Would you like to get a second passport quickly and with no hassle? Decide in favor of foreign citizenship by investment! Our team of experts at International Wealth is ready to guide you to the right choice. No worries, your first consultation with us is free.
Wealth for citizenship: what’s behind the idea?
To grasp its core concept, let’s dissect citizenship by investment into fundamental components.
In a broader sense, citizenship is like a two-way deal between a person and their country, meant to benefit both sides. The person promises to do certain things, say follow the laws and pay taxes. In exchange, the country offers special rights, like voting, an opportunity to work within its borders, help from the country’s officials when abroad, and use of the country’s health and education services.
Typically, you acquire national citizenship through birth, naturalization, or marriage. Since 1984, however, some nations have been offering citizenship to foreign nationals in exchange for financial investment. Such investments are expected to contribute to the nation’s growth and development. The benefits that come with them are quite significant:
- Stability: A safeguard against the political and economic uncertainties of the investor’s original country.
- Business Prospects: Access to new international investment, banking, and business opportunities.
- Financial Management: Better options for asset protection, tax planning, and lowering tax liabilities.
- Travel Freedom: An opportunity to travel across borders without a visa.
- Quality Services: Entry to superior healthcare and education systems.
- Emergency Evacuation: A chance for a swift departure from the current country of residence to the new country as a recognized citizen, not as a refugee.
- Lifestyle Improvement: A chance to elevate the standard of living.
- Family Inclusion: An option to obtain second passports for all family members.
Exclusive citizenship opportunities in 2024
In 2024, citizenship from a foreign nation is a highly prized asset. For those with financial means, it’s worth serious consideration. Nine countries currently offer an opportunity to acquire their citizenship through investment, often within a few months of application: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, Malta, Turkey, Montenegro, and Vanuatu.
While other nations also let investors apply, these programs may be less attractive. The options for obtaining CBI are not extensive, yet each country has its own set of terms.
The world at your fingertips: CBI benefits by country
Citizenship by investment abroad offers numerous advantages, though these vary by country. Here’s an overview of the said benefits:
- Visa-free travel
- Most countries offer visa-free access to the UK, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and South America.
- Caribbean nations, Malta, and Vanuatu allow visa-free travel to the Schengen zone and the UK, unlike Turkey and Montenegro.
- Grenada, Montenegro, and Turkey offer the opportunity to obtain a non-immigration E2 visa for the USA, which grants legal residence with no tax residency obligations.
- The Grenadian passport uniquely allows visa-free travel to China.
- The Maltese passport is your chance to enjoy visa-free entry to the USA.
- Taxation
- Caribbean countries and Vanuatu impose minimum tax obligations, with no gift, inheritance, or capital gains taxes.
- Antigua, Nevis, and Vanuatu do not tax global income.
- Military Service
- Most discussed countries do not require military service from their citizens, with Grenada having no armed forces, which results in lower taxes.
- Banking Opportunities
- A reputable passport opens doors to international banking, particularly with the strong standing of the Maltese passport.
- Business Potential
- Location is key for business, and Vanuatu is ideal for companies in Asia and the South Pacific, offering visa-free transit through Australia and New Zealand.
- Passports from Montenegro or Malta simplify commercial operations in Europe.
- A Caribbean passport is advantageous for business with the Americas.
- Lifestyle
- All these countries are sought-after tourist spots with pleasant climates and resort-like living. Vanuatu’s remoteness is distinctive, while the Caribbean is closer to the Americas than Europe.
- Future Prospects
- Consider future changes: Montenegro may join the EU, Vanuatu and Dominica are pursuing visa-free access to China, and St Lucia is contemplating a special tax regime for affluent citizens.
Your second passport: requirements, terms, and considerations
All nations mandate that foreign investors have a clean criminal record and health certificates for all family members, demonstrating good health. Plus, proof of legal income sources is a universal requirement for citizenship by investment programs.
Country-specific stipulations may include a personal visit pre-citizenship (Montenegro, Malta, and Turkey), a post-citizenship visit (Antigua and Barbuda), and rigorous due diligence (Malta).
CBI process duration varies across different countries but is generally quicker than naturalization or marriage.
On average, things take 4 to 6 months. Some nations expedite the process. Nevis and Vanuatu, for instance, issue passports to investors within 6 to 8 weeks, although Nevis requires an additional fee for faster processing.
Malta has the lengthiest timeframe, taking at least 1 year to grant citizenship by investment. This extended period carries certain risks, including the potential closure of the program due to external pressures, similar to what occurred with Cyprus’s CIP.
When deciding on a country for a second passport, weigh several additional factors:
- Confidentiality of Foreign Citizenship: All countries offering investment-based citizenship ensure confidentiality, yet disclosure varies. Malta publishes a list of new citizens every 10 years, not detailing how citizenship was obtained. Dominica also discloses economic citizens’ names to Parliament decennially, with records kept in the national library.
- Passport Prestige: The prestige of a nation’s passport may differ, with Malta’s passport being particularly notable, as well as Montenegro’s, which is gaining prominence as the country approaches EU membership.
- Passport Validity: Your new passport’s validity is important, the longer the better. Malta, Dominica, Nevis, Montenegro, Turkey, and Vanuatu issue passports valid for 10 years, whereas other listed states provide passports with a 5-year validity.
Contact us for more!
It is obvious that investing in a second passport yields significant benefits. Although the selection of countries offering CBI benefits to investors is not exactly wide in 2024, each program is unique. At International Wealth, our experts have extensive knowledge of them, as well as of the latest discounts and special offers.
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