Citizenship by investments is becoming popular for a number of reasons, some being, to mitigate tax, or for a better quality of life. I want to go over some of the top citizenship programs (in my opinion) that are open in 2023. These will include the best budget, best E.U., and best quality of life.
Although, there are other ways to obtain citizenship through residency and then neutralisation but this will just focus purely on citizenship by investment programs.
If you have any questions, please email me at info@investmentsforexpats.com
Best Overall
Antigua and Barbuda
- Cost – $100,000
- Time frame – 3-4 months
- Free movement – Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, the UK, and Europe’s Schengen Area, among others
- Reasons why to get the passport – Low cost, tax friends, quick time frame.
- A $100,000 payment to the Antigua National Development Fund or a $400,000 investment in a real estate project that has received official approval are the only two affordable ways to become a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda.
Value E.U
Montenegro
- Cost- Minimum financial requirement of EUR 450,000 (investment of EUR 250,000 and a donation of EUR 200,000 to the country)
- Time Frame- Approx eight-ten months
- Free movement- Europe’s Schengen Area, Russia, and Türkiye, among others
- Reasons why to get the passport- E.U. passport, low tax.
Montenegro is a hidden gem in the E.U. and in our option one of the best E.U passports to get for the money.
According to the 2022 Global Citizenship Program Index, Montenegro is ranked third, and it will take successful candidates between eight and 10 months to become citizens.
A contribution of EUR 200,000 to the Montenegrin government, of which half will be used to advance regionally underdeveloped self-government units, and the other half will go to the country’s Innovation Fund.
Additionally, a property investment must be made in a development project that has been given the go-ahead. Popular regions can be up to 450,000 EUR while other non-popular areas maybe 250,000 EUR.
You can obtain citizenship of a nation that is an official EU candidate, has a multi-national, multilingual community, a mild, Mediterranean climate, stunning scenery, and a low cost of living by taking part in the Montenegro Citizenship by Investment Program.
This program also gives you access to real estate. Additionally, Montenegrin passport holders are eligible for visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 123 countries, including Turkey and the Schengen Area of Europe.
Best for those that aren’t concerned about the price
Austria
- Cost- Upwards of 750,000 Eur
- Time frame- 24-36 months
- Key movement- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 189 destinations including Canada, Hong Kong, the rest of the EU, and Europe’s Schengen Area
- Reasons to obtain the passport- High quality of life
The Austria Citizenship by Investment rules, which are ranked 2nd Index, call on applicants to make a significant economic contribution to Austria, such as through a joint venture or a corporate investment.
Government permission is necessary for citizenship to be conferred based on a capital donation at several levels, finally including at the highest level (cabinet).
Typically, the application procedure takes 24 to 36 months. Every candidate must submit an extensive curriculum vitae, a certificate of no criminal record, background business information, and flawless references in addition to having a spotless personal history.
Dependents are required to speak a certain language. There are no residency restrictions, and after participating in a citizenship ceremony in front of a senior government official, applicants and any dependents become citizens of Austria.
Conclusion
There are some really great residency programs out there that you can access through investments, whether that be cash or real estate. These can help you access a better lifestyle, tax favourable situations, more sunshine, or anything else you might be looking for!
This is not financial advice, if you would like to discuss what might be right for your situation, please contact me, you can do so at info@investmentsforexpats.com. Some other articles that you might like to read are:
