Citizenship by investment (CBI) enables high net-worth individuals to acquire additional citizenships by making a significant investment in a host country. These individuals provide an investment fund in exchange for expanded global mobility and residency rights.
Henley & Partners notes that more than ever before, wealthy individuals are opting for second citizenship as the most effective way to access previously unimagined opportunities. Over 100 countries in the world have some form of investment migration legislation in place.
Countries are turning to CBI programs to lure foreign capital and boost economic growth. However, the success of CBI programs hinges on countries' ability to implement them with utmost transparency and accountability, ensuring equal distribution of benefits among citizens.
This is critical as CBI programs have been linked to money laundering concerns, underscoring the need for stringent regulations and monitoring to prevent illicit activities
Acquiring citizenship in most of these countries affords the individual an opportunity to travel the world visa free. This is one of the pleasures of having a dual visa especially for the Caribbean passports which offer 140+ visa-free destinations, and EU passports that open travel without visas to 160+ countries.
Additionally, acquiring a second citizenship offers businessmen numerous benefits, including the ability to invest in foreign real estate, establish an overseas bank account, and maintain a financial safety net abroad, providing a secure fallback option.
According to Henley and Partners, below are the details of the cheapest countries that offer citizenship by investment programs.
1 | Türkiye | USD 400,000 |
2 | St. Kitts and Nevis | USD 250,000 |
3 | St. Lucia | USD 240,000 |
4 | Antigua and Barbuda | USD 230,000 |
5 | Dominica | USD 200,000 |
6 | North Macedonia | EUR 200,000 |
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