A semiconductor device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate, a transistor formed on the substrate, the transistor having a gate stack including a metal gate and high-k gate dielectric and a dual first contact formed on the substrate. The dual first contact includes a first contact feature, a second contact feature overlying the first contact feature, and a metal barrier formed on sidewalls and bottom of the second contact feature, the metal barrier layer coupling the first contact feature to the second contact feature.