Citizenship in another country can give you a more powerful passport, one that will let you see more of the world visa-free or on an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a visa on arrival. One of the simplest ways to become a citizen of another country is through a citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program.
Citizens International is an authorized agent for some of the world’s most popular citizenship by investment programs. We have helped thousands of applicants successfully obtain a second passport through CBI, so we’ve decided to answer the question: Which are the top countries to get citizenship and a second passport?
Takeaways
- Citizenship by investment is one of the best options to get a second passport. It’s easier than naturalization, marriage, and other acquired citizenship pathways.
- The Caribbean has the top passports to get because of the region’s cost-effective citizenship-by-investment programs.
- Citizenship through real estate investment is more practical than government donations.
- Antigua and Barbuda is one of the best and top countries to get citizenship and a second passport.
Table of Contents
- Which Are the Best Countries for Fast-Track Citizenship?
- What are the cheapest countries for citizenship by investment?
- FAQs
- Which Country Gives Citizenship Easily?
What Are Citizenship-by-Investment Countries?
Citizenship-by-investment countries grant citizenship to individuals who contribute the minimum required amount to the government or make the minimum economic investment. In other words, CBI countries offer an investment-linked pathway to citizenship.
Why would you want to become a citizen of another country? Citizenship offers these benefits:
- Live, work, study, or start a business in your second country. No residency and activity (e.g., work, study) permits needed.
- Travel to your second home country whenever you want. No visa approvals required.
- If you have a weak passport now, your second passport will grant you visa-free or an eTA or a visa-on-arrival entry into more countries than your current passport.
Essentially, citizenship by investment in a country gives you all the rights, liberties, and responsibilities that citizens by birthright, by blood, and naturalization have in that country.
Caribbean countries are considered to be top-citizenship countries. The top citizenships to get and worth considering first would be in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia. St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship is particularly accessible, as these are Caribbean countries with easy citizenship-by-investment programs.
In other parts of the world, the following countries also offer a citizenship-by-investment option:
- Austria
- Turkey
- North Macedonia
- Nauru
- Egypt
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Jordan
Which Are the Best Countries for Fast-Track Citizenship?
A Caribbean country with a CBI program would be a top country to immigrate to. For instance, the Grenada citizenship-by-investment program’s well-established procedures and guidelines mean a seamless CBI application process and, for those who qualify, fast-track citizenship.
The following Caribbean countries have fast-track CBI programs, making them easy countries to get citizenship in:
- Antigua and Barbuda: Six to twelve months
- Dominica: Six to twelve months
- Grenada: Three to six months
- St. Kitts and Nevis: Three to six months
- St. Lucia: Ten to twelve months
As you can see above, the standard CBI program application processing window in the Caribbean is about six months.
Half a year is a short turnaround time, considering naturalization usually takes at least two years. The above Caribbean countries, indeed, represent some of the fastest and top passports to get.
What are the cheapest countries for citizenship by investment?
Aside from the short processing timelines, the low investment thresholds make Caribbean countries some of the top places to get citizenship. All have a government donation pathway that requires a monetary contribution of $200,000 to $250,000.
Caribbean countries also offer the cost-effective real estate investment CBI pathway. The real estate investment option has a slightly higher minimum requirement than a straightforward government donation, but it offers better returns.
Buying real estate gets you not only a second passport but also equity. The property you bought or the shares in a real estate development you invested in can earn you rental income or dividends. You can also resell your property later for capital gains.
Below are the real estate investment thresholds in Caribbean CBI programs:
- Antigua and Barbuda: $300,000
- Dominica: $200,000
- Grenada: $270,000
- St. Kitts and Nevis: $325,000
- St. Lucia: $300,000
From a financial standpoint, the top passport to get among these affordable Caribbean options is Dominica’s. Its CBI program requires only $200,000 in government donation or Dominica real estate investment.
That said, Antigua and Barbuda citizenship is the best choice if you’re opting for the real estate investment route. While it does have a higher entry cost ($300,000 compared to Dominica’s $200,000 or Grenada’s $270,000), Antigua and Barbuda has a distinct tourism focus and, consequently, a highly developed real estate market.
This means terrific projected rental yields and capital gains. Moreover, compared to other established real estate markets, Antigua and Barbuda enjoys the same level of Caribbean affordability as the other Caribbean islands, thus offering excellent value to property investors. You can buy a luxury villa in Antigua and Barbuda for a fraction of what it will cost you in the United States.
FAQs
1. How long does it take to get citizenship in Caribbean countries?
It takes an average of six months to get a citizenship by investment in Caribbean countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Kitts and Nevis. The timeframe is ever changing but slightly faster in Grenada and St. Kitts at the moment.
2. Which passports offer visa-free travel after fast citizenship?
All Caribbean countries with a CBI program offer visa-free/visa-on-arrival travel to many global destinations after fast citizenship: 149 countries for St. Kitts and Nevis, 144 countries for Antigua and Barbuda, 141 countries for Grenada, 140 countries for St. Lucia, and 137 countries for Dominica.
3. What’s the difference between residency and citizenship?
Residency, or residence visa, gives you the right to live and stay in a country, but not to work or start a business there. Citizenship gives you the right to live, work, study, and even start a business. It also entitles you to the country’s services, including its education and healthcare benefits.
Which Country Gives Citizenship Easily?
Countries with a citizenship-by-investment program are some of the top countries to immigrate to. Caribbean countries, in particular, are the top countries to get citizenship and a second passport because of their low investment thresholds, short processing times, and the availability of a value-for-money and higher-ROI real estate investment route.
Citizens International is an authorized agent of citizenship by investment programs in the Caribbean. Apply for a second passport in a Caribbean country now.
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