Citizenship By Investment - RIF Trust

$100,000

minimum requirement

8

citizenship programmes

6,000+

successful applicants

Citizenship by Investment (CBI) offers a unique opportunity to obtain a second passport and dual citizenship. With the best CBI programmes, you can invest in a secure, stable country and, then, fast-track your path to a new nationality.

Enjoy benefits like visa-free travel and a higher standard of living. Invest in a new citizenship today and secure a better future for you and your family.

Citizenship-by-Investment Programmes

Flag of Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: $100,000

Offers visa-free travel to 153 countries, notably including the European Schengen Area, the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

View programme

Flag of Dominica Dominica

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: $100,000

Citizens of Dominica can travel to 144 countries without requiring a visa, including the European Schengen Area and China. Welcome to a world of new travel opportunities and the chance to claim dual citizenship.

View programme

Flag of Grenada Grenada

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: $150,000

Offers visa-free travel to 148 countries and jurisdictions, with noteworthy destinations including the European Schengen Area, UK, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Additionally, it provides US E2 Visa access after living in the country for three years.

View programme

Flag of Malta Malta

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: €600,000

Offers visa-free travel to 190 countries and jurisdictions, including the EU and UK. This is the world's number one Citizenship-by-Investment Programme.

View programme

Flag of St Kitts and Nevis St Kitts and Nevis

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: $250,000

This is the world's oldest CBI programme, founded in 1984. The Government of St Kitts & Nevis encourages investors to contribute, donate, or purchase property in exchange for citizenship.

View programme

Flag of St Lucia St Lucia

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: $100,000

Offers visa-free travel to 148 countries, including the European Schengen Area, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

View programme

Flag of Türkiye Türkiye

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: $400,000

Offers visa-free travel to 118 countries and jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

View programme

Flag of Vanuatu Vanuatu

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT: $130,000

Offers visa-free travel to 94 countries and jurisdictions, including Gibraltar, Monaco, Norway, and UK. This is the world's most efficient application process.

View programme

Speak to a global expert

The RIF Trust team has global experts in over 20 countries. We can advise in 14 languages. Let us help you find the perfect investment migration solution.

The RIF Trust team has global experts in over 20 countries. We can advise in 14 languages. Let us help you find the perfect investment migration solution.

Advantages of Second Citizenship

Enjoy greater safety and security

A second passport is the best Plan B to reduce the risk of political or economic turbulence in one’s home country. Having a second home means you can escape to a safe haven along with your family and wealth, ensuring your well-being.

Benefit from higher education and employment opportunities

Having a second passport means greater options for top-tier education in better schools. You'll also improve your career opportunities.

Enhance your global mobility

With a second passport in hand, you widen the possibilities of international travel. That's because the best CBI programmes offer a second passport with a strong list of visa-free destinations. This makes travel easier.

Experience an elevated standard of living

A second passport opens more doors to healthcare services, luxury living locations, and regions with a higher quality of life. Live your best life thanks to RIF Trust.

An Introduction to Citizenship by Investment

The concept of citizenship has been around for years, as ancient Greek states like Athens pioneered the idea of granting citizenship. Citizens in Athens had the right to own property, run for political office, vote on administrative affairs, and, also, fully contribute to the economy.

Citizens now have full rights within their country, but their status comes with responsibilities such as avoiding any criminal conduct, contributing to the economy, and, what’s more, respecting the rights of other citizens.

Many consider getting a second citizenship a complex process because most of the routes to becoming a dual citizen are quite long or demand specific requirements. Here are the main routes to acquiring a second citizenship:

  • Naturalization is the most common, and longest, route to obtaining a second citizenship. This occurs when a person spends a specific amount of years as a resident of a nation until they can apply to become a citizen under the host country’s laws.
  • Citizenship by Marriage is another way to acquire another nationality. In most countries, if you marry a citizen of that nation then you are eligible to apply for citizenship. You can do this directly or after obtaining a residence permit and then becoming a citizen through naturalization.
  • Citizenship by Descent is a simple, but exclusive, route. Countries such as Austria, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Portugal offer people with ancestors who were citizens of their nation the chance to apply for citizenship. However, proving ancestry can be a complex process depending on the documents required, and it is very specific to a small portion of the world’s population.
  • Exceptional Citizenship is an extremely rare occurrence. It is usually granted to high-profile people like Tom Hanks. The famous actor obtained Greek Exceptional Citizenship for his charity work in the country.
  • Citizenship by Investment is the simplest option. Many countries offer investors the chance to obtain citizenship through investing in a nation’s economy. It is the fast track to a new nationality for you and any family members you’re allowed to add as dependants.

The idea of CBI also stems from ancient times, and the Roman Republic was the first nation to develop it into a route to citizenship. Those who contributed to the Roman economy under specific requirements were granted citizenship and all the rights that came with it, and the concept still holds true today.

Many countries now offer what is referred to as a CBI programme, which is a route to obtaining a citizenship certificate and passport of a nation through contributing to the economy. The idea is that by investing in a country, you have fulfilled part of your duty as a citizen and hence should be considered one. Your other responsibilities are avoiding criminal activities and, also, respecting the laws and the rights of other citizens.

The Grenada, Malta, St Lucia, and Türkiye Citizenship-by-Investment programmes include the rights to vote in an election. Their passports can also ease travel to the likes of European Union countries and the United States.

Economic citizenship is extremely beneficial to the countries granting citizenship, as it provides their governments with significant sums of unencumbered foreign direct investment funds to help develop the nation.

The Commonwealth of Dominica, for example, used funds from its CBI Programme to create affordable housing for its residents. The programme also funds the development of the country’s international airport. This a project that will positively affect residents’ lifestyle and the nation’s economy as well.

CBI programmes differ from one country to the next, but the most common types of investment usually fall into five main categories, which are:

1. Donations or contributions

Many countries grant citizenship to those who donate a minimum amount to a country’s economy. The donation option is usually the simplest and cheapest route to obtain citizenship, as, in some countries, the required amount starts at as low as $100,000. However, donations, by definition, mean that investors do not get their money back.

Donations are usually made to official funds, which the government uses to develop the country. In some cases, a government may create an ad hoc fund to combat a capital crisis or natural disasters, such as the St Kitts and Nevis Hurricane Relief Fund, which was a temporary route to citizenship with a lesser donation than the then normal Sustainable Growth Fund due to the country having to quickly rebuild after a devastating hurricane season.

2. Real-estate investments

Investing in real estate is one of the most popular routes to obtaining citizenship. Most countries have a real estate option, and many of them allow you to choose between either buying actual property or shares in luxury resorts.

Real-estate investments are cost-effective in the long run, as investors can resell their properties after a specific holding period set by the government. Investors can even profit from the property during the holding period by either renting it out or receiving dividends. The real-estate option is also attractive for larger families.

3. Government bonds/securities

A couple of countries give investors the option to buy government bonds or securities to obtain citizenship. Government bonds are considered a safer option but do not yield much profit.

Private securities, on the other hand, are higher risk but can achieve a higher return on investment.

4. Hybrid investments

This option is unique to Malta’s CBI Programme and requires you to invest in more than just one route. You’ll need to invest in real estate as well as donate to the government.

5. Establishing a business/job creation

A few countries offer you the chance to apply for citizenship through establishing a business. Some countries require you to invest a specific amount of capital in their business, while others grant citizenship based on the number of jobs a certain business has created and maintained for a set amount of years.

Many countries around the world offer their own version of a CBI programme. A number of nations have a route to economic citizenship. The premise remains the same, but the requirements and processing differ from one country to the next.

However, generally, anyone who wants to apply must:

  • Have a clean criminal record
  • Provide a source of funds for their investment
  • Submit a full application
  • Make a qualified investment
  • Be at least 18 years of age.

Malta and Antigua and Barbuda are unique in requiring physical residency. No other CBI nation requires residing in the country to obtain citizenship.

Other Services

Government Advisory

At Latitude, we have extensive experience in the fields of residency and citizenship. We help governments to set up and optimize investment migration programmes. These are also known as golden visa programmes. We are industry leaders. Additionally, we excel in country branding and strategic marketing communications.

Find out more
Residency by Investment

RIF Trust provides expert guidance on residency investment programmes in the world's premier destinations. We're the leading authority on social mobility and citizenship opportunities. Delve into the specifics of the most trustworthy and, therefore, successful residency programmes. Switch residency to a favourable country or increase your number of residencies as well. This is an ever-vital aspect of global planning for individual clients.

Find out more