Citizenship by investment

High-net-worth individuals can participate in investment programs to obtain a second passport. We will analyze why you need a second passport, where and how to apply for it.

$100,000+

Investment amount

1+ months

Passport obtaining period

3+ years

Return of the investment

Select Your Ideal Investment

Practical Guide

Select Your Ideal Investment

Download the guide to discover the differences between the popular investment programs and decide which suits you best.

Benefits of second citizenship for investors

Cosmopolitans with dual citizenship get access to various features:

  • travelling the world visa-free;

  • preparing a plan B;

  • moving abroad;

  • providing a better quality of life, education and healthcare to a family;

  • reducing the tax burden;

  • developing business internationally.

Travelling the world visa-free. A dual citizen can use either of their passports to travel to the desired destination with simplified or no visa requirements. Caribbean passports offer 145 or more visa-free destinations, and EU passports open travel without visas to 175–190 countries.

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 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.

Moving abroad. An investor with a second passport can move 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 by obtaining an E‑2 visa. A Malta passport allows its holder to immigrate not only to this county but to any EU state.

Providing a better quality of life, education and healthcare to a family. Dual citizens can choose which country of citizenship they live, work, study, and get medical treatment in.

Reducing the tax burden. 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. 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.

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.

Investment options under citizenship programs

Before submitting a citizenship application, an investor chooses one of the investment options under the program.

Countries offer various options:

  • contribution to a state fund;

  • real estate purchase or rent;

  • purchase of securities or investment fund units;

  • investment in business and job creation;

  • deposit in a bank.

Some options allow investors to return their funds after 3–7 years.

Timing for obtaining a passport by investment

Usually, getting citizenship by investment takes several months and doesn’t require living in the country.

Requirements for obtaining citizenship by investment

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.

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.

Family members’ participation in citizenship programs

Family members of the main applicant can also get an investment passport and enjoy all the benefits. Under all the programs, you can include spouses and children under 18 in the application.

Participation of other relatives, such as adult children, siblings and parents, is allowed only in several investment programs. In exceptional cases, investors can add grandparents, grandchildren and in-laws.

How to choose a country for getting a second passport?

The choice of a citizenship program depends on your goals and requests. For example, if you want to travel to the UK and the Schengen Area visa-free, each Caribbean passport might be a good choice. And if you want to live in a European country, Malta citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services may be a harder but more promising path.

If you need to get a passport in a short time, Vanuatu citizenship may be the right decision. And if you want to run a business in the US, citizenship of Grenada, Turkey or Montenegro may be appropriate.

Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent of citizenship by investment programs of Vanuatu, EU and Caribbean countries. We will analyse your case and help you choose a program depending on:

  • your goals;

  • family composition;

  • the desired period for obtaining a passport;

  • the budget.

Suppose a second passport does not cover the needs of your family. In that case, we will offer you an alternative: for example, to get two documents or apply for a residence permit by investment.

Schedule a meeting

Help with the choice

I will offer the solution based on your tasks,

budget and terms

Zlata Erlach
Zlata Erlach

Head of the Austrian office

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Frequently asked questions

  • What is second citizenship?

    Second citizenship implies that a person has passports from several countries. Meanwhile, there are no bilateral agreements on recognising dual citizenship between the countries, and each state considers a person to be only its citizen.

    High-net-worth individuals may participate in citizenship investment programs. Second passports allow them to travel abroad visa-free, optimise taxation and provide new opportunities for their families.

  • What is the difference between dual and second citizenship?

    Dual citizenship implies that the countries of a person’s citizenship concluded a bilateral agreement. So, the person has a legitimate status of a dual citizen in each country.

    Second citizenship implies when there’s no agreement on dual citizenship. Each state considers a person to be only its citizen.

    Investors may apply for a second passport in several countries by the purchase of property or by paying a contribution to the country’s economic fund. Second citizenship gives them an opportunity to travel visa-free, move abroad and enjoy some other attractive benefits.

  • In which countries is it easier to get second citizenship?

    Citizenship by investment programs allow wealthy people to obtain a second passport without residing in the country, learning its language or confirming integration into society. Applicants become citizens in several months and sometimes don’t even need to visit the country.

    Several countries grant citizenship to investors. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Vanuatu, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Turkey, and Montenegro are among them.

  • Which countries offer citizenship by investment?

    Citizenship by investment programs work in several countries. The Caribbean countries with CIP:

    • Antigua and Barbuda;

    • Dominica;

    • Grenada;

    • St Lucia;

    • St Kitts and Nevis.

    The fastest citizenship program works in Vanuatu, a Pacific island country. Investors get passports in 1+ months.

    Turkey and Montenegro also grant nationality by investment. In Malta, investors may obtain citizenship for exceptional services after a year or three of residency.

  • What are the benefits of European citizenship?

    The benefits of a second passport depend on the country. For example, citizenship in Turkey or Montenegro allows investors to live there and expand their possibilities of travelling around the world.

    Investors with a Malta passport have wider opportunities: they may reside in Malta or another EU state and get easy access to high-quality education and healthcare.

  • What is the cheapest citizenship by investment program?

    Three Caribbean countries offer to get a second passport for a minimum of $100,000. These are Dominica, St Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda.

    Considering additional expenses, the Dominica program is the most inexpensive for a single investor, and the Antigua and Barbuda program is for a family of 2–4 people.

  • Which country gives the fastest citizenship by investment?

    The Vanuatu FIU unit can process applications within 1 month: it is the fastest option. The whole procedure from preparing documents to obtaining a passport can take 2—3 months.

  • Which country is the hardest to get citizenship?

    In Malta, one can get citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment. Yet, Community Malta Agency conducts the strictest Due Diligence check on each investor, and the minimum term for acquiring citizenship is 14 months.

  • Which countries give citizenship by buying properties?

    In the Caribbean, you can obtain a second passport through investment in real estate in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Kitts and Nevis. The minimum investment amount is $200,000.

    In Europe, only Turkey offers citizenship by property investment of $400,000. In Malta, you can get citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment, and part of the investment can be the real estate purchase for €700,000.