Citizenship & Residency

Citizenship by investment

Citizenship by investment program may grant immediate citizenship and qualification for a second passport to applicants and their families to a country in which they were not born and where they have had no previous ties. Citizenship by investment is based upon a specified, quantifiable investment in a country’s economy in return for a second passport. The investment may be via real estate investment, government bonds, establishment of a business or contribution to the country’s development fund. Second passports may provide countless international travel possibilities, as well as providing added security in the event of conflict in one’s home state. For this and numerous other reasons, citizenship by investment has proven to be a popular route to pursue.

The commonwealth countries of the Caribbean offer citizenship program enabling visa free access for their passport holders to 100+ countries. In addition, applicants may benefit from rapid processing times and multiple investment options. In Europe, the program of Cyprus and Malta provide citizenship not just of those countries but the European citizenship benefits that go along with it, including the ability to work, travel and study anywhere in Europe.

Key benefits to obtaining second citizenship:

Increased global mobility

Economic opportunities in key business hubs

Enhanced access to better education and healthcare

Greater security for the family

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Residency by investment

Residency by investment provides the right to live in a country and to conduct business, while citizenship enables you to have the same rights as any other citizen of that country, including the right to apply for a passport. Whether residency or citizenship is more suited to you and your family depends entirely on your individual needs.

There are several residency by investment program in Europe that grant residency, often through real estate investment but without the requirement to reside. These program are especially popular with investors not wishing to emigrate and move their family but require flexibility should the need arise. As well as being more affordable, residency by investment is often accompanied by providing travel freedom across the EU Schengen zone together with access to the country’s education system. Eventually if permanent residency is undertaken by the investor and their family then citizenship of the country can usually be applied for.

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frequently asked questions

WHAT IS A CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAM?

Citizenship by investment is where an individual or a family invests in the economy of a country to enable them to apply for citizenship of that country. Usually the investment is in the form of real estate but can also be a contribution to the country’s development fund or a combination of both.

WHAT IS A SECOND PASSPORT?

A second passport is acquisition of citizenship of a country other than that of your birth. A second passport can enable the holder to reside, work or study in the new jurisdiction and also benefit from the global travel benefits that come with the passport, such as visa-free travel to certain countries.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A SECOND CITIZENSHIP?

Each country has its own set of rules and requirements which have to be met before one can apply for a second passport. This might include a requirement to reside in the country for a certain period of time, e.g. 5 years, or the need to have an ancestral or family connection to the country. . Citizenship by investment allows individuals and their families to apply for a second passport without having to reside in the country and over a shorter period of time.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT?

Citizenship by investment can be obtained by investment into the economy of a country, usually through real estate purchase or contribution to the development fund of the country. In addition, the applicant must be of good character, have a clean criminal record and be able to show a clear source of funds for their investment.

HOW MUCH DOES CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT COST?

The cost of a second passport varies depending on the jurisdiction and number of family members applying. Caribbean citizenship starts from as little $100,000 via donation and $220,000 via real estate investment. In Europe, the citizenship programs of Cyprus and Malta start from €1,150,000.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

The benefits of a second citizenship by investment can be prodigious, such as short processing times of just 3 months; the ability to escape political or economic instability with the security of knowing you can move to another country if you need to; the provision of global mobility with unrestrained visa-free access to over 140 countries worldwide; the chance to expand your business globally or work without a permit or visa; the option for your children to attend school; and the chance to enhance your lifestyle.

HOW CAN CITIZENSHIP INVEST HELP ME?

Windsor specializes in advising clients on citizenship and residency. We have vast experience of dealing with high net worth individuals globally and aim to take away the risk and uncertainty when making such a big decision. Windsor personally vets all developers and legal partners before engaging them, so you have the safe knowledge that you are only dealing with the best.
Citizenship by investment can open up a world of possibilities for you and your family. Talk to one of our experts to find out more.

WHAT ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH I CAN INVEST?

Investing to obtain citizenship can be made through real estate purchase or by donating to the country’s local development fund.

DOES MY FAMILY QUALIFY FOR CITIZENSHIP AS WELL?

Many programs cater for full family application. This can include spouse, dependent children and also dependent parents.

CAN I ADD DEPENDENTS AFTER I AM GRANTED CITIZENSHIP?

Yes, you can. Most programs have clear guidance on how you can obtain citizenship for dependents at a later stage.