I don't think people understand the reasons why one would want multiple passports.
@StatusNomadicus laid out some possible reasons. Most people just look at it as a hassle but agree it is beneficial and no downside at all with having another passport if possible. Most people aren't going to do anything like Edward Snowden or Assange but then again with the way the world is working you never know!
I read that the IRS if you're not paying what they think is correct, they will work with the government to revoke your US passport. I'm not sure if this is a rumor or the truth but that itself would be one reason why you might want to have another. Even if you think your paying the correct taxes and they say you aren't it would be horrible not to be able to leave the country.
Different people definitely have their own unique reasons why they want multiple passports. I have an Argie friend who has both AR and IT passports and is married to a US citizen. Now he has 3 passports namely AR, IT and US. About two years ago Spain passed a law nicknamed Ley de Nietos for children and grandchildren of Spaniards to apply for Spanish citizenship so he's going through that process now to get SP citizenship. I asked him why he wanted the SP passport since he already has IT one and he can live/work anywhere in the EU already. He said, "Well, because passports are like Pokemon so you just need to catch them all if you can" or something along that line LOL.
I have a couple of reasons of my own for wanting to have AR passport but the main reason is an ease of traveling especially to the EU and UK if I want to. People with powerful passports probably have no clue how complicated and expensive it is for weak passport holders to get Schengen and UK visas. Heck many of them probably don't know what Schengen visa is. In order to apply for the Schengen, UK or US visa, you need to provide some of these documents:
- Paychecks (at least 3 or 6 months I am not sure now. So that means if you're not employed full time, you might not get the visa).
- Travel insurance (coverage at least 30K euro for Schengen).
- Letter from the company certifying that you've been employed with them (or proof of being a business owner).
- Flight and hotel reservations.
- Travel itinerary if you plan to travel to several countries (esp in the Schengen area).
- Bank books to show you have sufficient funds to cover your trip.
These are some of the required documents. There are more docs required if you travel with a minor under 18, you need certain docs, application form, photo etc etc, not to mention you need to get the appointment beforehand and probably take a day off to do it oh and the fee. In terms of fee, US visa is the most worthwhile when it comes to the visa validity period. If you get it, you most likely get the 10-year visa. Schengen is the stingiest visa of all because if your trip is for 14 days, you're likely to be given 14 days of visa (no grace period provided in case you miss a flight or something happens and your trip needs to be extended under whatever unfortunate circumstances). UK visa is the most expensive of them all and they charge for every single turn you take. I remember I had to get the UK visa (work related thank god so I was reimbursed) several years ago and you are given options like 6, 12, 24 months etc. I had to get the 24 month option and it cost around 500 dollars-ish if memory serves. The visa fee itself was less than half of the amount. The expedite fee cost more than the visa because if you don't expedite it, it will take one month to get the visa. If you have time to wait but need to use your passport while waiting for the visa, you can do that for a fee. If all the appointment slots are full, you can walk in and wait for no shows (of course for a fee as well).
Need I say more?
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