss anyhow. Had Paul Hogan held such a passport, he would not have lost any sleep over his tax issues vis-a-vis Australia!

peasbeuponyou - I once met an Israeli who told me you aren't required to do military service once you're over 27. I'd have to check that, though.

No tax sounds good, but I guess someone has to pay for all the essential services. Does VAT cover it all in Monaco?

and you need to have the sort of money where tax becomes an issue - wouldn't bother me as don't have that much to pay anyway :)

looseleaf - actually, I think most countries that you'd want to be a citizen of (advanced, progressive, etc.) allow dual citizenship today. The only exceptions being Norway, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Spain... I think that's it for Western Europe, for example - all the rest allow dual, as do the US, Canada, Australia, NZ, and most Latin American and Caribbean countries. Asian and Muslim countries generally don't allow it.

Venona - Interesting about Liechtenstein - I didn't know some of that. But I heard that it's virtually impossible to become a citizen of that country. Monaco is possible, but difficult. Anyway, isn't residence just as good as far as taxes go?

Interesting also about Paul Hogan... if I understand his situation correctly, he made a lot of money w/ his Crocodile Dundee films in the US (i.e., while being non-resident in Australia), but Australia still wanted a big cut in taxes anyway? That's too bad. Does he still only have Australian citizenship?

nerina - I think Monaco, like Nevada in the US, relies heavily on revenue from its casino(s), and probably also property taxes, VAT, etc. The movie "Priceless" was filmed there - fun movie!

2peasbeuponyou - I don't need NZ citizenship to live or work there as there is some sort of immigration agreement between the two countries but I can't recall the correct term. As for your example Sweden, if I had been living there for a number of years there really would be no point to seek citizenship because the UK passport is a EU passport. There would be no point in gaining access to another EU passport as the rights within the region are the same - although there are some advantages to that one with other Asian countries. I believe Swedes can enter places like Vietnam visa-free for a set amount of time. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I'm not sure whether you can hold 3 passports/3citizenships at a time?

@nerina - I have a close friend who hold an Israeli Passport but also hold a Australian one too. He is not required to undertake Army Service. He returns to Israel numerous times per year and he only enters on his Australian, so they are none the wiser I guess?

@Venona - Well Paul Hogan has had some issues but the ATO let him leave the country. Tax debt or not, I doubt you'll see him return to our shores.

Also, I would love to hold a passport for a country with tax advantages. I get slaughtered when I conduct my share trading.

1. Prob'ly cause if she had those passports, maybe she could aford to live there.

If wishes were horses.

Or as Don Merideth, NFL announcer said,
"If IF and BUT were candy and nuts, everyday would be Christmas."

Having an Australian passport doesnt open doors automatically in NZ. An example is student loans-- now you have to reside for 2 years before being ellligible to apply for one.

intravol - There's no problem with holding 3 or more passports - many people do. It seems that countries either allow dual/multiple citizenship, or not at all. So as long as all the countries you're a citizen of don't forbid you from having another citizenship, then it's fine.

How come you get slaughtered on share trading? Is it because you're resident in the UK? All you have to do is become a non-resident and you would avoid that, right? (Whereas an American, for example, couldn't, because Americans are taxed based on their citizenship, regardless of residence.)

Would love to have an EU passport - so i could live and work in Europe.