David Bonellie
Last updated: November 3, 2023
Have you ever considered getting a second passport? Whether you are a high net-worth individual, an array of options is available to get a valid passport and become a dual citizen. A second passport immediately increases your global mobility by enabling you to live in a foreign country, and your potential to improve your life increases dramatically.
In a world increasingly tightening its doors for multiple reasons, there is no better time than now to investigate your options to get a new passport.
It might be an option to obtain multiple passports and build a diversified passport portfolio to reduce possible restrictions on you and your family and enjoy the benefits of dual nationality.
Global Residence Index is a solutions-based investment migration company. We have a unique and purpose-built strategy for each of our clients. The services ensure you can reap all the benefits offered by having more than one passport.
The modern passport, as we know it today, was first introduced by the British government in the late 19th century as the empire grew significantly across the world.
The passport was standardized and issued to all British subjects to establish their identity and nationality when traveling abroad. Other countries soon adopted the practice, becoming a widely recognized form of personal identification for international travel, especially during and after WWI.
In 1920, the League of Nations convened a conference regarding passports and through-train travel. The interest in standardizing passports continued at two more League conferences in 1926 and 1927. The meeting established guidelines on passports’ design and features.
As modern times brought the mass movement of people, passports have become an essential commodity. Some passports allow persons access to certain countries, while others are forbidden. Passports are necessary today for several reasons:
Passports serve as a form of identification, help control borders, and facilitate international travel and commerce, making them an essential tool in today’s interconnected world. The restrictions placed on certain citizenships and passports are a primary reason for someone to obtain passports from different countries.
Like many things, passport strength and nationalities look to work in cycles. Yesterday’s top citizenships and passports might be somewhere other than the top tomorrow. Even “Tier A” citizenship and passport holders, like EU passport holders, are increasingly looking for citizenship and residency options and applying for second passports. Most people have only one passport as they don’t have the means to move abroad and live in one of the popular second passport countries.
You can get dual citizenship and a second passport in several ways. The most common ways to obtain a second passport:
Citizenship by birth, also known as jus soli, is a principle that grants citizenship to individuals born within the territorial jurisdiction of a country, regardless of the nationality of their parents. Jus Soli is the easiest way to get a second valid passport if the government follows jus soli.
Many countries, including the United States, Canada, and most countries in the Americas, recognize this principle. A child immediately receives citizenship and is classified as a citizen unless they formally renounce it at a later stage.
In contrast, there is another principle of citizenship known as jus sanguinis, which grants citizenship based on bloodline or ancestry. Under this principle, a person can acquire dual citizenship through their parents, even if born outside of the country.
Jus sanguinis is a principle of citizenship that grants dual citizenship based in a foreign country on bloodline or ancestry. The principle is commonly known as citizenship by descent.
Under this principle, a person can acquire citizenship and a valid US passport, for instance, through their parents, even if born outside of the country, to be granted a second passport.
Jus Sanguinis is a standard route to getting a second passport if the child’s parents are of different nationalities. If a person’s parents are citizens of a particular country, they are also citizens of that country, regardless of where they were born.
It is important to note that some countries recognize jus soli and jus sanguinis. In contrast, others may have restrictions or qualifications for acquiring citizenship through descent, requiring that at least one parent has lived in the country for a specific time.
British nationality law only allows for citizenship by descent for one generation. After that, a parent must have lived in the United Kingdom for at least three years before their child is born, or the child needs to be born in the UK to “reset” the generational bloodline for citizenship.
Citizenship by marriage is a type of citizenship acquired through marriage to a citizen of a particular country.
The requirements and eligibility criteria for acquiring a second valid passport and dual citizenship through marriage vary from country to country and can include conditions such as a certain residency period, passing a language and civic test, and possibly renouncing any prior citizenship.
In Europe, there are a few countries with notable citizenship-by-marriage laws:
It’s worth noting that the passport application process in these countries can be painstakingly long, which is why it’s best to work with a passport agency that can help you prove family ties and help you obtain the necessary supporting documents.
Citizenship by investment allows individuals to obtain citizenship and get a second passport in exchange for a significant financial investment into the country.
The investments can be through real estate purchases, business investments, or government-approved funds.
The eligibility criteria and requirements for citizenship by investment programs vary from country to country and can include conditions such as a valid first passport, minimum investment amount, background checks, and health screenings.
It is important to note that citizenship by investment programs, also called economic citizenship, are often controversial and may raise questions about fairness and equality in citizenship laws.
The feasibility, cost, and benefits of these programs can also change over time and may vary based on the specific circumstances of each case.
Citizenship by investment has made it possible to get a second passport from different countries relatively quickly.
This route to a valid US passport and becoming an American citizen, as well as helping our clients get a second passport from other countries that offer citizenship through investment programs, is the top priority for the Global Residence Index.
We help clients who need help to obtain a second passport from the above-listed pathways to dual citizenship and start a life in a second country.
In the next section, we will delve into the specifics of some of the most popular programs to get a second passport. There are five programs in the Caribbean, one in the South Pacific, and two in Continental Europe. However, Montenegro’s program is currently closed.
A Golden Visa is a type of residency permit that grants the holder with sufficient financial freedom the right to live and work in a specific country, often for a specified period.
The Golden Visa comes after an exchange for a significant investment in real estate, government bonds, or other assets in the host country. A Golden Visa program aims to attract foreign investment, create jobs, and boost the local economy.
They are duly “Golden” because they often offer a fast-track solution to residence or permanent residence and may offer the ability to be naturalized by “exception” under the country’s nationality laws. The residence process from a Golden Visa is different from citizenship by investment.
For these reasons, the programs are marketed as “Golden” and are a valuable opportunity for an investor with the economic freedom to live abroad to access different passports and often eliminate the need to apply for multiple visas.
The specific conditions and requirements vary by country, and we’ll showcase the most popular below.
The final option to become a dual citizen and obtain a second passport is through naturalization. The process by which a foreign national can obtain EU citizenship or citizenship in any other country depends on the country’s immigration laws.
Inventors will need to follow the usual process to become a citizen if they have obtained residence through an investment program that does allow for fast-track naturalization or reduced physical presence.
The requirements and procedures for naturalization vary from country to country but generally include the following steps:
Naturalization is often more complex than it seems on paper. The theory of applying on paper differs from the reality of getting your second passport.
“Applying” versus “approved” are very different—the time delays in South America, where bureaucracy becomes a bottleneck for citizenship applications.
The fastest countries that allow residents to apply for citizenship by naturalization include:
Although there are over twenty citizenship and Golden Visa programs, a specific few can be ranked higher than others based on the criteria mentioned in the immediate benefits section of having a second passport.
Just a few of the benefits of obtaining a second passport from these programs include:
There are many potential scams that encourage applicants to fill out a form online and promise they don’t have to deal with the country’s government.
At Global Residence Index, we will only recommend citizenship by investment and Golden Visa programs officially endorsed by the country’s government and help you deal with the country’s passport service. We follow a strict process vetted by the governments hosting citizenship and Golden Visa programs.
Some of the key warning signs are similar to most other scams out there. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Typically this revolves around being incredibly cheap, fast, and easy. Legitimate programs cost at least $100,000.
The process can be relatively short, but expect three to six months. Citizenship by investment involves a stringent due diligence process (not exactly complicated, but background checks are in place).
Potential “offers” out there can include some of the following:
We recommend some due diligence into programs that you may encounter online to ensure that they are legitimate and you do not go down the road of potentially losing your investment.
Additionally, we only work with government-approved developers for any real estate options available to investors looking to obtain their second passports.
These developers will have a track record of delivering high-quality property that produces actual yield for its investors and can appreciate over time. Getting a second passport by investment should be seen as a real investment to our clients.
Several Caribbean countries offer a way to get a second citizenship or so-called economic citizenship, available to US citizens and all other applicants who meet the criteria.
The oldest is Saint Kitts and Nevis, introduced in 1984, and the newest, Saint Lucia, officially launched in 2015. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Grenada are the other popular destinations for a US citizen or anyone else searching for a quick way to get a second passport.
The Caribbean attracts thousands of applicants yearly as their passports have excellent visa-free access to the United Kingdom and Europe’s Schengen area.
The costs range from $100,000 to $150,000 for a single applicant using the government donation routes, while investors can purchase real estate from $200,000 and hold for three to seven years before selling. There are additional government fees for investing in real estate.
Fees can range from $10,000 to $75,000 depending on the applicant and their dependents.
You can obtain a second passport within six months using any Caribbean program. Some programs have a fast-track option that can give investors their citizenship and second passport within forty-five to sixty days.
The islands are mostly tax efficient and have strong offshore banking infrastructure and other financial services such as the Nevis Trust.
The Nevis Trust is an advantageous mechanism for protecting generational wealth and has powerful privacy protections and laws for the Trust.
The Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment program is the only legitimate program in the South Pacific. The program first launched in 2012 but has undergone a few iterations as the island nation tries to improve its transparency and investment options to applicants.
Currently, the passport needs visa-free access to the European Union’s Schengen area. The EU council suspended their visa waiver agreement in 2022 with Vanuatu over due diligence concerns. However, the two governments are actively working together to improve processes and look to reestablish visa-free access in the future.
Malta offers its applicants a fast-track naturalization program for exceptional investors.
There is a minimum government contribution of between €600,000 and €750,000 and a real estate investment requirement of €350,000. Investors can also obtain a five-year rental agreement for €16,000 per annum. The final financial condition is a €10,000 donation.
After completing thorough due diligence, arguably the best in the industry, an applicant can apply for naturalization after holding a residence permit for twelve months (if contributing €750,000). Investors can expect to receive citizenship and apply for a second passport within sixteen months.
Malta is a member of the European Union, allowing citizens to live, work, and study in any other EU country. The program is the best in the world because of the short time it takes to obtain European citizenship.
Turkey is partially in the continent of Europe and has its citizenship by investment program. The Turkish government made amendments to the program in 2022.
After initially setting the minimum investment at $1m, the Turkish government reduced it to $250,000 in 2019 to make their program more attractive. And it worked, with tens of thousands of applicants receiving their second passports.
The government then issued a decision in April 2022 to raise the minimum real estate investment value to $400,000, which has had little impact on the number of applicants.
Turkish citizenship is a prevalent option for a second passport for gaining visa-free access to Central and South East Asia. The regional stronghold is the central point for where East meets West, making Istbanul a fast-growing business opportunity for investors.
Montenegro’s citizenship by investment program is currently no longer available. The program ran from 2019 to the end of 2022.
As a candidate EU member state, there was pressure from the European council to cancel the program to remain on track to become a full EU member by 2025 to 2027.
That did not stop Montenegrin Finance Minister Aleksandar Damjanovic from wanting the economic citizenship program to continue, despite European Union pressure to terminate the program by the end of 2022.
The Golden Visa is a route to obtain a residence permit by investing in a country. The top European Golden Visas include Portugal, Greece, and Spain, each with its unique investment option and criteria around residency.
Portugal’s Golden Visa was the first globally marketed program, starting in 2012. The program has received over 12,000 applications, with many Golden Visa holders receiving citizenship and their second passports. The most popular investment option is investing in real estate.
Certain areas in Portugal restrict the type of property suitable for the Golden Visa. Pricing for real estate starts at €280,000 and goes up to €500,000. The other favorite investment is into a Portuguese investment fund, which begins at €500,000.
Portugal is the only Golden Visa with an excellent route to citizenship to allow investors to get a passport from a second country.
There is a thirty-five-day physical presence requirement over five years to be eligible for citizenship, which makes the program ideal for entrepreneurs whose businesses rely on international travel.
In theory, an investor must travel to Portugal at least three times throughout their five-year investment period. After this, they can apply for permanent residency and citizenship to obtain a second passport.
Greece’s Golden Visa program is the best solution for someone seeking long-term residence in Europe. After setting up a bank account and completing the necessary investment, applicants will be issued a five-year residence permit with no physical presence requirement during that time.
The investment starts at €250,000 for real estate. However, around thirty municipalities have a minimum investment of €500,000. These include major metropolitan areas such as Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini.
The route to citizenship and a second passport are incredibly difficult for Greece. You would need to live in Greece for at least six months per year for seven years.
Other criteria are learning Greek, having good history knowledge, and being actively involved in Hellenic society.
Spain’s Golden Visa program allows an investor to invest in a commercial or residential property in any government-approved real estate project starting at €500,000.
The applicant must remain the property owner to qualify for a Spanish residency permit renewal. The initial residence permit is issued for two years but then extended to a five-year renewable residence without physically needing to reside in Spain.
The route to Spanish citizenship by naturalization is long for most nationalities. You must spend at least ten years in Spain and be physically present for most of each year. Additionally, you need to renounce your existing citizenship to obtain a second passport in Spain.
There is a caveat, however, for Spain and its pathway to citizenship. Certain nationalities can claim Spanish citizenship after two years of residence.
If the individual is a natural-born citizen of a country of Ibero-America (including Puerto Rico), Portugal, Andorra, the Philippines, and Equatorial Guinea. The option is relevant for Non-EU citizens from these countries as they are eligible to apply for the Golden Visa.
All of the Golden Visa programs are useful to travel throughout the rest of Europe on your ID card. You do not need to get a Schengen visa. Timing and approvals vary between countries.
Portugal’s Golden Visa is a bit of a slow grind and takes between six to nine months. Spain and Greece have a smooth application process, taking only three months for approval.
Having Caribbean citizenship can increase your visa-free travel options. Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Dominica all provide visa-free access to over 140 countries. With Caribbean citizenship, you can travel to more countries without applying for a visa in advance and lead a tax optimized life.
Each Caribbean passport holder will have visa-free access to the United Kingdom and the European Union. Individually, each Caribbean nationality passport holder will enjoy visa-free travel to many different countries.
Turkey’s citizenship can be used strategically in an investor’s passport portfolio and not strictly as a second passport. The Turkish passport has visa-free access to most of Africa, South America, and Central and South East Asia, while the country’s proximity to the Middle East makes it an excellent destination for investors interested in exploring business opportunities in this region.
Malta, Portugal, Spain, and Greece are Tier A citizenships with powerful second passports. These nations have visa-free access to other Tier A passport countries such as:
Notable visa-free exceptions for the top Tier A European citizenships are China and Russia, which Dominica and Grenada both have.
Caribbean citizenship is not only worthwhile for its visa-free access. Applicants from certain countries struggle to receive tourist visas based on nationality.
A second passport can be helpful even if the country does not have a visa-waiver agreement. A different passport can improve your approval for tourist visas globally. These include visa applications to the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, to name but a few.
The US B1/B2 tourist visa is a popular option for investors of a Caribbean passport to use to travel in the US for ten years. Turkey has a high approval rate for long-term visitor visas in the US and UK.
Turkey, Grenada, Montenegro, and now Portugal (as of 2023) are treaty nation countries with the US. Citizens of these countries may be eligible to apply for the US E-2 investor residence.
The latest rule changes in the US need you to have been domiciled in the country of citizenship for three years before being able to apply.
A second passport can open up improved business opportunities for individuals and corporations. With multiple passports, individuals and companies can access new markets and economies, leading to increased trade and investment.
Additionally, having multiple passports provides greater flexibility in terms of travel and mobility, allowing individuals and companies to conduct business in multiple countries more easily.
Furthermore, second passports from different countries can also provide access to favorable tax and investment regimes, which can help optimize financial returns and minimize costs.
In some countries, holding a second passport can give additional protection for business assets and interests, providing a valuable safety net in uncertain times.
Strategically building a passport portfolio and having multiple passports from Europe, Africa, Asia (Turkey), and the Caribbean can be a valuable tool for expanding business operations, optimizing financial returns, and mitigating risk, making it a smart choice for any savvy business person or corporation.
Very quickly, your business network grows to regions such as CARICOM, the European Union, and Commonwealth nations; for instance, Turkey has Free Trade Agreements with over twenty countries spanning Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America.
A second passport should not only be a document for international travel. It can be a valuable tool for effective wealth planning and protection, providing greater flexibility, security, and access to investment opportunities. Multiple citizenships and second passports can significantly improve generational wealth planning and protection.
With multiple citizenships, individuals can access a broader range of investment opportunities and tax regimes, allowing for more effective wealth management and growth. Multiple citizenships can hedge against political and economic instability.
A second passport enables the transfer of assets and wealth to a more secure jurisdiction if necessary. Legal finance mechanisms can be essential for families looking to protect their wealth over multiple generations. Citizenship by investment programs provides a fast track to access new tax and investment regimes.
There are specific investment funds that restrict nationalities. By having a new citizenship and a second passport from a different country, these new investment vehicles can be accessible. Offshore funds can be particularly useful for individuals looking to diversify their financial portfolios and minimize their exposure to risks.
With your second passport, you can access and benefit from increased educational opportunities. You can attend prestigious schools at local rates as a citizen and being eligible for scholarships only available to citizens.
The Caribbean University Fund citizenship by investment program in Antigua and Barbuda allows one dependent to attend the University of the West Indies for free in their first year of education.
St. George’s Medical University in Grenada is world-renowned for its high standard of medical students. The Caribbean medical university is one of the top feeder schools in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the US.
As a Caribbean citizen, there are local scholarships available to apply for, as well as attending the university at local rates versus international student fees.
European citizenship allows citizens to access other EU member countries’ education institutions as local citizens. Being a local European citizen can save an investor hundreds of thousands of dollars compared to university fees at Colleges in the US.
Building a portfolio of passports from different countries is more popular than one might think. The citizenship by investment and Golden Visa industry help investors to grow their investment portfolio. Purchasing real estate in multiple countries is a popular option.
Reducing risk and developing a real estate portfolio globally can have additional benefits of gaining a second passport or multiple passports.
Building a passport portfolio can be a complex process. The following steps can help guide you in effectively building your portfolio:
Building a passport portfolio requires careful planning and research. With the right approach, it can be a valuable tool for expanding your options, enhancing your security, and optimizing your wealth.
You can use our economic citizenship comparison tool to compare programs here. We work with you to determine which second passport is best for you. Our experts must ask you several critical questions during the consultation and other engagements.
We can devise a citizenship and passport strategy by developing an informed and holistic viewpoint from the information you provide. We want to build a long-term relationship with you if you have a strategy to obtain multiple citizenships over several years.
If you are interested in any of the programs, why don’t you sign up for our free consultation?
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As a trusted golden visa & citizenship by investment agent, our team is equipped to assess the ideal options for your unique situation, facilitate your application process, and keep you in compliance every step of the way. Our personalized investment migration consulting is your one-stop shop for obtaining a second citizenship or new residency. Fill out our contact form to get started with a complimentary consultation today.
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