If you want to get yourself a second passport or second citizenship, you can buy one. 10 countries around the world offer citizenship in exchange for an investment. We're going to cover those 10 countries, the requirements, the amounts, and what you get for your money.
Overview of Citizenship by Investment Programs
Citizenship by investment programs allows foreign nationals to acquire citizenship of a country by making a substantial financial investment. This investment is usually in the form of a donation to a national fund, purchase of real estate, or other avenues approved by the government. In exchange, applicants and their families are granted full citizenship rights.
Benefits of a Second Passport
A second passport offers several benefits such as visa-free travel to more countries, increased privacy and security, potential tax advantages, and the ability to live or work in new places around the world. It also serves as a "Plan B" backup option in case issues arise in your home country.
Table of Contents
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The first country is Saint Kitts and Nevis, where I'm actually a citizen. I invested $150,000 USD into their Sustainable Growth Fund. It is a donation so you do not get the money back, but you get the shiny beautiful passport that lets you travel to a lot of countries with more privacy, freedom, and benefits in six and a half months.
Donation Option
For a $150,000 donation to the Sustainable Growth Fund, you can obtain citizenship within 6-7 months. This is an irrevocable donation.
Real Estate Option
You can also invest by buying real estate worth $200,000 (if selling after 7 years) or $400,000 (if selling after 5 years). However, real estate options tend to be riskier and less liquid.
Grenada
The second country in the Caribbean with a citizenship program is the beautiful island of Grenada, known as the “Spice Island.”
Donation Option
For $150,000 donation to the National Transformation Fund, you can obtain citizenship within 6-8 months.
Real Estate Option
You can also invest $220,000+ in real estate plus around $50,000 in fees, so over $300,000 total through this route.
Access to the US E-2 Visa
The Grenada passport uniquely offers access to America's E-2 investor visa among Caribbean CBI programs. This provides a route to spending substantial time in the US for citizens.
Dominica
The island nation of Dominica offers citizenship for the lowest investment among Caribbean countries.
Donation Option
For a $100,000 minimum investment into Dominica’s Economic Diversification Fund, you can obtain citizenship in around 5-7 months.
Real Estate Option
You can also invest $200,000+ into approved real estate.
Visa-Free Access to China
Dominica grants visa-free access to China, which very few passports allow. So it offers a distinct travel benefit to reach the world's most populous country.
Antigua and Barbuda
This twin-island nation provides a citizenship program with unique options.
Donation Option
You can donate $100,000 to the National Development Fund plus $30,000 in fees to get a passport in about 6 months.
Real Estate Option for Two Applicants
Two people can jointly invest $400,000 into one piece of real estate, with each applicant investing $200,000. Additional family members may also be included.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia provides both donation and real estate routes too.
Donation Option
For an investment of $100,000 into Saint Lucia’s National Economic Fund, you can obtain citizenship within 6 months.
Real Estate Option
You can also invest at least $300,000 into approved local real estate holdings.
Malta
Malta offers the best passport available for citizenship by investment within the European Union.
Overview of the Program
You can obtain Maltese citizenship through a significant contribution of around $1 million (700,000 euros). But it involves additional requirements compared to other programs.
Requirements
In addition to an irrevocable donation, you must also commit to rent or purchase Maltese real estate and demonstrate strong ties to Malta by residing there for some periods of time.
Long Processing Time
Due to due diligence and residency requirements, it takes 18-24 months to receive Maltese citizenship after application.
Turkey
Turkey offers their citizenship to investors under a few different options.
Real Estate Option
Investing $400,000 or more into Turkish real estate holdings allows you to obtain citizenship within 3-5 months.
Fixed Capital Contribution
A minimum $500,000 fixed capital deposit also qualifies you for fast-track naturalization.
Bank Deposit
You can also simply deposit $500,000 into a Turkish bank account to get citizenship quickly.
Montenegro
This Balkan country situated on the Adriatic coastline provides a citizenship program too.
Investment Options by Location
- For the coastal or capital regions, invest €450,000 into real estate
- For central or northern regions, invest €250,000 into real estate
In addition, you must pay a €100,000 application fee to the government. So total outlay can reach €700,000+ for prime areas. Processing is within 3-6 months usually.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia offers citizenship by investment, but its program remains largely untested so far.
Investment Fund Option
You can invest €200,000 into a designated fund to obtain citizenship. The investment is returned without interest after 5 years.
Program Status and Outlook
At this point, no applicants have publicly reported successfully obtaining citizenship under the program. As the first cases emerge, it will solidify North Macedonia as a credible CBI option in Europe.
Jordan
Jordan presents the highest priced program, with limited uptake expected.
Central Bank Deposit
A person depositing $1 million into the Jordanian Central Bank for a 3-year term can acquire citizenship. But far more affordable and traveled options exist around the world.
Conclusion
In closing, countries spanning the Caribbean islands to the Mediterranean and beyond offer direct citizenship acquisition for those willing to make substantial economic contributions. Each program carries unique desirability factors based on processing time, required investment, and travel or residency benefits granted to new citizens. The many options illustrated here provide a starting point to explore deeper based on your personal citizen needs.
Summary of Options
We covered ten citizenship by investment schemes across St. Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Lucia, Malta, Turkey, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Jordan. Minimum total investment ranged from $100,000 to over $1 million.
Other Lesser-Known Programs
Aside from the major established CBI schemes covered already, some other countries offer investment migration pathways that remain more opaque or higher risk.
For example, citizenship by investment route in Romania starts from just $25,000 per applicant. This eastern European nation provides a backdoor to settlement in wider Europe. However, credible reports of obtaining citizenship through Romania are scarce so far. The program rules also lack transparency and change frequently.
Other peripheral examples include citizenship acquisition options in:
- Cambodia
- Moldova
- Vanuatu
- Pacific island nations
However, these tend to suffer from very long processing times, convoluted application procedures, stringent residency requirements, or lack of reputability. The countries may also lack free travel access, financial stability, or strong governance.
So while the financial barrier to entry is lower, there are more unknowns and uncertainties involved. Government agencies administering these programs are also less accountable than top tier options in recognized countries.
In summary, proceedings for securing second citizenship in less regulated jurisdictions carries far more due diligence requirements and risks of denial. Applicants must weigh up the benefits versus potential downsides. But for some, attaining any additional passport at a low price point trumps other considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the fastest citizenship by investment programs?
The Caribbean programs in St Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, and St Lucia tend to be the fastest, with citizenship approved within 6 months in most cases.
What passport has the most visa-free countries through investment?
Without question, the Maltese passport offers the most travel freedom among citizenship schemes, with visa-free access to over 185 destinations globally.
Are second passports considered legal?
Yes, there are no international laws prohibiting the possession of multiple nationalities. However, some countries discourage dual citizenship through their own domestic policies.
How long do I have to stay in a country after getting citizenship?
For Caribbean CBI jurisdictions, no physical residence is required. But for European programs like Malta, the applicant must plan to spend certain periods living there each year.
Can I lose citizenship status in the future?
Citizenship acquired through investment is permanent. But rarely, if an applicant is later found to have lied or breached other rules, citizenship could face revocation.