Buying Citizenship - Is It Worth It?

What You Actually Get

Buying Citizenship - Is It Worth It?

How to Obtain Citizenship by Investment

1. 1. Decide whether citizenship is the required result

   Start with the legal outcome. The U.S. EB-5 programme provides a route to lawful permanent residence, not direct citizenship; qualifying investors must plan to create or preserve 10 permanent full-time jobs. (7) Check: (1) whether the programme grants citizenship or residence, (2) which relatives qualify, and (3) whether the status creates a later naturalisation route.

2. 2. Compare qualifying routes and total commitments

   Set the funding range. Dominica starts at US$200,000, Antigua and Barbuda at US$230,000, Grenada at US$235,000, and St. Kitts and Nevis at US$250,000 through their listed contribution routes. (1) (2) (3) (4) Property or investment alternatives include US$300,000 in Antigua and Barbuda, US$270,000 plus a US$50,000 government contribution in Grenada, US$325,000 in St. Kitts and Nevis, and US$400,000 in Türkiye. (2) (3) (4) (5) Check separately: (1) the qualifying investment, (2) government contributions, and (3) due-diligence, processing, and other fees.

3. 3. Confirm that the programme is still legally available

   Rules can change. The EU court ruled on 29 April 2025 that Malta’s investor-citizenship scheme violated EU law. (12) St. Kitts and Nevis also announced in December 2025 that its programme would begin transitioning during 2026 away from passive contributions towards residence, productive investment, economic activity, or other national engagement. (11) Before transferring funds, verify: (1) the current statute, (2) the approved route, and (3) the published minimum on the responsible government authority’s materials.

4. 4. Choose a compliant investment structure

   Avoid discounted arrangements. Grenada denied six applications in the second half of 2024 and at least two more in early 2025 because prohibited owner financing and discounting reduced investments below statutory minimums. (10) Confirm in writing: (1) the full amount reaching the approved route, (2) whether financing is permitted, and (3) whether the property or project has government approval.

5. 5. Submit complete and accurate information

   Disclosure must be complete. Antigua and Barbuda permits deprivation of citizenship obtained through fraud, false representation, or wilful concealment of material facts. (2) The application file should therefore match the applicant’s identity, family position, funding route, and declared facts; Dominica also charges separate due-diligence and processing fees. (1) No processing period appears in the supplied programme facts, so the current timetable should be obtained directly from the responsible authority before committing funds.

6. 6. Observe holding and presence conditions

   Approval is not the final task. Antigua and Barbuda requires approved real estate to be held for at least five years, while an investment citizen must spend at least five days there during the first five calendar years or risk deprivation without repayment. (2) Türkiye applies a three-year resale restriction to qualifying property, and its listed financial investments must be maintained for three years. (5) Track: (1) holding deadlines, (2) physical-presence requirements, and (3) evidence of continued compliance.

7. 7. Verify the result and continuing obligations

   Check the status independently. Confirm that citizenship has been formally granted, the investment remains compliant, and every post-approval condition is recorded. A second passport does not end U.S. worldwide-income filing obligations for U.S. citizens, while dual nationals may face conflicting duties and restricted U.S. consular protection in their other country of nationality. (8) (9) Review: (1) tax residence and reporting, (2) dual-nationality restrictions, and (3) revocation conditions before using the new status.

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