Citizenship by investment allows for the direct acquisition of a new nationality — and the corresponding passport — through a contribution or investment approved by the country, without the requirement of prolonged prior residency. The process always includes rigorous due diligence and, in most programs, allows for the inclusion of direct family members.
Antigua and Barbuda
Country presentation: Caribbean country, member of the Commonwealth, with a passport that allows visa-free access to a significant number of international destinations.
Program name: Citizenship by Investment Programme.
Who it is for: Investors who want a second passport with high international mobility, without the need to reside in the country.
Benefits: Passport with visa-free travel access to various destinations; extended family inclusion; no residency requirement.
Investment modalities: Contribution to the National Development Fund, approved real estate investment, or business investment.
Minimum investment: [Value to be confirmed]
Requirements: Absence of criminal records, approved international due diligence, proof of the lawful origin of funds.
Eligible family: Spouse, children, parents, and, under some conditions, unmarried siblings.
Mandatory stay: No effective residency requirement (symbolic visit requirement in some programs in the region).
Process: Evaluation → due diligence → selection of modality → contribution/investment → approval → passport issuance. See complete process.
Indicative time: [To be confirmed]
Costs: Contribution or investment, government fees, due diligence, legal fees.
Taxation: No taxation on worldwide income for non-residents; individualized tax advice is recommended.
Renewal: Passport issued with its own validity, renewable.
Permanent residency: Not applicable — nationality is obtained directly.
Possibility of citizenship: Not applicable — this is already a citizenship program.
Main risks: Changes to visa acceptance policies by third countries; local legislative changes.
Dominica
Country presentation: Caribbean country with one of the longest-running and most established citizenship by investment programs in the region.
Program name: Citizenship by Investment Programme
Who it is for: Investors looking for a second passport with a competitive entry cost.
Benefits: Passport with international mobility; historically fast process; family inclusion.
Investment modalities: Contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund, or approved real estate investment.
Minimum investment: [Value to be confirmed]
Requirements: Absence of criminal records, approved due diligence, proof of origin of funds.
Eligible family: Spouse, children, dependent parents and grandparents, subject to legal requirements.
Mandatory stay: No effective residency requirement.
Process: Evaluation → due diligence → contribution/investment → approval → passport issuance. See complete process.
Indicative time: [To be confirmed]
Costs: Contribution or investment, government fees, due diligence, legal fees.
Taxation: No taxation on worldwide income for non-residents; individualized tax advice is recommended.
Renewal: Passport issued with its own validity, renewable.
Permanent residency: Not applicable.
Possibility of citizenship: Not applicable.
Main risks: Legislative changes; increased international scrutiny on programs in the region.
Grenada
Country presentation: Caribbean country whose citizenship grants access, among other benefits, to eligibility for the United States E-2 visa, under a bilateral treaty.
Program name: Citizenship by Investment Programme
Who it is for: Investors interested in a second passport with a link to business opportunities in the United States.
Benefits: Access to E-2 treaty with the US; international mobility; extended family inclusion.
Investment modalities: Contribution to the National Transformation Fund, or approved real estate investment.
Minimum investment: [Value to be confirmed]
Requisitos: Absence of criminal records, approved due diligence, lawful origin of funds.
Eligible family: Spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and, under some conditions, unmarried siblings.
Mandatory stay: No effective residency requirement.
Process: Evaluation → due diligence → contribution/investment → approval → passport issuance. See complete process.
Indicative time: [To be confirmed]
Costs: Contribution or investment, government fees, due diligence, legal fees.
Taxation: No taxation on worldwide income for non-residents; individualized tax advice is recommended.
Renewal: Passport issued with its own validity, renewable.
Permanent residency: Not applicable.
Possibility of citizenship: Not applicable.
Main risks: Legislative changes; increased international scrutiny.
Saint Lucia
Country presentation: Caribbean country with an established citizenship by investment program, including a government bond modality.
Program name: Citizenship by Investment Programme
Who it is for: Investors looking for flexibility in the available investment modalities.
Benefits: Passport with international mobility; non-interest-bearing bond modality; family inclusion.
Investment modalities: Contribution to the National Economic Fund, real estate investment, or acquisition of government bonds.
Minimum investment: [Value to be confirmed]
Requirements: Absence of criminal records, approved due diligence, lawful origin of funds.
Eligible family: Spouse, children, dependent parents, and grandparents.
Mandatory stay: No effective residency requirement.
Process: Evaluation → due diligence → contribution/investment → approval → passport issuance. See complete process.
Tempo indicativo: [To be confirmed]
Costs: Contribution, investment or bond acquisition, government fees, due diligence, legal fees.
Taxation: No taxation on worldwide income for non-residents; individualized tax advice is recommended.
Renewal: Passport issued with its own validity, renewable.
Permanent residency: Not applicable.
Possibility of citizenship: Not applicable.
Principais riscos: Legislative changes; increased international scrutiny.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Country presentation: Caribbean country with the oldest citizenship by investment program in the world, in continuous operation for several decades.
Program name: Citizenship by Investment Programme
Who it is for: Investors who value tradition and the historical stability of a consolidated program.
Benefits: Passport with international mobility; historically stable program; extended family inclusion.
Investment modalities: Contribution to the Sustainable Growth Fund, or approved real estate investment.
Minimum investment: [Value to be confirmed]
Requirements: Absence of criminal records, approved due diligence, lawful origin of funds.
Eligible family: Spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and, under some conditions, unmarried siblings.
Mandatory stay: No effective residency requirement.
Process: Evaluation → due diligence → contribution/investment → approval → passport issuance. See complete process.
Indicative time: [To be confirmed]
Costs: Contribution or investment, government fees, due diligence, legal fees.
Taxation: No taxation on worldwide income for non-residents; individualized tax advice is recommended.
Renewal: Passport issued with its own validity, renewable.
Permanent residency: Not applicable.
Possibility of citizenship: Not applicable.
Main risks: Legislative changes; increased international scrutiny.
Turkey
Country presentation: Transcontinental country, with a diversified economy, connecting Europe to Asia.
Program name: Turkey Citizenship by Investment Program
Who it is for: Investors seeking citizenship through real estate acquisition or bank deposit, with a relatively fast process.
Benefits: Turkish passport; facilitated access to some trade agreements; typically fast process; family inclusion.
Investment modalities: Real estate acquisition, bank deposit, government bond acquisition, or business investment with job creation.
Minimum investment: [Value to be confirmed]
Requirements: Absence of criminal records, due diligence, proof of origin of funds, maintenance of the investment for the legally required period.
Eligible family: Spouse and minor children.
Mandatory stay: No effective residency requirement.
Process: Evaluation → selection of modality → due diligence → investment → submission → approval → passport issuance. See complete process.
Indicative time: [To be confirmed]
Costs: Investment, transfer taxes, evaluation, legal and translation fees.
Taxation: Turkish tax regime applicable to residents or non-residents, as the case may be; individualized tax advice is recommended.
Renovação: Passport issued with its own validity, renewable.
Permanent residency: Not applicable.
Possibility of citizenship: Not applicable.
Main risks: Real estate market risk; legislative changes; obligation to maintain the investment for a minimum period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. Residency by investment can, in many programs, pave the way for naturalization after a legal period of stay, but it does not automatically guarantee nationality — it depends on meeting the requirements applicable in each country.
In citizenship by investment programs, nationality is obtained after formal approval of the application, through the defined contribution or investment, passing due diligence, and fulfilling all legal requirements — it is not an automatic grant from the time of submission.
In general, citizenship by investment programs do not require effective residency. In residency programs, there are generally minimum stay requirements, which vary by country.
It depends on the legislation of your country of origin regarding dual nationality. Most countries that offer citizenship by investment programs allow dual or multiple nationality, but it is recommended to verify with the authorities of your country of origin.