IMMI

What is Citizenship by Investment?

Citizenship by Investment (CBI) is a legal process that allows individuals to acquire second passports by making a substantial financial contribution to a specific country. This usually involves investing in government-approved real estate, donating to a national development fund, or starting a business that creates jobs. In return for the contribution, applicants and their families gain full citizenship rights, including visa-free travel, the right to live and work in the country, and, in some cases, tax benefits.

Governments offer citizenship by investment to fund development without burdening taxpayers. For countries in the Caribbean, this approach creates a reliable income stream and attracts influential global citizens.

How Can Citizenship by Investment Benefit You?

• 1

  Traveling the World Visa-Free

  A dual citizen can use either of their passports to travel to a desired destination with simplified or no visa requirements. Caribbean passports offer 140+ visa-free destinations, and EU passports open travel without visas to 160+ countries.

• 2

  Preparing a Plan B

  With a second citizenship, cosmopolitans can secure personal and financial safety. They can buy real estate, open a bank account abroad in advance, and keep a financial airbag there. In the case of danger or emergency in the country of residence, investors can quickly go to a safe place without wasting time obtaining a visa, looking for housing, or transferring money.

• 3

  Moving Abroad

  Often, an investment passport opens several options for relocation. For instance, a Grenada passport allows one to move to this country, any other Eastern Caribbean state, or the United States through obtaining an E-2 visa.

• 4

  Reducing a Tax Burden

  Some countries don’t oblige their citizens to pay income taxes or taxes on wealth, inheritance, or gifts, and others are a tax haven for businesses. Multiple citizenships provide its holder with an option to cut their tax payments. The person can pick the country with a more beneficial taxation regime to become a tax resident or register a company.

• 5

  Developing Business Internationally

  Second citizenship helps register a business abroad, open a corporate bank account, avoid currency control restrictions, and expedite money transfers. Some jurisdictions also do not reveal beneficiaries' personal data, protecting the investor’s privacy.

• 6

  Asset Protection and Diversification

  Holding citizenship in another country can help investors reduce exposure to political or economic instability in their home country. It allows them to diversify their assets across multiple jurisdictions, offering an extra layer of financial security.

• 7

  Citizenship for Future Generations

  CBI countries often allow children and grandchildren of their citizens to obtain citizenship by descent. The main requirement is proof of family ties to a citizen of the country.

What Requirements Should You Meet?

Each country sets its own conditions that applicants must meet to be eligible for the citizenship by investment program. Under some investment programs, applicants must undergo medical examinations and prove good health; under others, they do not. However, several requirements for investors are common to all investment programs:

• Age of 18 or older;
• Clean criminal record;
• Legal source of income and funds for investment.

Who Can Obtain Citizenship by Investment with You?

Family members of the main applicant can also get an investment passport and enjoy all the benefits. Under all programs, you can include spouses and children under 18 in the application with no additional requirements.

Do You Need to Renounce Your First Citizenship?

Caribbean states, Vanuatu, Malta, Turkey, and Egypt permit dual citizenship. Therefore, whether you must forfeit your citizenship depends on the laws of your country of origin. For instance, the US and the UK allow dual nationality, so their citizens do not need to renounce their original citizenship when obtaining a second one. By contrast, China and India do not allow dual nationality. Chinese and Indian nationals must forfeit their citizenship to acquire another one.

How to Choose the Best Country?

If you need a second passport quickly, I often recommend looking at Vanuatu. It offers one of the fastest citizenship processes in the world, as applicants can get their passports in just 2 months. That’s a significant advantage compared to Caribbean programs, which usually take at least 5 months.

For investors focused on cost, Vanuatu is also a smart choice. The minimum contribution is $130,000, which makes it one of the most affordable options globally. Within the Caribbean, Dominica tends to be the most budget-friendly, though the starting point there is around $200,000.

If travel flexibility is a top priority, especially to the Schengen Area, Caribbean passports are excellent. They allow visa-free access and let you stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. But if you want complete freedom of movement in Europe, the Maltese passport is in a class of its own, as it allows unlimited stays in Schengen countries.

And for entrepreneurs eyeing the US market, I always highlight Grenada, Turkey, and Egypt. Their citizens qualify for the US E-2 visa, which lets them set up and run a business in the United States while living there legally.