Several countries offer citizenship programs in exchange for investments or donations of specific values, in light of the overwhelming desire of many to obtain different or multiple nationalities for the purposes of developing business, living, tourism, and other purposes.
The list of these countries includes names that some may read for the first time, but the nationalities of these countries have advantages on several levels. The list also includes well-known countries. Here is the list:
Antigua and Barbuda
British immigration consultancy Henley & Partners designed and implemented the citizenship-by-investment programme in Antigua and Barbuda, the sovereign islands of the Caribbean, in 2012, according to the company’s British website Henley Global.
The programme addresses those wishing to obtain an alternative nationality by acquiring real estate or contributing to the “National Development Fund” in that country.
The British website added that the minimum donation is $100,000, but indicated that there is a plan to increase it to $230,000.
It takes between 3 and 4 months to decide on citizenship according to this program.
The report published on the website listed the main advantages of this program, the most important of which is the freedom to travel to more than 150 countries, including Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the European Schengen Area.
In addition, applicants can include their spouses, dependent children under 31, parents and grandparents over 55, unmarried siblings and other categories.
Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations which gives its nationals certain benefits in the UK and other member states.
According to the website, Antigua and Barbuda is a great place to settle down, especially with air connections to North Africa and Europe.
The program offers various options for obtaining citizenship, the most prominent of which are the following:
- Donate a minimum of $100,000 to the National Development Fund.
- Donate at least $150,000 to the University of the West Indies.
- Purchase a property worth at least $200,000 from an approved real estate project that cannot be sold for 5 years.
For its part, the Global Residence Index website stated that the citizenship-by-investment program in that country includes other advantages, namely that it allows the retention of the original citizenship and recognizes dual citizenship in addition to tax exemptions.
Austria
Obtaining Austrian citizenship allows you to live and work in Austria and other EU countries at any time, as well as travel without a visa to about 190 countries, according to the Henley Global website.
The British website added that the Austrian passport is famous for its good reputation, and the processing time for a citizenship application in exchange for investment ranges between 24-36 months.
Yahoo Finance also noted that the European country’s authorities are giving foreigners the opportunity to obtain Austrian citizenship in exchange for large investments, either through joint ventures or direct business investments.
He added that the European country sets a minimum investment of 2 million euros ($2.1 million) for citizenship, with the possibility of investing up to 10 million euros ($10.82 million).
Although the investment amounts required are large, the benefits of obtaining Austrian citizenship are many, according to Yahoo Finance, as Austria is a safe, developed, and politically stable country, and is characterized by a high quality of life.
Jordan
Jordan is distinguished by its unique strategic location between Asia and Africa, and its friendly environment for investment projects and its combination of the ancient and modern worlds, according to the Henley Global website.
Jordanian citizenship allows its holder to travel without visas or obtain a visa upon arrival to more than 50 countries, and many members of the applicant’s family can be naturalized.
Yahoo Finance also indicated that the minimum investment required to obtain Jordanian citizenship is $750,000 through economic projects outside Amman that attract at least 10 jobs for Jordanians, and citizenship is obtained through this investment in a period usually ranging between 3 and 6 months.
Malta
The Global Residence Index website stated that the means of obtaining citizenship through investment in Malta take several forms, as follows:
- Donating to the National Social Development Fund, where the applicant obtains citizenship after 36 months if he donates 6,000 euros ($6,493), and after 12 months if he donates 750,000 euros ($81,1691).
- Buying a property for at least €700,000 ($757,578) or renting a property long-term for at least €16,000 ($17,316) per year.
Henley Global also listed the advantages of obtaining Maltese citizenship as follows:
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to around 190 countries.
- Opportunity to include wife, children, parents and grandparents in the main application for naturalization.
- Malta does not impose any restrictions on dual citizenship.
According to Yahoo Finance, many people may not be able to afford the high minimum investment required to obtain citizenship, such as Austria, which was mentioned earlier, and so they turn their attention to other less expensive countries, such as Malta.
Egypt
In March 2020, Egypt began implementing a new citizenship law that enables foreign investors to obtain citizenship in exchange for financial contributions, according to Henley Global.
The Egyptian government has launched a special unit to oversee the citizenship by investment programme, which was launched to attract foreign direct investment.
Egypt is a hub connecting African, European, Indian subcontinent and Middle Eastern markets, and Egyptian citizenship provides the opportunity to obtain the US investment visa known as “E-2” and apply for a US non-immigrant visa.
- There are various options for obtaining Egyptian citizenship under this program, including contributing $250,000 to the state treasury or investing at least $300,000 in a government-owned project that cannot be sold for five years.
- Another option is to invest at least $350,000 in a new or existing local project and donate $100,000 to the public treasury, provided that the project remains in operation for at least 5 years.
- Egyptian citizenship can be obtained by making a bank deposit of at least $500,000, which will be refunded after 3 years in local currency without interest.
Yahoo Finance indicated that the process of obtaining Egyptian citizenship in exchange for investment usually takes between 6 and 9 months, and citizenship allows its holder the opportunity to travel freely to about 51 countries.
Türkiye
The Global Residence Index website indicated that Türkiye offers several options within the citizenship by investment program, the most prominent of which are the following:
- A deposit in a Turkish bank of $500,000.
- Investing in Turkish government bonds worth $500,000.
- Buying a property in Turkey worth at least $400,000 but banking regulations require that the Turkish Lira be the final currency used for real estate investment.
Yahoo Finance also reported that more than 13,000 investors and their families took advantage of Turkey’s reduction in the minimum investment required for citizenship in 2018.
It usually takes between 3 and 6 months to process an application for citizenship through investment and extends to the investment family members, including children under 18 years of age or any children with disabilities.
Turkish citizens enjoy visa-free travel to over 110 countries, safety, high quality of life, and the possibility of obtaining the US E-2 investment visa.
Grenada
It is a country in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea:
- Grenada requires that an investor contribute at least $150,000 to the National Transformation Fund for each citizenship application.
- It takes between 3 and 6 months to decide, according to Yahoo Finance.
- Henley Global reported that a Grenadian citizen can obtain an E-2 visa to the United States and travel to 140 countries without a visa, in addition to there being no restrictions on dual citizenship.
Cambodia
- Cambodia has one of the fastest citizenship-by-investment programs in the world with a minimum of $320,000 including royal government fees, according to Yahoo Finance.
- The country is characterized by its beautiful nature, abundant heritage and friendly people, and Cambodian citizenship can be obtained under this program within 3-4 months.
- Cambodian citizenship allows visa-free travel to 53 countries and is politically stable, according to the American website.
Republic of Vanuatu
Vanuatu is located in the South Pacific Ocean, and the Global Residence Index website said that the development support program allows obtaining the citizenship of that country through the following options:
- bachelor: $130,000.
- married: $150,000.
- Family of 3: $165,000.
- Family of 4: $180,000.
- Each additional person: 10 thousand dollars
Yahoo Finance also mentioned that this country is known for its safety and security, and its citizens can travel without a visa to 98 countries.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia is located in southeastern Europe, which makes it a great way to travel to all parts of the old continent.
North Macedonia offers two citizenship-by-investment programmes with a minimum of €200,000 in a private sector fund for at least two years.
The application process takes between 2-5 months, according to Yahoo Finance.
Henley Global website pointed out many advantages associated with obtaining North Macedonian citizenship, including the following points:
- Freedom to travel without a visa or visa on arrival to over 120 countries worldwide.
- Benefit from a distinct commercial market at the strategic level.
- Obtain citizenship of an upper-middle-income European country with a friendly, hospitable culture and tax benefits that encourage investment.
- There is no minimum period of residence or language level required to obtain citizenship.
- Obtaining citizenship of a country that has recently joined NATO and is a candidate for membership in the European Union.
