Due to the recent financial crisis in the country, the idea of becoming an expat is getting popular again. People are looking for ways to settle in other countries and there is one way that has gained a lot of traction recently: citizenship by investment.
However, these investment programs are designed for affluent foreigners as they allow them to pursue opportunities abroad that weren’t available before. If you’re looking to get a second passport through investment, there are a few things you should know about first.
Graana.com, Pakistan’s smartest property portal, has listed the countries that are offering citizenship by investment.
This investment migration isn’t a new concept as many countries are offering this alternative option to legally acquire citizenship for quite some time.
These allow anyone to buy a property or make any sort of investment in the country and, in return, the country grants citizenship to the investor. These programs are beneficial for countries seeking foreign investment.
Moreover, these programs provide benefits to the investors as well, which are mentioned below.
There are several countries in the world that are offering this opportunity to investors. Some of them are in Europe and some are in the Caribbean.
For your convenience, we will share the details about some of the cheapest citizenship by investment options available right now.
Türkiye is considered one of the important countries in the region due to its geographical location – it is bordered by three seas and has access to both European and Asian markets.
Apart from its strategic importance, Türkiye has become one of the most-visited tourist destinations, with Istanbul becoming a major hub for tourism and other commercial activities.
In order to attract foreign direct investment in the country, the Türkiye government launched the investment program in 2017, through which investors can buy real estate in the country, which will make them official citizens.
Following are some of the benefits of this program for applicants.
In order to apply for citizenship in Türkiye, the applicant has to meet one of the following requirements.
After selecting the desired investment option, the residence permit application will be made on behalf of the family. The primary applicant will have to open a bank account in Türkiye as well. The applicant has to make an investment and prepare the required documents.
After receiving the application, the government will start the review process. This process will be completed in 120 days, after which the citizenship documents will be issued to the applicant.
Spain is another country offering permanent residency to those making investments in the country’s real estate (and other) sectors.
One of the most popular countries for tourism in the world, Spain launched its golden visa program in 2013. With this investment program, anyone living outside the EU will be able to get a permanent residency for 5 years.
There are certain benefits that you get through Spanish citizenship by investment. We have mentioned some of them below.
To apply for the golden visa, the applicant has to meet one of the following requirements.
Following is the complete procedure for getting a second passport by investment.
Portugal introduced the golden visa program in 2012 with the purpose of attracting foreign investments to the country. It is one of the most popular programs among investors due to the availability of a wide range of affordable investment options.
With the help of this program, anyone with a clean criminal record living outside the EU can apply for citizenship.
Following are some of the advantages of applying for this citizenship program.
To qualify for this program, the applicant has to fulfill one of the following requirements.
Greece is located in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, which is famous for its ancient history and beaches. It is another European country that offers citizenship by investment, which it introduced in 2013 for non-European countries.
Through this program, any person (aged above 18) from a non-EU country with a clean criminal record can apply for citizenship in Greece.
Following are some of the benefits of becoming a resident of Greece.
To apply for the golden visa, you have to choose one of the following investment options.
The application is really simple and hassle-free. First, the applicant has to select the preferred investment option and then open a bank account in Greece. After making the payment for the desired investment option, he/she has to submit the application with the required documents.
One has to visit Greece for biometric verification. After the verification, the golden visa will be approved, and it has to be renewed every five years. The golden visa holders can apply for citizenship after seven years of permanent residency.
Australia is granting citizenship to high-net-worth individuals only. These individuals have to make a significant investment in the economy with the condition of minimum stay in the country.
The citizenship is given to the investor and his/her family after 4 years of permanent residency in Australia.
The following are some benefits of getting citizenship in Australia.
There are different investment options available for obtaining citizenship in Australia. Some of them are mentioned in the table below.
| Investment Type | Business Innovation Stream | Significant Investor
| Premium Investor |
| Investment Amount | No minimum capital requirement | AUD 5,000,000
| AUD 15,000,000 |
| Goals | Business Development | Investing in startups and private companies | Investing in real estate and private companies |
| Conditions | Proof of business management with an annual turnover of AUD 500,000 and proof of AUD 800,000 in personal assets | Retaining investment for at least 4 years | Retention of investment during the validity of investor visa |
To qualify for business immigration, one has to meet certain requirements.
Following is the complete process to acquire citizenship through investment.
Canada is considered a great country to live in, with access to some of the best education and healthcare facilities. It is a developed country and has a reputation for ethnic and racial tolerance, making it a great place for immigration.
Canada also offers citizenship by investment, however, this program only allows the applicant to get permanent residence in Quebec, one of the largest provinces in Canada by area and second-largest by population.
There are various advantages of getting Canadian citizenship, which include:
To apply for Canadian citizenship by investment, you have to invest at least CAD 1,200,00 in Quebec. This investment should be made for starting a new business or buying an existing business.
The applicant must have two years of experience in the respective field of business. In addition to these requirements, the applicant must be proficient in English and French.
The applicant should not have any criminal record and diseases like HIV. Any person applying for the program must have assets worth CAD 2,000,000 as well.
The process for obtaining Canadian citizenship is fairly simple. The applicant must submit the required documents to the Quebec government. After submitting those, the applicant has to transfer the funds mentioned in the investment program. The Canadian government will issue an entry visa and resident permit that is valid for 12 months.
The applicant has to apply for citizenship during these 12 months. If the application is approved, the individual has to pass different tests. Once the immigration officials rule in the favour of the applicant, citizenship is granted to the applicant.
Currently, the Canadian government has suspended this program until April 2023, and there is no news on whether the program will be continued or not.
Antigua and Barbuda is another island offering citizenship to anyone who invests in the country. This program was designed for attracting foreign direct investment.
The government started the program in 2012 and offered foreign investors the chance to buy properties in the area or to make contributions to the “National Development Fund”.
There are different benefits you get with the citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda, and some of them are mentioned below.
In order to qualify for this investment program, the applicant must be over 18 years of age and has to make investments in one of the following options.
Antigua and Barbuda have a Citizenship Investment Unit (CIU) that reviews all applications and issues the passport after completing all the due diligence checks. It takes around three to four months for the applicant to get a passport to this Caribbean island.
The applicant submits the required documents with all the details of the investment. After the payment is made, the unit reviews the application and completes the verification process. The unit decides whether to issue citizenship to the applicant or not.
It is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean that is known for its beaches and resorts. This former British colony launched the citizenship program in 1993 to boost investments in the area. Unlike the process of citizenship in European countries, Dominica has an easy and straightforward process.
For your convenience, we have shared the requirements for getting official citizenship in Dominica.
Following are some of the benefits of getting citizenship in Dominica.
To apply for residence in the country, the applicant and his/her family have to take an oath of allegiance in front of the commissioner of oaths. Once the applicant has pledged allegiance to the country, the certificate of citizenship will be issued.
These are some of the countries that are offering citizenship by investment. If you want to know more about such programs in other countries, visit the Graana blog.
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