Citizenship By Investment? Here's How Much You Need to 'Buy' Citizenship in These Countries

Planning to migrate permanently? Citizenship-by-investment is a growing option for families seeking new countries to settle down in. Because of the steep price this type of migration requires, it’s not the most popular form of gaining citizenship, but it’s still a viable option for those with the means and the money.

What exactly is citizenship-by-investment?

It’s important to note that there’s citizenship-by-investment programs and residence-by-investment programs. The former is a clear-cut path toward citizenship, while the latter requires a five-to-10-year residency stage before starting another application to gain citizenship. Almost every country has a form of residence-by-investment program, but citizenship isn’t always guaranteed in these cases. For the sake of this article, we’ll be focusing on citizenship-by-investment programs.

So why exactly do people pursue this option? Mostly, it’s to live in a country with financial and political stability, start a new business, secure more visa-free travel options, and provide better education and opportunities for your family. It’s also the fastest way to gain citizenship (without having to marry someone, that is). In short, people opt for citizenship-by-investment programs to improve their quality of life in other countries.

While it might seem like you’re “buying” citizenship, it’s a little more complicated than that. The steep investment fee is not intended to just purchase a passport--it’s directed toward qualifying real estate, contribution to government funds, investing in local businesses, and creating new jobs by setting up a new business. By contributing significantly to a country’s economy, you can receive citizenship in return.

Now on to the fun part:

What countries offer citizenship-by-investment?

And what, or how much, is required? It depends per country, and based on the top global agencies that facilitate this type of migration (Henley & Partners, La Vida, and Sable International), here are the quick facts and requirements per country:

Austria

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Minimum investment: P178 million (€3 million)
Processing time: Two to three years
Henley passport ranking: 5th in the world
Visa-free or visa on arrival access to: 189 countries and territories 

Antigua and Barbuda

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Minimum investment: P5.03 million ($100,000)
Processing time: Three to four months
Henley passport ranking: 29th in the world
Visa-free or visa on arrival access to: 151 countries and territories

Dominica

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Minimum investment: P5.03 million ($100,000)
Processing time: Three months
Henley passport ranking: 34th in the world
Visa-free or visa on arrival access to: 143 countries and territories

Grenada

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Minimum investment: P7.54 million ($150,000)
Processing time: Three to four months
Henley Passport ranking: 33rd in the world
Visa-free or visa on arrival access to: 144 countries and territories

Malta

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Minimum investment: P43.8 million (€738,000)
Processing time: 14 to 38 months
Henley Passport ranking: 8th in the world
Visa-free or visa on arrival access to: 186 countries and territories

Montenegro

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Minimum investment: P20.77 million (€350,000)
Processing time: Three months
Henley Passport ranking: 47th in the world
Visa-free or visa on arrival access to: 124 countries and territories 

St. Kitts and Nevis

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Minimum investment: P7.54 million ($150,000)
Processing time: Three to six months
Henley Passport ranking: 24th in the world
Visa-free or visa on arrival access to: 157 countries and territories 

St. Lucia

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Minimum investment: P5.03 million ($100,000)
Processing time: Three to four months
Henley Passport ranking: 31st in the world
Visa-free or visa on arrival access to: 146 countries and territories 

Turkey

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Minimum investment: P12.57 million ($250,000)
Processing time: Six to nine months
Henley Passport ranking: 56th in the world
Visa-free or visa on arrival access to: 111 countries and territories