I remember feeling somewhat odd the first time I heard about citizenship by investment. I was visiting St. Lucia and had made it through one of their international airports and been reminded about the nation’s “discreet banking,” and I was told that the nation allowed citizenship to people who bought real estate. The pitch happened to be a selling point for those selling real estate near the capital of Castries, and it struck me as something perhaps a bit crazy. Somewhat later, I found that this was not an isolated case, when an Egyptian YouTube personality whose channel I followed commented on his obtaining citizenship from a Caribbean nation so that he could travel more freely without being in fear of being expatriated to Egypt on account of some mandatory military service he had skipped out on. Yesterday, I chatted about the phenomenon with a dear friend of mine who is seeking to earn citizenship the right way in the UK after having emigrated from Iran, and later yesterday I found that the Trump administration was announcing a return to a citizenship by investment program that required an immense amount of investment, with a proportionately more valuable reward. How common is citizenship by investment? I asked one of my AI services, and this is what it had to say:

Several countries offer citizenship by investment (CBI) programs, allowing individuals to acquire citizenship in exchange for a financial contribution. These programs typically require either a direct donation to a national fund, investment in real estate, or business investments. Here are some of the most notable countries offering citizenship by investment:

Caribbean Countries

1. Saint Kitts and Nevis
   • Minimum investment: $250,000 (Sustainable Island State Contribution) or $400,000 in real estate
   • Processing time: 3-6 months
   • No residency requirement
2. Dominica
   • Minimum investment: $100,000 (Economic Diversification Fund) or $200,000 in real estate
   • Processing time: 3-6 months
   • No residency requirement
3. Grenada
   • Minimum investment: $150,000 (National Transformation Fund) or $220,000 in real estate
   • Processing time: 3-6 months
   • No residency requirement
4. Saint Lucia
   • Minimum investment: $100,000 (National Economic Fund) or $200,000 in real estate
   • Processing time: 3-6 months
   • No residency requirement
5. Antigua and Barbuda
   • Minimum investment: $130,000 (National Development Fund) or $200,000 in real estate
   • Processing time: 3-6 months
   • Requires 5-day residency over 5 years

European Countries

6. Malta(Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment)
   • Minimum investment: €600,000 (12-month residency) or €750,000 (36-month residency) + €700,000 in real estate
   • Processing time: 12-36 months
   • Requires residency before application
7. Turkey
   • Minimum investment: $400,000 in real estate or $500,000 in bank deposits, bonds, or a business
   • Processing time: 3-6 months
   • No residency requirement

Vanuatu (Pacific Island Nation)

8. Vanuatu
   • Minimum investment: $130,000 (Development Support Program)
   • Processing time: 1-2 months
   • No residency requirement

Other Countries with Indirect or Lengthy Processes

• Montenegro (CBI program ended in 2022, but investment options still exist for residency and eventual naturalization)
• Jordan ($750,000 investment in a business)
• North Macedonia (€200,000 government donation)

Important Considerations

• Many countries perform strict due diligence to ensure applicants have clean backgrounds.
• Some countries restrict dual citizenship, so applicants should check their home country’s policies.
• Programs and requirements change frequently, so it’s essential to verify details with official sources.