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Which countries that allow dual us citizenship have mandatory military service
Executive summary
Dual nationals can face compulsory service in some countries that also permit dual citizenship; commonly cited examples include Israel, South Korea, Turkey, Brazil, Russia, Ukraine and several European states with conscription (see summaries and lists in [4], [5], [1], [3], [7]5). Available sources emphasize that whether a dual national is liable often depends on the other country’s law (age at acquisition, residence, or prior service) and on bilateral or domestic exemptions — but no single authoritative global list tying “countries that allow dual citizenship” to their exact conscription rules appears in the provided reporting (not found in current reporting).
1. Dual nationality does not automatically free you from conscription
Multiple overviews and advisory sites make the direct point: being a dual national doesn’t necessarily exempt you from mandatory military service in the country that imposes it; that country’s domestic law typically controls obligations regardless of other nationality [1] [2] [3]. For example, Nomad Capitalist warns that many countries still consider citizens — even if they hold another passport — subject to conscription, and stresses planning because obligations often depend on age and residency [1].
2. Common examples frequently cited in coverage
Public-facing guides repeatedly list certain countries with both permissive dual-citizenship regimes and mandatory service as places of concern: Israel is routinely named for universal service for men and women [4] [2]; South Korea and Turkey appear in broader lists of conscripting countries [5] [1]; and commentators highlight places such as Brazil and Georgia as having conscription systems that can affect second-citizenship planning [1] [5]. These mentions appear in travel/expat and citizenship-advice sources rather than official government compilations [4] [1] [5].
3. Rules vary by age at acquisition, residence, and prior service
Several sources emphasize important qualifiers: if you completed compulsory service in one country you may be exempt in another, and acquiring citizenship after certain ages can change liability. For instance, Turkey’s rules are noted as dependent on whether citizenship was acquired before or after age thresholds; Switzerland’s obligations depend on age at acquisition; and Greece expects male citizens 19–45 to serve unless they’ve fulfilled service elsewhere [6]. These practical caveats matter more than blanket statements about “countries that allow dual citizenship.”
4. The U.S. angle: dual citizenship and U.S. military policy
U.S.-focused reporting and official-adjacent pages observe that the U.S. treats dual citizens as U.S. citizens for U.S. obligations and that U.S. law doesn’t automatically permit serving in a foreign military while holding U.S. service [7] [8]. Law-focused discussion also notes Selective Service nuances and possible exemptions where a dual national already served 12+ months in a foreign force [9]. These are technical points that affect Americans considering travel or return to another homeland.
5. No single authoritative catalog in these sources — check country law and timing
The assembled sources are useful for examples and patterns but do not present a definitive, single list mapping every country that allows dual citizenship to its conscription rules; much of the material comes from advisory blogs, population-review lists, and Q&A forums [5] [1] [10] [11]. For a reliable determination you must consult that country’s statute or an official government/expertise source because coverage here signals risk and examples rather than exhaustive legal conclusions (not found in current reporting).
6. Competing perspectives and potential hidden agendas
Commercial citizenship-advice and “second passport” marketers emphasize conscription risk to motivate planning or to steer clients toward passports without service [1] [11]. Expat and population-list sites present broader country lists but may omit nuance like age thresholds or exemptions [5] [12]. Law-forum answers (Stack Exchange) discuss exceptions and historical changes but are not formal legal texts and sometimes conflate examples [10] [9].
7. Practical next steps for readers who are U.S. dual nationals or considering a second passport
Do not rely on generalized lists. Use these sources as flags that you should: (a) read the destination country’s nationality and military-service laws; (b) check age-based cutoffs and whether prior service or residence creates exemptions [6] [1]; and (c) consult an immigration or military-law attorney for tailored advice — many advisory pieces explicitly recommend legal consultation for ambiguous or high-stakes cases [3] [1].
Limitations: the sources supplied are a mix of advisory blogs, population lists and forum answers; they document examples and caveats but do not constitute a comprehensive legal registry tying every dual-citizenship country to its exact conscription rules (not found in current reporting).