You May Obtain A Second Passport Or ‘Elite Residency’ In 21 Countries

The super-rich isn’t just buying private aircraft, yachts, and hotels; they also buy second passports.
89 percent of people want a second passport, and more than 34% have contemplated getting a second citizenship.
Even more astonishing were the 80% who said they would be willing to give or gift 5% of their annual salary for a second citizenship – more than they pay on monthly rent.
Fortunately, a handful of nations provide Citizenship by Investment (CIP) schemes in which money — typically invested in real estate — may be used to purchase a second passport and the privileged status that comes with it.
In exchange for comparable contributions, other schemes provide “elite residence” – an extended visa with privileges.
“It’s become more than just acquiring a passport,” added of second citizenship. “Obtaining second citizenship has a number of advantages, including the ability to establish residency in nations with lower tax burdens than your present home country.”

To compile a comprehensive list of nations that provide citizenship or residence in exchange for investment, Whether you choose for full citizenship or residency, here are 23 countries where money can buy you a second passport — or at the very least, the opportunity to live abroad for an extended period — listed from cheapest to most costly.

The Thai government provides affluent foreign residents “elite” residence visas that allow them to dwell in the country for about $3,000 per year. The three most common alternatives are:

Easy Access for Elites

For a one-time price of THB 500,000 ($15,253), you may get a five-year residency visa.
Excursion for the Elite Family
A five-year visa for two individuals for THB 800,000 ($24,405) + THB 300,000 ($9,152) per dependent is available for a one-time price of THB 800,000 ($24,405).
Extension of Elite Superiority/Elite Ultimate Privilege
For a one-time price of THB 2.14 million ($65,283), you may get a 20-year residency visa.
Complimentary VIP benefits such as government concierge and airport services are included in the package.

Here’s what you’ll need for residence in Latvia:
A minimum of €286,000 ($333,064 or £257,472) in a credit institution during a five-year period, or a minimum of €36,000 ($41,924 or £32,409) in equity capital and a minimum of €28,600 ($33,306 or £25,747) in the following year.
Purchasing real estate or interest-free government bonds may be used to apply for a residence permit.
After five years, you can seek for citizenship through the naturalization procedure (which includes a language and history test).
The real catch is that they must take a language exam to obtain citizenship, and Latvian is an impossible language to master as an adult.
They know no one can, and as a result, they know no one will ever become a citizen.

In Saint Lucia, there are three options for obtaining citizenship.
A gift to the Saint Lucia National Economic Fund of at least $100,000 (£77,113) (depending on the number of dependents), or an investment of at least $300,000 (£231,517) in an authorized real estate development, or an investment of $3.5 million (£2.7 million) in an approved enterprise initiative.

Dominica is intriguing since it has visa-free travel to over 110 countries.
A $100,000 (£77,113) gift to the National Transformation Fund for a single applicant, or $200,000 (£154,226) for a family of four, or a $200,000 (£154,226) real estate investment.

In Antigua and Barbuda, there are three methods to get citizenship via investment:
A $400,000 (£308,452) real estate investment, or a $100,000 pledge to the National Development Fund, or a $400,000 investment in an existing but newly-created company enterprise.

Following the destruction caused by last year’s hurricane season on St. Kitts and Nevis, the CIP program’s cost has been modified. Since signing travel treaties with Russia, Moldova, Nepal, India, Indonesia, Rwanda, and Taiwan in the previous year, its residents now enjoy access to more than 150 jurisdictions worldwide.

Here are some of your choices:

A $250,000 non-refundable gift to the SIDF, a non-profit foundation that finances the development of alternative sectors to assist the national economy, for a single application, or;
A non-refundable contribution of $300,000 to the SIDF for an applicant with up to three dependents, plus an additional $25,000 for each other dependent, or; A non-refundable contribution of $150,000 to the SGF, a fund that supports economic growth in all sectors of the economy, plus an additional $25,000 for a spouse or $10,000 for each other applicant, or; The purchase of real estate valued at $100,000 or more.
The purchase of real estate worth at least $400,000 will not be sold for at least five years.

In Grenada, there are two methods to get citizenship via investment:
A $150,000 (£154,226) Pledge to the Grenada National Transformation Fund, or a $350,000 (£269,874) real estate investment, plus certain costs.

The Vanuatu Contribution Program (VCP), along with the Development Support Program (DSP), is one of two active citizenships by investment systems in Vanuatu. However, citizens in the DSP are unable to vote or engage in political life.

The following are the prerequisites for the VCP:

A direct investment of $1 million (£771,188) in a commercial venture in the United States.
Until permanent residence status is obtained, funds may be invested (usually 4 years).
In addition, there is the Regional Center Program, which requires candidates to:
Invest $500,00 in a selected Regional Centre project and join the company as a limited partner.
After that, the candidate is allowed to live and work anywhere in the United States.
They must, however, have a net worth of at least $1 million to qualify.

Spain offers a Golden Visa scheme that can lead to citizenship in the future.
Here are your residency choices.
Minimum real estate investment of €500,000 (£438,602), or
A minimum donation of $130,000, plus $25,000 in processing costs, is required, as well as:
A net worth of at least $250,000 is required.

Moldova has confirmed a CIP program, and to be eligible for citizenship, an applicant must make the following contributions:
A €100,000 non-refundable payment to the Public Investment Fund (PIF), plus €35,000 in service provider and agency costs, €5,000 in government expenses, €6,000 in due diligence fees, and €300 in biometric passport fees for a single application.

Since 1996, Cambodia has allowed foreigners to naturalize after making an investment.
While the Cambodian senate adopted a draught bill on June 11, 2018 that might change the country’s economic citizenship landscape (and raise investment thresholds), here are the choices for now:
Invest 1.2 billion Cambodian riels ($294,276 or £229,571). The Cambodian Development Council or the Royal Government must authorize investments., or a donation of 1 billion Cambodian riels ($245,230 or £191,309) must be made to help restore and rebuild Cambodia’s economy.
Applications must also have a basic understanding of Khmer history and language, as well as go to Cambodia to acquire good conduct, police, and health certifications, as well as sign the appropriate citizenship oath.

Turkey’s economic citizenship program, which was updated in September 2018 to decrease the eligibility requirements, has five choices, three of which need three years of investment.
The first three choices, according to FO Consultancy and Invest in Turkey, are:
Invest in a home worth $250,000, or
Invest $500,000 in a Turkish bank account, or
Make a $500,000 investment in government bonds.
However, there are two other options:
A $500,000 fixed capital investment, or the creation of 50 employment in Turkey.
Residency in Greece starts at €250,000 (£225,656 or $290,143).
To become a Greek resident, you must spend a minimum of €250,000 (£219,301) in Greek real estate.

There are several ways to get residence in Portugal.
Among the possibilities are:
Transfer of Capital
A deposit of at least €1 million into a Portuguese bank account, or an approved investment alternative;
Among the possibilities are:
€350,000 in investment or venture capital funds committed to the capitalization of companies incorporated under Portuguese law, with a maturity of at least five years, or €350,000 in artistic production or the national cultural heritage, or €350,000 in investment or venture capital funds committed to the capitalization of companies incorporated under Portuguese law, with a maturity of at least five years.
€350,000 in research activities that contribute to the national science and technology system, or
Investment of €350,000 on creative output or national cultural heritage, or
€350,000 in investment or venture capital funds dedicated to the capitalization of Portuguese-incorporated enterprises,
Business
A minimum of 10 new jobs must be created, or €350,000 must be spent on the formation or expansion of a Portuguese company’s share capital, with a minimum of five permanent positions being created or maintained during a three-year period.

There are two ways for citizenship by investment in Montenegro. The following are some of the features of a limited-to-2,000-applicants program that will begin in October:
Invest €250,000 in a government-approved development project in Montenegro’s underdeveloped northern region; or
Invest €450,000 in a development project in Montenegro’s southern region that has been approved by the government (developed area).
A €100,000 application fee is also required, which will be paid to the government and invested in “a special fund for the development of less developed areas inside Montenegro.”

The EB-5 visa allows you to apply for conditional resident status in the United States (also known as a green card), which can lead to a US passport.
Investors and their families are eligible for permanent status two years after conditional residency is granted.

Optional investments include:

Investment of $500,000 (£385,594) in a new commercial company to generate 10 new full-time jobs in a rural or high-unemployment area, or;
Minimum investment of €1 million in Spanish company shares, or a €1 million deposit in a Spanish bank, or a €2 million investment in government bonds.
Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years.
They can apply for citizenship after ten years.

Minimum investment of €1 million in Spanish company shares, or a €1 million deposit in a Spanish bank, or a €2 million investment in government bonds
After five years, applicants can qualify for permanent residency.
After 10 years, they can qualify for citizenship.
Citizenship in Bulgaria is available for 1 million BGN (£461,422 or $593,384).

The expedited route is as follows:

A one-million-lev (£448,443) investment in government-guaranteed bonds, followed by a one-million-lev (£448,443) investment a year later.
One year of permanent residence is required.
After receiving citizenship, you must keep both investments for at least two years.

The Immigrant Investors Program was created by the Canadian government to entice affluent business people to the nation. It allows you to acquire permanent residency provided you satisfy the following four criteria:
Show that you have relevant business expertise – you (and your spouse) must have a personal net worth of at least $1.6 million., and your entire family must complete and pass Canada’s medical and security evaluations, and you make an investment of at least $800,000 for a period of at least two years prior to your application.
The Federal Immigrant Investor Program (FIP) is a programme that allows people to invest in
Since its yearly application quota was reached in 2011, this program has been closed.
It does not, however, apply to Quebec.
The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program
Before applying for health and security screening to be allowed to Canada, investors must acquire a Certificate of Selection from Quebec.
You are not required to live in Quebec once accepted, as all Canadian residents have the right to travel and establish themselves in any province or territory.

The following are the current investing possibilities in Malta:

A non-refundable contribution to the National Development and Social Fund of at least €650,000 (£569,925).; a purchase of €150,000 (£131,521) in government stocks/bonds; and a five-year property transaction, which can include a purchase (for a minimum of €350,000) or a rental (for a minimum of €16,000 per year).

 

Australia has a long-term residential program that can lead to citizenship. However, it is on the more expensive side.

You’ll need the following items:

A personal net worth of at least $2.25 million AU (£1.3 million) in the two years before the individual’s application and a $1.5 million AU (£885,299) investment in an Australian initiative or company that would help the Australian economy.

Cyprus had the most costly CIP program until recently.
The following are some of the current investing options:
A minimum investment of €2 million (£1.8 million) in real estate, or
a minimum investment of €2 million (£1.8 million) in businesses or companies based and operating in Cyprus,
A minimum of €2 million in buy units from Alternative Investment Funds is required (AIF).
It is also possible to have a residency. The following are the requirements:
Purchase a new home worth at least €300,000, deposit a minimum of €30,000 from abroad into a three-year-locked account, and have an annual income of at least €30,000 from abroad.
Residency in New Zealand starts at 3 million NZD (£1.54 million or $1.98 million).
The Investor 1 and Investor 2 Resident Visa programs allow you to live, work, and study in New Zealand. For residency, you have two choices.
With the first investor:
A three-year investment of 10 million New Zealand dollars (£5.6 million).
There is no upper age restriction, no language requirement, and no necessity for business experience.
Investor No. 2:
Must be at least 65 years old, fluent in English, and have at least three years of business experience, and have a minimum of 2.5 million NZD in accessible money or assets and an investment of 3 million NZD (£1.7 million) over four years.

One of the most popular visas is the UK Tier 1 Investor Visa.
The following is how it works:
A £2 million investment in the economy of the United Kingdom (in UK government bonds, share capital or loan capital in active and trading UK-registered companies, other than those principally engaged in property investment)
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and come from anywhere outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
The visa permits you to stay for three years and four months, with the option to renew for another two years.
After 5 years in the UK, applicants can apply for indefinite permission to stay.
After six years in the nation, applicants can seek British citizenship.