Countries granting citizenship to investors: Malta, Turkey, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Vanuatu
Investment amount: $100,000+
Goals to achieve: travel to the Schengen Area, the UK, the USA, and Canada without visas and get a 10-year visa to the USA
Some countries allow their citizens to have several passports. For example, dual citizenship is permitted in Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, Malta, and Cyprus.
Laws of Austria and Spain prohibit having a second citizenship. To get a passport from one of these countries, a person must give up their first citizenship.
A few states grant citizenship by investment. It is an easier and faster path: in this case, obtaining a second passport takes from two months to three years. As a rule, investors don’t have to take language and culture exams and, in some cases, even visit the country of second citizenship.
Let’s see how one can travel with dual citizenship.
Caribbean and Vanuatu citizenship allows the holder to enter 90+ countries without visas.
Caribbean citizens can freely visit the UK and the Schengen countries.
Vanuatu citizens can visit the UK without visas. In March 2022, the European Council partially suspended the visa-waiver agreement with the country: only citizens who obtained Vanuatu passports prior to May 25th, 2015, could enter the Schengen Area without visas. In November 2022, the European Council officially abolished the visa‑waiver agreement with Vanuatu. The decision is to come into force on February 4th, 2023.
The Caribbean passport allows its holder to qualify for a 10-year visitor visa to the USA, while Vanuatu citizens qualify for a 5-year visa.
Caribbean countries and Vanuatu don’t impose mandatory residence requirements on investors who want citizenship. One should visit only Antigua and Barbuda: an investor must spend at least five days within the first five years of citizenship in the country.
Maltese passport holders freely visit 186 countries, including the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and the Schengen states.
Malta grants citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment. It is a naturalisation path: an investor gets a residence permit and applies for citizenship one or three years later.
The Turkish passport provides visa-free entry to 100+ destinations, including Japan and Singapore. In addition, Turkish citizens can get a 10-year visitor visa or an E‑2 business visa to the USA.
Terms of obtaining citizenship by investment
Besides travel opportunities, citizenship programs differ in the required investment amounts, time frames and conditions for the participation of family members. These criteria are also essential to consider when choosing the best-suited travel document.
For example, Caribbean citizenship is available to the whole family, including investors’ parents and siblings. In contrast, only investors’ spouses and minor children can qualify for Turkey citizenship. If getting a second passport is time-sensitive, Vanuatu citizenship might be the best choice, as one can get it in 1—2 months.
Compare residency and citizenship programs to assess all the pros and cons and select suitable options.
2024-10-07T08:27:25.745Z
