I often hear such words: "So you have dual citizenship?"
“Two citizenships” and “Dual citizenship” are completely different concepts.
Dual citizenship - when a person acquires a second citizenship with the consent of the state of which he is already a citizen.
Two or more citizenships - when a person acquires a second citizenship without informing the state of which he is a citizen.
There are countries that not only do not accept other citizenship, but categorically prohibit it. For example, Germany, when acquiring the citizenship of this country, you must renounce the citizenship of all other countries in writing. But Iran does not want to lose its citizens, and therefore, if Iranian citizens want to acquire German citizenship, then Iranian citizenship is also left to it.
Today, there are about 40 countries in the world that prevent the renunciation of citizenship.
However, since 2007, Germany has allowed citizens of the EU, as well as Switzerland, to obtain German citizenship, while retaining the previous one. And in other European states such dual European citizenship is legalized, either in full or with restrictions.
The status of dual citizenship appears for citizens of those countries between which an agreement on dual citizenship has been concluded, that is, on the mutual recognition of both citizenships. At the same time, both states recognize that their citizens have both citizenships of the countries as equivalent. Russia has such agreements only with Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.
If a Russian citizen acquires the citizenship of another state, it is not illegal. However, his second citizenship and documents confirming this citizenship are not recognized by Russian law and are not valid on the territory of Russia.
Simply put, if a citizen has citizenship, for example, of the Russian Federation and Turkey, then in Russia he will be considered a Russian citizen, and in Turkey - a Turkish citizen. On the territory of third countries, such a person can live according to the passport according to which it is more convenient for him.
