Dreaming of moving your life abroad to sunnier climes and a slice of the good life – or simply hoping to take advantage of better business opportunities in a different country? Whilst it might feel like a pipe dream, it actually might not be as difficult as you think to make it happen, with investment-based citizenship programmes, also often called economic citizenship, on the rise and paving the way for you to finally make that move.
As globalisation continues to bring countries together, the emergence of this new avenue for obtaining citizenship abroad has changed the game, and by opting to make an investment in a country of your choosing – provided it offers such a programme – you could soon be packing those suitcases, selling up and making that dream a reality.
If you’re wondering how and where you can invest in a foreign country in exchange for citizenship, and how exactly these programmes work, then look no further – because we asked the experts at personalised residence and consultancy firm Global Residence Index to break down the basics for some of the most popular destinations in the world.
Europe
While just a few years ago, British expats had free roam of EU countries and could opt to relocate without purchasing property or making an investment of any kind, that has all changed in our post-Brexit world, with the ‘free movement of people’ that came with membership having come to an end.
Nevertheless, it’s still possible to relocate to popular sunshine destinations like Spain and Portugal, through an investment programme. Most countries – which also include Cyprus, Malta and Austria – require at least 250,000 euros into real estate or government projects, but some demand as much as two million euros.
Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme is proving particularly popular of late, with applicants needing only to invest 350,000 euros into real estate or a venture capital fund to seal the deal – providing your application meets all of the necessary requirements aside from that, of course.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean, with its long swathes of white, sandy beaches fringed by swaying palms, its crystalline climate and hot, sunny weather, has long been a popular luxury holiday destination for the affluent traveller – but if you’re one of the many who have found that a two-week annual break here simply isn’t enough and would like to make things a little more permanent, then the good news is, you can.
The Caribbean has become a popular choice for those looking to take advantage of investment-based citizenship programmes. Known in the region as Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes, St. Kitts and Nevis was the first to offer one, getting the ball rolling all the way back in 1984 and paving the way for other Caribbean nations to follow suit.
While in St. Kitts and Nevis, a minimum investment of $150,000 in a government-approved real estate project or $250,000 into the island’s Sustainable Growth Fund is required to get you the golden ticket, in St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Barbuda, you can expect to have to invest anywhere from $100,000 – $200,000.
Asia
Asia is an appealing destination to relocate to for many, offering beautiful weather for much of the year along with a rich and diverse culture and spectacular natural scenery – as well as offering some excellent opportunities for comparatively low-cost investments for those coming from the UK, Europe and North America.
Malaysia’s programme requires a minimum investment of MYR two million into a government approved project in exchange for citizenship, which is around GBP £360,000 or USD $450,000 – and you’re also required to maintain that investment for at least five years.
Singapore’s Global Investor Program, meanwhile, requires an eye-watering investment of no less than SGD 2.5 million (that’s around USD $1.8 million or just under GBP £1.5 million) in a business or real estate project, which again, must remain for a five-year period or more. With this in mind, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Singapore tends to attract the wealthiest of the world’s investors.
On the other hand, Thailand is perhaps one of the easiest countries in which to obtain citizenship through investment, as here, you’ll have a choice of different investment options, the minimum of which equating to just $63,000 USD.
South America
When it comes to the cheapest investment programmes for those seeking citizenship in a foreign nation, South America offers some of the lowest requirements.
In Brazil, the equivalent of $90,000 USD (£72K) invested into a Brazilian business or real estate project is enough, but some nations, like Uruguay, will require you to jump through a few more hoops. You’ll need to spend a minimum of 183 days in the country each year, and the investment requirement is around the £1.5 million USD (£1.2m) mark.
