Residency- and citizenship-by-investment

What is the difference between citizenship-by-investment and residency-by-investment?

Contrary to popular belief, residency of a country can often offer everything you want: the right to live, work, study and retire in that jurisdiction and sometimes even a travel document that provides enhanced global mobility, for example within the European Union.

The key difference is that full citizenship provides a passport that allows you additional freedom of movement and comes with privileges within the country, such as the right to vote and access to social benefits.

Citizenship can also be passed down to future generations, whereas with a residency-by-investment programme, you’d have to include family members on your application.

However, it’s worth noting that residency-by-investment programmes often provide a pathway to citizenship through naturalisation should you choose to relocate to the country.

Do I have to relocate to the country if I obtain residency-by-investment?

This will depend on the programme. Some programmes, such as the United States EB-5, do require you to relocate. These are known as immigrant visas. Others, like the Greece and Portugal Golden Visas, can be engaged in from anywhere in the world, making them great “Plan B” options if you have a life and lifestyle you’re not in a hurry to uproot.

Every programme has its own minimum stay requirement, which is why it’s essential to get trusted advice on the right programme for your specific circumstances and goals.

How much does residency- or citizenship-by-investment cost?

As these programmes are largely offered by governments to encourage international investment and stimulate the local economy, they generally require a large capital outlay. The most affordable programmes, such as the Caribbean citizenship-by-Investment programmes, start from approx. US $270,000.

Some programmes have additional requirements, such as a minimum net wealth in order to qualify. It’s also worth noting that while some programmes require that the funds remain invested (or ask for a government donation), there are programmes that offer a possible return on investment or other benefits that offset the initial cost.

Can I include my family on my residency- or citizenship-by-investment application?

Yes, all the programmes we assist with allow you to include your family. It is important to note that each country has different limits and requirements that may suit some family structures better than others.

While you will usually be able to include your spouse and children, you may need to apply before your children reach a certain age and you may have to prove that they remain dependent on you (this differs from one jurisdiction to the next but some countries, for example, require adult children to be enrolled in full-time education). Some programmes also allow you to include parents, unmarried siblings and even your spouse’s parents, provided they meet certain requirements.

The cost of an application may also vary depending on how many family members you plan to include.

How long does the residency- or citizenship-by-investment process take?

Once again, it will depend on the programme. Some may take as little as six months while others may take six years to become a citizen. An important factor to consider when looking at programme timelines is that document processing can often add additional time to the process. Government policies, application complexity and demand will all have an impact on your actual timeline.

Your Sable International investment migration adviser will be able to give you an idea of how long each programme is currently taking in reality, versus what might be stated online.

What residency and citizenship-by-investment programmes do you assist with?

We currently assist with the Portugal Golden Visa, Greece Golden Visa, Malta Permanent Residence Programme, Mauritius Residency-by-Investment programme, US EB-5 Investor Visa, Grenada Citizenship-by-Investment and Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship-by-Investment programmes. We are constantly on the lookout for the best programmes that offer the best value for our clients.

Programmes we have assisted with in the past, which are no longer available, include the UK Tier 1 Investor Visa, Irish Immigrant Investor Programme, the Malta Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment, and the hugely successful Montenegro Citizenship-by-Investment programme.