5 reasons to get a second passport

Problem. Our client Alex obtained St Kitts and Nevis citizenship along with his wife and four children. The family mainly aimed to enjoy visa-free travel for leisure and business. Later, the second passport played a crucial role in saving the life of Alex’s wife, Mary.

Before marriage, Mary was a figure skater. After having children, she left the sport and focused on her family but continued training on a private rink for enjoyment.

Mary was injured while ice skating. Due to the case’s complexity, the family doctor advised Alex to fly immediately to Vienna to see a renowned surgeon.

Alex, who doesn’t speak German, called his only acquaintance in Vienna — Zlata Erlach, head of the Austrian office of Immigrant Invest.

Solution. Zlata Erlach quickly contacted the Vienna General Hospital and arranged for Mary’s urgent surgery. With the help of the second passport, Alex could fly his wife to Austria that same evening on a private plane.

Zlata Erlach,

Head of the Austrian office

The months required to obtain Schengen visas were unavailable to Alex's family. A delay could have cost the four children their mother.

Mary received timely medical assistance thanks to a second passport and visa-free access to Austria. The surgery was successful, and she recovered in 3 months.

How to obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment. Generally, investors choose passports from Caribbean countries for travel purposes. St Kitts and Nevis’s passport is the most "powerful" of these, offering freedom of movement to most countries worldwide.

The St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program is the best in the world, according to Professional Wealth Management. Each year, the company evaluates citizenship programs worldwide based on investment amounts, opportunities, and investors' obligations. The ranking is referenced not only by program agents but also by the ranking countries' media.

To obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship, one must:

• make a non-refundable contribution of at least $250,000;

• invest at least $325,000 in real estate;

• contribute at least $250,000 to a social project.

With a St Kitts and Nevis passport, an investor is entitled to travel to most EU and Asian countries, even if their first passport is weaker than the second.

Problem. Mustafa obtained a St Lucia passport to move his business to a country with a lower tax burden. He frequently travelled to the European Union for work while his family stayed in Türkiye.

When earthquakes struck Türkiye, Mustafa’s wife and two children were at risk as they were located near the epicentre.

Solution. Mustafa decided to relocate his family to a safe country urgently. His wife and children could travel to the EU without any issues: as St Lucian citizens, they did not need Schengen visas to enter the region.

How to obtain St Lucia citizenship. The St Lucia citizenship by investment program has been in operation since 2015. To obtain a second passport, investors contribute to the government fund, purchase real estate or bonds, or invest in a business. The minimum investment is $240,000.

Problem. John and Evelyn are Canadian citizens. In 2023, the couple planned to adopt a child from China, a girl named Lian, and had prepared all the necessary documents. However, the adoption agency informed John that Lian had fallen ill, delaying the procedure.

The couple decided to travel to China to visit the sick child and not delay the adoption.

Solution. A Canadian passport does not grant visa-free entry to China. Therefore, John and Evelyn used their Maltese passports, which they had obtained a few years ago. These allowed them to travel to China and stay there for up to 30 days.

With their Maltese passports, John and Evelyn were able to visit the child in China within two weeks. The time spent with their future parents helped the child recover faster and complete the adoption procedure.

How to obtain Maltese citizenship. Investors can obtain Maltese citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services based on direct investment. Becoming a citizen is available after 1 or 3 years of residency and passing the Eligibility Assessment. The minimum investment amount is €690,000.

Investors must meet three mandatory investment conditions: contribute to the National Development Fund, donate to a non-governmental organisation, and purchase or rent a residential property in Malta.

Problem. Jack is a businessman and company executive. He received a profitable offer from investors in Singapore. However, the Singaporean company set a strict deadline: the negotiations had to take place within a week.

Jack’s first citizenship did not grant him visa-free entry to Singapore, and the visa processing time was at least two weeks.

Solution. With a Vanuatu passport, Jack arrived in Singapore within three days. He did not need a visa. Without the second passport, his business would have missed the opportunity to attract foreign investment.

Vanuatu issues second passports faster than any other country. The processing time starts from one month. The advantages of the Vanuatu citizenship program include:

• investment amount of at least $130,000;

• eligibility for family members, such as a spouse, children under 25, and parents over 50;

• no residence requirements, as the passport is not revoked if one doesn’t visit the country.

With a Vanuatu passport, one can travel visa-free to 47 countries and 62 countries with an e-visa or visa on arrival. For travel to the USA and Schengen Area, citizens of Vanuatu can obtain a long-term tourist visa valid for 5 years. They can also open accounts in American and European banks.

Vanuatu imposes no taxes on wealth, capital gains, inheritance, dividends, interest, or worldwide income. To take full advantage of these benefits, one must become a tax resident by spending at least 183 days a year in the country.

Another way to reduce tax liabilities is by setting up an International Business Company in Vanuatu. These companies are exempt from all taxes for 20 years and instead pay a fixed annual fee of $300 to the state budget.

Problem. Maya is a citizen of India. Her mother was on holiday in Türkiye when Maya received a call informing her that her mother had suffered a heart attack. Consent from a family member was needed for emergency surgery.

Solution. Maya urgently flew to Ankara using her Turkish passport, which she had obtained by investment.

Maya’s first citizenship did not allow visa-free entry to Türkiye. Indian citizens must obtain a visa for any visit, including tourism. However, with her second Turkish passport, Maya arrived on time, signed the documents, and consented to the surgery.

Maya’s mother received the necessary medical care, and the family safely returned to India. This situation could have ended in tragedy, but citizenship by investment helped resolve the issue without serious consequences.

Second citizenship is not just about acquiring a passport; it’s a strategic investment that secures access to better opportunities in areas like education, healthcare, and business while offering protection and stability for the future.

No country “sells” passports. In the Caribbean states, second citizenship is granted after strict checks and the issuance of a naturalisation certificate. In Malta, investors obtain citizenship only by naturalisation after 1 or 3 years of residence.

Countries that grant citizenship to investors

Country

Vanuatu

Investment

$130,000+

Time to obtain citizenship

1—4 months

Country

Dominica

Investment

$200,000+

Time to obtain citizenship

6+ months

Country

Antigua and Barbuda

Investment

$230,000+

Time to obtain citizenship

6+ months

Country

Grenada

Investment

$235,000+

Time to obtain citizenship

8+ months

Country

St Lucia

Investment

$240,000+

Time to obtain citizenship

6+ months

Country

St Kitts and Nevis

Investment

$250,000+

Time to obtain citizenship

6+ months

Country

Türkiye

Investment

$400,000+

Time to obtain citizenship

8+ months

Country

Investment

Time to obtain citizenship

Vanuatu

$130,000+

1—4 months

Dominica

$200,000+

6+ months

Antigua and Barbuda

$230,000+

6+ months

Grenada

$235,000+

8+ months

St Lucia

$240,000+

6+ months

St Kitts and Nevis

$250,000+

6+ months

Türkiye

$400,000+

8+ months

Citizenship gives investors many rights. They can live, work, study, do business, buy property, and use social services in the country.

The only exception is voting in government elections. Investors do not take part in elections but may vote.

Investor obligations depend on the program’s terms.

Usually, citizens are not required to live in the country of their second passport. But there are exceptions. For example, in Antigua and Barbuda, the investor must visit the country for at least 5 days within the first 5 years after obtaining citizenship.

In most countries, citizens must:

• obey the law — citizenship can be revoked for serious crimes;

• serve in the army, if required by law;

• pay taxes.

There is no compulsory military service in the Caribbean countries. A Caribbean passport can also help optimise taxes. For example, St Kitts and Nevis have no income, capital gains, or inheritance tax.

There is no need to declare second citizenship unless it is required by law. If the law requires disclosure, the citizen must inform the relevant authority about obtaining a second passport. Otherwise, they do not need to share this information unless they choose to.

It is also not necessary to report a foreign bank account unless required by law.

Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent operating since 2006, with several offices worldwide. We specialise in obtaining citizenship for high-net-worth individuals.

Our team supports clients at every stage, from preliminary Due Diligence to the issuance of a passport. It includes ACAMS-certified anti-money laundering compliance officers, experienced lawyers, and attorneys who understand the legal requirements of different countries. They help prepare documents and apply for citizenship by proxy.

Immigrant Invest also assists with opening a bank account, finding suitable housing, and renewing passports when needed.

1. A second passport is, above all, an investment in freedom of movement, business, and choice.

2. Citizenship by investment is the solution when an investor has no time to wait for repatriation or no grounds to obtain citizenship by origin.

3. Second citizenship is not just for travel. It can save lives in many situations — from emergency medical care abroad to urgent business trips.