Nowadays, More than 80% of businessmen in the Middle East are seeking to obtain a second citizenship, in order to protect their families, live in a safe place, secure their children’s future, expand their business, and move freely between countries.

In addition, many countries offer citizenship by investment programs in a relatively short period ranging from two months to nearly eight months or a year, in order to attract businessmen and investors from all over the world so that they can benefit from these investments in supporting their infrastructure and economies.

Despite the high costs of acquiring this citizenship, the demand for them is increasing, due to the benefits for the investor, his family and all his businesses.

Benefits of Second Citizenship:

Second Citizenship gives the investor and his family many advantages that differ according to the state, but the advantages that the top ten citizenship around the world have are the following:

1. Freedom of movement and travel visa-free to at least 100-140 countries around the world.
2. Security and stability for the investor and his family.
3. Privileges of social security and medical care systems.
4. Rights of free education and access to universities.
5. Possibility of owning residential and commercial properties.
6. Ease of starting any investment business.
7. Benefit from tax systems.
8. Getting rid of the preconceptions about the investor based on his original nationality, while the second nationality constitutes evidence that his criminal record and sources of his money are clean. Also, most of the countries that introduce second citizenship programs are neutral countries.

Ways of obtaining Second Citizenship by Investment:

Methods for obtaining second citizenship around the world vary between a donation, investing in the real estate sector, bank deposit, or investing in government bonds.

The most important 10 countries around the world which offer these programs are: the Caribbean Islands, and Cyprus within a period not exceeding 6 months, Vanuatu in no more than two months, Montenegro within 3 months, and Türkiye within 4 months approximately, while Malta is the longest term, as the procedures take about a year.

We recall that the Caribbean islands and Vanuatu are Commonwealth Nations (countries belonging to the British Crown) wherefore the passport derives its strength that permits roaming in the European Union and entering Britain without a visa.

1- Grenada:

The state of Grenada, or as it is known as the Spice Island, due to the great variety and spice production in addition to nutmeg and cocoa, is considered one of the strongest states for the Second Citizenship by investment, due to its diversified program between donation option or real estate investment option which allows the holder of its citizenship to enter more than 140 Countries including the Schengen Area countries in Europe, the United Kingdom, Singapore, China and Hong Kong visa-free. In addition to the great opportunity to obtain an E2 visa to the United States of America (investor residency).

Grenada passport is ranked 35 among the passports of the world, and it is the only investment citizenship program in the world that accepts, beside the applicant spouse and children, both the applicant’s brothers, father, mother, grandfather and grandmother in the same application. Moreover, the most important feature is that it allows the inclusion of the investor’s children up to the age of 30.

The amount of investment eligible for the citizenship by investment in Grenada starts from $ 150,000 for the donation option and from $ 220 to $ 350,000 for the real estate investment option, noting that this investment is exclusive to tourism projects approved by the government, in addition to Government Processing expenses and Due Diligence fees.

2- Türkiye:

Türkiye began attracting the world’s attention, as it possesses one of the 49 most powerful passports in the world. Turkish citizens are allowed to travel to 102 countries in Asia and Europe (excluding the European Union), the Americas, Asia and Africa (e.g. Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil, etc.) visa-free. Also, the Turkish passport allows its holder to obtain the E2 – visa for investment in the USA.

The Turkish citizenship by investment program is considered the most diversified program in terms of options for obtaining citizenship, such the option of real estate investment no less than $ 400,000, or bank deposit or purchase of government bonds, etc.

The Turkish program is also characterized by the speedy completion of the transaction, as obtaining Turkish citizenship and passport does not take longer than four months in which the investor can include all members of his family who are under 18 years old, all of whom benefit from free education in Turkish schools and from university payment plans and the right to apply for scholarships.

The peculiarity of the program to obtain the Turkish investment citizenship comes from the fact that Government Processing expenses and Due Diligence fees, when adding family members to the citizenship application file, are virtually non-existent, and thus this program is the least side-expenses at all in the world.

Also, noteworthy the Ankara Treaty concluded between Türkiye and the United Kingdom, through which the holder of Turkish citizenship can apply for work residence to establish his own business in the UK.

3- Antigua and Barbuda:

The union of the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, whose people are proud of having 365 beaches one for each day of the year, in addition to the beautiful coral reefs. This federation is one of the five Caribbean countries that offer the second citizenship by investment as there are two options, the donating option to the state fund an amount of no less than 100 thousand dollars or the real estate investment option in one of the tourism projects approved by the government in an amount of no less than 400 thousand dollars as ways to obtain the second citizenship, in addition to Government Processing expenses and Due Diligence fees, with the possibility of including the spouse and children under the age of 30 and add the father and mother to both the applicant and/or the spouse in the same application.

the approval is issued within a period not exceeding 6 months, according to which the holder of the passport of Antigua and Barbuda has access to more than 139 countries including the Schengen countries in Europe, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong visa-free, where the passport from Antigua and Barbuda is ranked 37 among the passports of the countries of the world.

4- Saint Kitts and Nevis:

St. Kitts and Nevis, which has issued many laws to attract foreign investment, enjoys a pleasant tropical climate with clear water and a relaxed atmosphere that makes these two islands a modern tourist destination in addition to being one of the most environmentally friendly places on earth.

St. Kitts and Nevis Federation has the oldest program to obtain citizenship by investment in the world that started in 1984. It is similar to the rest of the Caribbean countries in terms of options between a donation to the state fund an amount of no less than 150 thousand dollars or real estate investment in one of the tourism projects approved by the government with an amount starting from 200 To $ 400,000 as a way to obtain a second citizenship, in addition to Government Processing expenses and Due Diligence fees, with the possibility of including the spouse and children under the age of 30 and adding the father and mother to both the applicant and/or the spouse in the same application.

When the investor obtains citizenship under the St. Kitts and Nevis state program, he/ she will obtain a passport that ranks 38th in the passports of the countries of the world, and the family will enjoy citizenship for a lifetime that can be passed on to future generations, with access to more than 137 countries, including countries The Schengen area in Europe, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Russia and Hong Kong visa-free.

5- Saint Lucia:

Citizens of Saint Lucia can travel to more than 127 countries visa-free. The vast majority of these countries allow holders of Saint Lucia’s passport to stay for a period of 30 to 90 days without the need to obtain a visa. The other countries grant visas upon arrival or ease the electronic visas issuing as the Saint Lucia passport is ranked 39th among the world’s passports.

Saint Lucia does not differ from other Caribbean islands in terms of obtaining the second citizenship, which varies between donating option in an amount of no less than 100 thousand dollars or real estate investment of no less than 300 thousand dollars, in addition to Government Processing expenses and Due Diligence fees, and it is possible to It includes dependents of children under the age of 30, dependent parents over 65 residing with the applicant, and dependent children or parents who have exceptional circumstances, either mentally or physically.

6- Vanuatu:

It is an island located in the South Pacific and is known to be one of the happiest places in the world. The Vanuatu Development Support Program is one of the fastest options for investors looking for second citizenship and a new passport. The transaction is terminated within 2-3 months, and the investor is granted citizenship if he/she meets all requirements. Whereas, the investor has only one way to obtain a Vanuatu citizenship, which is to donate no less than $ 130,000 and can include his family members in the same application and benefit from the island’s indirect tax system.

The citizens of the state of Vanuatu, as they possess the passport ranked 42 among the passports of the world counties, the freedom to enter Europe and UK visa-free, in addition to the possibility to travel to more than 125 countries without the need to obtain a pre-entry visa. The vast majority of these countries also allow holders of the Vanuatu passport to stay for a period of 30 to 90 days without the need to obtain a visa, in addition to being easily eligible for obtaining visas to the USA for a period of 5 years.

7- Montenegro:

What distinguishes Citizenship by Investment Program in Montenegro is that the investor has the right to add the spouse and dependent children in the same application, regardless of their age, such as those who are pursuing their studies or have a specific health condition that requires family care.

 In order to obtain this citizenship, the applicant must purchase a property with a value starting from 250,000 euros, in addition to donating to the government value of 100,000 euros, in addition to some government fees.

The procedures only take 3 months from the date of application, after which the investor and his family will obtain the citizenship which passport allows the holder to enter into more than 122 countries visa-free, including the Schengen area in Europe, Switzerland and Singapore, as the passport is ranked the 46th place in the world’s passports.

8- Dominica:

It is called (the land of nature) for its pure natural beauty. It is considered the smallest island compared to its Caribbean peers.

The investor has two options to obtain citizenship by investment from the State of Dominica, namely donating an amount of no less than 100 thousand dollars or investing in a tourism project approved by the government in an amount of no less than 200 thousand dollars, in addition to Government Processing expenses and Due Diligence fees. The Dominica Program is the most economic program for obtaining citizenship by investment for only one person through the option of donating.

Approval is issued within a period not exceeding 6 months, according to which the holder of the Dominica passport has access to more than 119 countries including the countries of the Schengen region in Europe, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and Russia visa-free. Dominica’s passport is ranked 41st in the world’s passports.

9- Cyprus:

The Republic of Cyprus is an independent island of the European Union with its capital Nicosia. Its nature is distinguished by its warm and beautiful sandy beaches, which attract tourists from all over the world, although the terrain of the island is mostly rocky.

Cyprus is considered a peaceful, stable country, politically and economically, so many investors want to obtain its citizenship and passport, which allows the investor to enter more than 174 countries including the countries of the Schengen region in Europe, the UK, China, Japan and Canada visa-free. It is the 16th strongest passport in the world.

Businessmen enjoy the freedom of investment under the low tax system and free trade within the European Union, in addition to good living and a first-class health care system. The investor also guarantees his children the right to study and work in any of the 28 European Union countries.

Citizenship by investment options in Cyprus are varied between investing in real estate, development projects, infrastructure, or between investing in financial assets, buying, establishing or participating in business, provided that the size of the investment is not less than 2.5 million euros.

After choosing the appropriate investment, it is evaluated by a specialized committee and permanent residence is obtained for a period of no less than two weeks. The applicant is obliged to keep it for a period of at least 6 months, which is the duration of the transaction before receiving the passport or the national identity card.

10- Malta:

Malta is an archipelago located in the middle of the Mediterranean between Sicily, Italy and the North African coast, and is considered the smallest country in the European Union. It has a rich history and a temperate climate as it witnesses the four seasons.

Investors wishing to obtain the citizenship by investment of the state of Malta by are obligated to make real estate investment with a value of no less than 350,000 euros while retaining the property for a period of no less than 5 years and to make an unrecoverable contribution to the National Fund for Social Development with a value of no less than 650,000 euros, in addition, to invest in government bonds with a value of no less than 150,000 euros for the investor and his/her family. The transaction takes a little longer than the countries mentioned above as it requires 11 months without the need to reside in Malta or the requirement of language and education.

Maltese passport allows its holder to enter more than 183 countries, including the countries of the Schengen region in Europe, the United States, Russia and Canada visa-free. The investor will be a first-class citizen by holding one of the 9th strongest passports in the world.

Recently, due to unstable circumstances in most of the world countries, thinking of second citizenship has become an urgent requirement.

Many companies are offering this solution, so we call on readers and all interested in this issue to be careful and cautious and make sure that the company they deal with to follow up their file is a registered and official company that provides clear services with fixed fees determined by the state government that the delegated company cannot manipulate or change, or increase or decrease to attract investors.

NTL provides assistance and advice in selecting the best and most appropriate citizenship program for the investor and his/her family. Based on its experience of more than 25 years in investment citizenship programs and being licensed and approved by the Caribbean governments with its twelve branches around the world, NTL provides legal, investment and follow-up advisory services by a team of international lawyers and nationality consultants from the beginning until obtaining second citizenship and passport.

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