Mimoun A. Assraoui is our CEO. Moroccan by birth, French-educated, and based in the UAE, he’s perfectly placed to comment on the safest countries in the world to get Residency and Citizenship by Investment.
Assraoui is also an economic citizen of St Lucia. He insists “that our desire to find a safe space for ourselves is something innate. We’re looking to replicate the comfort and warmth we found in our mother’s womb.”
“Investors are drawn towards the world’s safe spots, especially if they are looking to relocate with their families. Here, in reverse order, using the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Safety Perceptions Index (SPI), is our overview of the safest countries in the world to secure a new residency or second citizenship.”
Anything under 0.2 on the SPI is considered a safe country. The US clocks in at 0.187. Of the 121 countries surveyed, the United States ranks 43rd – finishing comfortably above the likes of Brazil (115th), India (90th) and Nigeria (104th).
The US EB-5 Investor Visa is a 3-step process towards becoming an American citizen. First, you receive a provisional Green Card after 27 months of residency. 3-6 months later, you receive a conditional Green Card which guarantees lawful permanent residency and US citizenship after 5 years.
The European continent’s Malta’s score is 0.166. This puts it in 35th position in the safest countries in the world rankings. Malta sits above the likes of Algeria (0.214) in 61st, Kenya (0.358) in 101st, and Lebanon (0.203) in joint 55th places.
Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) is a direct route to citizenship in the country. A €600,000 minimum investment will see you become a national of Malta after an application processing time of 16-18 months. This Citizenship by Investment means you’ll be able to qualify for a Maltese passport, securing you visa-free access to 175 countries.
The United States’ North America neighbour Canada is in 33rd position in the table. This is thanks to a 0.163 score. Canada is higher in the rankings of the safest countries in the world than Iran (0.248) in 75th, Mexico (0.299) in 90th, and Tunisia (0.222) in 66th places.
With a C$275,000 investment, you can join the Canadian Start-Up Visa Program. As a Permanent Resident, you must live in Canada for a minimum 730 days (2 years) over the course of 5 years. By residing in Canada for at least 3 out of those 5 years (1,095 days), you become eligible for Canadian citizenship.
In 24th position comes the UK. It has a 0.148 score. This puts the United Kingdom above the likes of Colombia (0.292) in 88th, Ghana (0.369) in 105th, and South Africa (0.373) in 107th places.
The Innovator Founder Visa provides a path to acquiring a UK passport, enabling you to enter 177 countries without a visa. You can qualify for British citizenship following 5 years of Permanent Residency in the UK. All this starts from a minimum £200,000 investment.
The SPI rates the UAE as second in the safest countries in the world rankings. This is due to a 0.073 score. Roughly 50% of people living in the United Arab Emirates reveal they do not feel any risk at all of residing there.
The UAE Golden Visa is the only non-European golden visa programme established outside Europe. UAE residency’s physical residence requirement is a minimum visit every 6 months. While you can’t apply for a UAE Passport, the number-1 travel document in our Passport Index, you can enjoy visa-free access to 18 countries as a resident.
Residency and Citizenship by Investment is a fantastic option to switch your base to a less volatile country. To find out which of these safest countries in the world will suit you and your family’s needs, we suggest you consult a highly-regarded expert such as RIF Trust. So, contact us now and we’ll show you how to invest in a residency or citizenship.