Citizenship by Investment is a government-established legal framework through which qualifying foreign nationals may acquire citizenship by making an approved economic contribution or investment.

Applicants must satisfy the relevant nationality law, programme requirements, background checks and source-of-funds verification procedures.

Depending on the jurisdiction, the qualifying investment may involve a government fund contribution, approved real estate investment or another recognised economic arrangement.

A qualifying investment does not guarantee citizenship. Approval remains at the discretion of the relevant government authorities.

Citizenship by Investment programmes provide a potential direct pathway to citizenship under the laws of the relevant country, subject to eligibility, investment and government approval requirements.

Residency by Investment programmes generally grant qualifying applicants a residence permit or similar immigration status.

Some residency programmes may eventually provide a pathway to permanent residence or citizenship through naturalisation. However, these generally involve separate legal requirements, which may include qualifying residence periods, language proficiency or other conditions.

Residency rights and citizenship rights should therefore be evaluated separately.

Several countries operate government-established Citizenship by Investment programmes, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.

Qualifying investments, eligibility requirements, family provisions and programme conditions vary between jurisdictions.

Other countries may provide investment-related citizenship or residence pathways under different legal frameworks.

Programme availability should be verified at the time of assessment, particularly where legislation or international regulatory requirements have changed.

The financial commitment depends on the chosen country, qualifying investment route and family circumstances.

For example, published government fund contributions in selected Caribbean programmes begin at approximately USD 200,000, with higher thresholds applying in other jurisdictions or for particular applicant groups.

The total cost may also include government processing fees, due diligence charges, professional fees, document preparation and additional amounts for dependants.

Real estate or business investment routes may involve higher capital commitments, holding periods and transaction expenses.

The minimum qualifying investment should not be treated as the complete cost of obtaining citizenship.

Certain Citizenship by Investment programmes offer qualifying real estate investment routes.

These generally require investment in government-approved properties or developments, subject to minimum investment thresholds and specified holding conditions.

Not every property qualifies, and property ownership alone does not establish citizenship eligibility.

Applicants should consider the legal structure of the investment, developer and project risks, transaction costs, restrictions on disposal and potential liquidity limitations.

L’Heritage helps coordinate relevant due diligence and specialist review before significant commitments are made.

Many Citizenship by Investment programmes allow qualifying family members to be included in an application.

Depending on the jurisdiction, eligible dependants may include spouses, children and certain parents or other relatives.

Age limits, dependency requirements, relationship documentation and additional government fees vary between programmes.

Families should also consider the implications of dual nationality, future citizenship transmission and the nationality laws applicable to each family member.

L’Heritage helps coordinate the assessment of family eligibility and relevant documentation requirements.

Application timelines vary by jurisdiction, programme requirements and individual circumstances.

Some established programmes publish indicative processing periods of several months. However, these estimates may change depending on the completeness of documents, background screening, mandatory interviews and government processing requirements.

Additional financial or compliance reviews may extend the application period.

No application timeline should be regarded as guaranteed.

L’Heritage coordinates with authorised representatives to help clients understand the applicable stages and documentation requirements.

This depends on the nationality laws of both the country granting citizenship and the applicant’s existing country or countries of citizenship.

Certain Citizenship by Investment jurisdictions permit dual or multiple citizenship. However, an applicant’s original country may restrict or prohibit holding another nationality.

Additional citizenship may also create obligations relating to nationality registration, military service, diplomatic protection or other legal matters.

Independent legal advice may be necessary before proceeding, particularly where an applicant wishes to preserve an existing nationality.

Not necessarily.

Citizenship and tax residence are separate legal concepts.

Tax residence generally depends on the relevant country’s domestic laws and may involve physical presence, residence arrangements, personal connections or other applicable factors.

Certain countries also impose tax obligations based on citizenship or other specific legal criteria.

Acquiring an additional nationality does not automatically remove existing tax responsibilities or guarantee exemption from income, inheritance or other taxes.

L’Heritage coordinates with qualified international tax advisers where citizenship planning intersects with personal or family financial arrangements.

No.

A second citizenship may provide access to additional visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations, depending on the passport and applicable immigration agreements.

However, travel privileges are determined by destination countries and may change.

Even where visa-free access is available, travellers must satisfy applicable entry conditions. Visa-free travel also does not generally provide unrestricted rights to work, settle or establish permanent residence.

Citizenship planning should therefore consider the legal and long-term value of nationality rather than relying solely on current passport rankings.

Malta’s former Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment framework is no longer available as an investment citizenship route.

Following the Court of Justice of the European Union’s judgment of 29 April 2025, Malta repealed its investment citizenship framework.

Malta has separate legal provisions concerning citizenship by merit. However, these are discretionary and should not be represented as a replacement investment programme or a guaranteed pathway to European Union citizenship.

Individuals considering European residency or citizenship should distinguish between direct citizenship programmes, investment residence permits and ordinary naturalisation requirements.

Citizenship by Investment programmes generally require applicants to demonstrate that their wealth and qualifying investment funds originate from legitimate and verifiable sources.

Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, documentation may include bank statements, employment records, company ownership information, audited financial statements, investment records, property sale agreements or inheritance documentation.

The programme authority may also review business activities, residence history, criminal records, sanctions exposure and other relevant background information.

Documentation requirements vary by jurisdiction, and further evidence may be requested during formal due diligence.