I’ve carried three passports through airport security more times than I can count, and let me tell you: the looks from TSA agents never get old. One raised an eyebrow so high it nearly reached her hairline. Another asked if I was running from something. (I’m not, for the record—just running toward more stamp space in my travel documents.)

The question of how many passports a person can legally hold sparks curiosity among frequent travelers, digital nomads, and anyone who’s ever fantasized about having a backup plan involving a different nationality. The short answer? There’s no universal limit. The longer answer involves a fascinating tangle of citizenship laws, international treaties, and the peculiar ways different countries approach dual nationality and beyond.

The Global Landscape of Multiple Citizenship

Multiple citizenship has become increasingly common in our globalized world. The United Nations estimates that millions of people hold two or more passports, though exact numbers remain elusive since many countries don’t systematically track this information. What we do know is that the rules governing multiple nationality vary wildly depending on which countries are involved.

Some nations embrace dual citizenship with open arms. Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia all permit their citizens to hold additional passports without restriction. France goes even further, allowing unlimited citizenships—you could theoretically collect passports like baseball cards, though the application processes might kill you before you reach double digits.

Countries That Welcome Multiple Passports

The United States also permits multiple passports, despite what many Americans believe. The State Department won’t celebrate your second citizenship with champagne and confetti, but they won’t revoke your American passport either. I know several U.S. citizens who also carry Irish, Italian, or Israeli travel documents, moving through the world with options their single-passport peers can only dream about.

Countries That Don’t Play Along

Other countries take a harder line. China generally requires citizens to choose, as does India in most circumstances. Japan maintains one of the strictest policies, mandating that citizens who acquire another nationality must choose which one to keep. Singapore similarly discourages dual citizenship, requiring those who voluntarily acquire another nationality to renounce their Singaporean status.

The reasons behind these varying policies reflect different philosophies about national loyalty, military service obligations, and political concerns. Countries that prohibit multiple citizenship often cite worries about divided loyalties or complications with military conscription. Those that permit it tend to view nationality as a human right rather than an exclusive club membership.

How People Acquire Multiple Passports

Acquiring multiple passports happens through several pathways. Birth in a country that grants citizenship by birth (jus soli) while having parents from a country that grants citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis) creates instant dual nationals. My colleague’s daughter holds American and British passports simply by virtue of being born in New York to a British mother—no applications necessary, just bureaucratic paperwork.

Marriage to a foreign national opens another door, as does naturalization through residence. Someone who moves to Portugal, lives there for five years, and becomes a Portuguese citizen doesn’t automatically lose their original nationality—assuming their home country permits dual citizenship. This creates opportunities for people to accumulate passports throughout their lives, particularly for those willing to meet residency requirements in multiple countries.

Then there’s the controversial world of citizenship by investment programs. Several Caribbean nations, along with Malta, Montenegro, and others, offer passports to anyone willing to invest substantial sums—typically several hundred thousand dollars. Critics call these schemes “passport sales” and worry about security implications. Supporters argue they provide legitimate paths to mobility for wealthy individuals while generating revenue for developing nations.

The Real Benefits of Holding Multiple Passports

The practical benefits of holding multiple passports extend beyond bragging rights at cocktail parties. Visa-free travel ranks as the primary advantage. A Lebanese passport offers access to 51 countries without visas, while a Canadian passport opens doors to 185. Holding both transforms international travel from a bureaucratic nightmare into something approaching ease.

Business opportunities expand dramatically with multiple citizenships. European Union passports grant the right to live and work anywhere in the bloc—27 countries with a combined population of 450 million people. Adding an American passport to the mix provides access to the world’s largest economy. Entrepreneurs with multiple passports can establish businesses, open bank accounts, and access markets that might otherwise remain closed.

Political and personal security represents another consideration. Citizens of politically unstable nations often seek second passports as insurance policies against upheaval. Having the option to relocate, access consular services from multiple governments, or simply avoid discrimination at borders provides peace of mind that’s difficult to quantify but invaluable in practice.

The Complications You Need to Know About

Tax implications, however, require careful attention. The United States famously taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence, making American citizenship financially complex for those living abroad. Other countries employ residence-based taxation, creating planning opportunities but also potential pitfalls for the unwary. Anyone considering multiple citizenships should consult with international tax professionals before diving into application processes.

Renouncing citizenship proves more difficult than acquiring it, another factor to consider. Some countries make the process straightforward, while others create bureaucratic obstacles or impose substantial fees. The United States charges $2,350 to renounce citizenship—the highest renunciation fee in the world. Certain countries prohibit renunciation entirely under specific circumstances, potentially leaving people stuck with unwanted nationalities.

Military service obligations complicate matters in countries with conscription. Israel requires most citizens to serve in the IDF, while Switzerland mandates military service for men. Acquiring these citizenships later in life often comes with exemptions, but young dual nationals might face obligations in multiple countries—or at least need to navigate the legal complexities of deferments and exemptions.

So What’s the Maximum Number?

The question isn’t really about how many passports the law allows you to collect, but rather which combinations your countries of citizenship will tolerate. Someone with British, Canadian, and Irish citizenship faces no problems whatsoever—all three countries happily coexist in the same passport holder. Swap in Chinese or Japanese citizenship, and suddenly you’re forced to choose.

The maximum number of passports? Theoretically unlimited, assuming you find the right combination of countries. Practically speaking, most people top out at two or three. The bureaucratic hassle of maintaining multiple citizenships—keeping documents current, paying fees, meeting occasional requirements—rises exponentially with each addition.

My three passports serve me well enough. They’ve gotten me through borders, opened work opportunities, and provided options when travel restrictions descended during global disruptions.

Could I get a fourth? Perhaps. Will I? Probably not. Even passport collectors eventually reach a point where marginal returns diminish and desk drawers overflow.