The Promise of Dual Citizenship and its Effect on a Migrant's Choice to Immigrate.

As the world continues to be interconnected with its population becoming increasingly mobile, examination of existing immigration and naturalization policies is important in determining their relevancy to modern times. This paper asks whether the promise of dual citizenship as a result of a state’s naturalization process affects one’s decision of where he or she may immigrate and whether or not he or she will remain in the host country. The study was carried in the following manner. First, relevant literature was reviewed regarding the purpose of immigration, the differences between permanent residency and citizenship, and the practicalities of dual citizenship. A comparative study was then performed, considering the similarities and differences between Canada’s and Germany’s immigration and naturalization regimes. It was determined that the promise of dual citizenship through one’s naturalization may be influential to immigrants in cases where an additional citizenship may afford rights and welfare benefits, visa-exempt travel, and continued access to one’s country of origin while allowing for an immigrant’s potential integration into the state where they may naturalize