In today’s world, there are a number of countries that sell their citizenship, and this act is referred to as citizenship by investment or economic citizenship. It is a legal process where countries grant foreigners citizenship in exchange for significant contributions, such as investing in real estate, government bonds, or national development projects.
This act comes with a number of benefits for foreigners such as increased global mobility with visa-free access to more countries, expanded business opportunities, better quality of life, asset protection, and access to healthcare and education.
In this article are 10 countries where you can get citizenship by investment.
AUSTRIA
The Austrian citizenship by investment program is an incredibly selective one. To be given Austrian citizenship, you must be able to show “extraordinary merit” and contribute significantly to the state’s interests – either scientifically, culturally, or economically.
Unlike in other countries, applicants must invest directly into the Austrian economy either by setting up a business, creating jobs, or introducing new technologies.
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
To qualify for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment, you can either donate $100,000 to the country’s National Development Fund or donate $150,000 to the University of the West Indies. Alternatively, you can invest in “designated, officially approved real estate” worth at least $400,000, which comes with a $30,000 processing fee or invest at least $1.5 million into an approved business on the island, along with a $30,000 fee.
DOMINICA
To qualify for the Caribbean island of Dominica’s citizenship by investment program, you can either donate $100,000 to the island’s Economic Development Fund or purchase $200,000 worth of real estate.
GRENADA
Grenada, an island nation in the West Indies, offers two options for its citizenship by investment program. You either make a $150,000 contribution to the National Transformation Fund, which finances projects in various industries including tourism, agriculture, and alternative energy, or purchase a property worth at least $220,000, which cannot be sold for four years.
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
There are three ways to qualify for St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program. You can get citizenship by donating $150,000 to the Sustainable Growth Fund, which helps to promote growth in sectors such as healthcare, education, alternative energy, climate change, and indigenous entrepreneurship in the country. Alternatively, you can contribute $175,000 to the country’s Alternative Investment program or invest in an approved real estate project with a value of at least $200,000.
ST. LUCIA
St. Lucia, a volcanic island located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, offers four different investment options in exchange for citizenship. The least expensive option is a $100,000 donation to the island’s National Economic Fund. Other options include an investment worth at least $300,000 in real estate which cannot be sold for five years, an investment of a minimum of $3.5 million in an “approved enterprise project,” or an investment of a minimum of $500,000 in government bonds.
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JORDAN
To qualify for Jordan citizenship by investment program, you can invest $750,000 into a project that creates at least 10 local jobs in a community that is located outside of Amman, the country’s capital or make a deposit of $1 million into the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) for a minimum of three years, or the purchase of $1 million in treasury bonds and holding them for six years. The final option is to purchase shares in a company based in Jordan that is worth at least $1.5 million.
MONTENEGRO
To qualify for a Montenegro citizenship by investment program, you have to either invest 450,000 in projects within Podgorica, the country’s capital, or 250,000 in projects focused on areas outside of the capital. In addition, you are required to donate 200,000 to the nation’s development and innovation funds.
NORTH MACEDONIA
The citizenship by investment program in North Macedonia provides you with two options of either an investment of 200,000 in a private investment fund or an investment of 400,000 in “new facilities” excluding restaurants or shopping centers that create at least 10 local jobs in the country.
TURKEY
Turkey’s citizenship by investment program provides you with as many as seven investment options. However, the least expensive of the options is the purchase of $400,000 worth of real estate.
Other countries that run citizenship by investment programs include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Portugal, Greece, Spain, Canada, the USA, Ireland, Italy, and so on. Trends that run through these nations’ investment programs include an investment in the nation’s development fund, purchase of real estate, and creation of job opportunities in the countries.
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