RESIDENCY & CITIZENSHIP
BY INVESTMENT
RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT
WHAT IS PERMANENT RESIDENCY?
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Permanent residency is a visa status that allows the bearer of the PR card to legally reside in the host country without being a citizen of that country. Permanent residents are entitled to live, work, go to school and access health care in the host country. However, they are not typically entitled to vote or run for office.
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In order to be eligible to apply for permanent residency status in any given country, individuals usually have to meet certain requirements, such as having work experience in the country, having studied in the country and speaking the language. Since 1986 investment has been another way to gain permanent residency. PR status can also lead to citizenship by naturalization provided the resident has lived in the country for a certain number of years.
WHAT IS RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT?
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Residency by investment is the process of obtaining a permanent residency card in another country by investing in the economy of that country. PR status is then conferred at an accelerated rate compared to traditional applications.
WHY DO PEOPLE INVEST IN PERMANENT RESIDENCY?
There are many reasons to invest in a permanent residency, from business opportunity, education, work, security to increased global mobility. Permanent residency opens up a world of possibilities to high net worth investors.
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Business
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​​New business opportunities open up to participants in residency by investment programs as they can now do business in the host country as well as travel abroad more freely.
Tax Management
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Permanent residency may prove advantageous for tax optimization purposes. For example, Bulgaria has one of the lowest income tax rates in Europe. This allows investors to manage their wealth more efficiently and effectively.​​
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Family
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Most residency by investment programs are available to the family members of the main applicant. This means that investors can secure a better future for their spouse and children. PR status offers access to world-class health care, education and an improved lifestyle.
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Education
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Education is the foundation of a successful life as a global citizen. Investing in a permanent residency can open up access to the best schools in the world for applicants and their children by qualifying them for domestic rather than international tuition fees.
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Security
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Permanent residency in a stable, peaceful country can be life-saving in the event of any kind of political unrest in one’s home country. This type of insurance is priceless for investors and their families.
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Global Mobility
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Many passports are quite restrictive in their visa-free mobility, forcing citizens to obtain visas whenever they need to travel abroad. Permanent residency can offer individuals from these countries increased global mobility. For example, the passport of China allows visa-free entry into only 58 countries, whereas permanent residency in Portugal allows uninhibited travel throughout the Schengen zone, which comprises 26 European states. The difference in global mobility equals an incredible amount of time saved filing visa applications and is priceless to businesspeople the world over.
WHAT DO COUNTRIES GAIN FROM RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS?
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Many countries offer residency by investment programs in order to attract much-needed foreign direct investment. Countries can then use these funds to invest in their own economic or cultural projects.
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WHICH COUNTRIES OFFER RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS?
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Visa Line is an authorized agent for the following residency programs:
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RBI PROGRAMS
Time to PR: 6-9 months
Min. Investment: €511,292
Time to PR: 36 months
Min. Investment: CA$1,200,000
Time to PR: 3-9 months
Min. Investment: €250,000
Time to PR: 2 months
Min. Investment: €250,000
Time to PR: 7-8 months
Min. Investment: €130,000
Time to PR: 3-18 months
Min. Investment: €250,000
Time to PR: 12-18 months
Min. Investment: US$500,000​​
CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT
WHAT IS CITIZENSHIP?
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Citizenship is the relationship between an individual and a nation state whereby the state grants the citizen certain rights, such as the right to vote, work and own property, and in return the citizen accepts the responsibility of upholding the laws and customs of that state. Citizenship unites different people under a common identity.
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WHAT IS CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT?
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Citizenship by investment is the process of obtaining a second citizenship and passport by investing in the economy of the host country. Citizenship by investment programs legally confer citizenship status faster than traditional immigration processes and do so without requiring investors to put their lives on hold.
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Applications can be approved in as little as three months, resulting in citizenship for life, a valid passport, visa-free travel and more. Economic citizenship opens up a world of possibilities to high net worth investors.
WHY DO PEOPLE INVEST IN A SECOND CITIZENSHIP?​
There are many reasons to invest in a second citizenship, from business opportunity, education, work, security to increased global mobility. Applications can be approved in as little as three months, resulting in citizenship for life, a valid passport, visa-free travel and more. Economic citizenship opens up a world of possibilities to high net worth investors.
Family
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Most citizenship by investment programs are available to the family members of the main applicant. This means that investors can secure a better future for their spouse and children. Second citizenships offer access to world-class health care, education and an improved lifestyle.
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Education
Education is the foundation of a successful life as a global citizen. Investing in a second citizenship can open up access to the best schools in the world for applicants and their children by qualifying them for domestic rather than international tuition fees.
Business
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New business opportunities open up to participants in citizenship by investment programs as they can now do business in the host country as well as travel abroad more freely.
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Tax Management
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Dual citizenship may prove advantageous for tax optimization purposes. For example, some countries only tax income earned from that country and do not subject capital gains to taxes either. This allows investors to manage their wealth more efficiently and effectively.
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Security
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A second passport from a stable, peaceful country can be life-saving in the event of any kind of political unrest in one’s home country. This type of insurance is priceless for investors and their families.
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WHAT DO COUNTRIES GAIN FROM CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS?
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Many countries offer citizenship by investment programs in order to attract much-needed foreign direct investment. Countries can then use these funds to invest in their own projects, such as real estate development, business development and job creation. CBI programs also attract global talent and know-how aimed at boosting the economy. For example, St. Kitts & Nevis applicants can invest in the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation, which aims to assist the government and country in transitioning to a more diversified economy. The foundation supports the government, but also undertakes new projects itself. To date, the foundation has invested more than US$55 million in the development of St. Kitts & Nevis.
WHICH COUNTRIES OFFER CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS?
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Many countries offer citizenship by investment programs. The number of these programs is constantly increasing as more and more countries realize the economic advantages of opening their doors to immigrant investors.
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Visa Line is an authorized agent for the following citizenship by investment programs:
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CBI PROGRAMS:
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Time to Citizenship: 4-5 months
Min. Investment: US$230,000
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Time to Citizenship: 3 months
Min. Investment: US$200,000
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Time to Citizenship: 7-8 months
Min. Investment: US$235,000
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Time to Citizenship: 20-44 months
Min. Investment: US$650,000
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Time to Citizenship: 6 months
Min. Investment: €350,000
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Time to Citizenship: 9-12 months
Min. Investment: US$240,000
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Time to Citizenship: 6-12 months
Min. Investment: US$250,000
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Time to Citizenship: 6-9 months
Min. Investment: €520,000
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*Bulgaria offers a residency by investment program with a fast-track to citizenship option.
It is important to remember that not all countries allow their citizens to hold dual citizenship. Double check before starting the process with Visa Line.
