Some passports allow greater freedoms than others. A new set of limitations, enforced by the pandemic, makes the difference offered to holders of various passports even more vivid. Regretfully, Cyprus put on indefinite hold its “golden visa” programme. However, Malta, along with Montenegro and some Caribbean states, are still very interesting and attractive options.
St. Kitts and Nevis
The island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis was the first to open a Citizenship by Investment (CIB) programme in 1984. It became trendy because it allowed the passport holders visa free travel to a large number of countries, low investment ticket, starting at $150,000.00, ability to pass the citizenship to children and grandchildren. Additionally, in 2020, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis made it even more attractive by widening real estate acquisition opportunities. Pavel Durov became the most famous Russian HNW to hold a passport of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Malta
Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) programme is a new policy that was started by the Maltese government at the end of 2020 and offers an expedited route to citizenship through investment. This is a new residence regime, which replaced the old Malta’s Individual Investor Programme.
To qualify for Maltese citizenship by naturalization the application would have to make the following 3 investments:
- Direct non-refundable investment – at least €600,000.00 (residence of 36 months) or €750,000.00 (residence of 12 months) into government development fund;
- Property investment – the applicant must take out a residential property lease for a minimum of €16,000.00 per year for a period of 5 years or purchase a property for a minimum of €750,000.00 that must be kept for a minimum period of 5 years;
- Philanthropic donation – the application would also have to make a donation of €10,000.00 to a registered sport, cultural, scientific, philanthropic, animal welfare or artistic non-governmental organization or society which has been approved for the purpose
Montenegro
Montenegrin passport ranked 42nd globally and offered visa-free access to 123 countries, including EU Schengen states, Singapore, Russia, Turkey. You shall still need a visa to travel to United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the United States.
Montenegrin CIB has been effective since January 2019. The young Balkan state is keen to become a member of the EU relatively soon, which would make its passport even more attractive. Family members of the Montenegrin golden passport holder can get their citizenship approved within just six months.
To acquire citizenship, the applicant has to make a one-time fee to the governmental development fund and to invest in one of the approved fields:
Real Estate
- €250,000.00 in the North of the country;
- €450,000.00 in the capital city of Podgorica or the coastal region;
Tourism
- starting €5M in tourism or HoReCa business, that create at least 25 jobs;
Agriculture
- starting €2M in agricultural business, creating at least ten jobs;
Timber Processing
- from €4M in timber processing or woodworking, creating at least 20 jobs;
Fisheries
- from €3.5M in fisheries, creating at least 20 jobs.
The number of applications is limited to 2,000 in total. Applications have to be submitted by December 2021. The CIB will stay in effect until the end of 2022.
“Specialists of Oracle Capital Group will help you assess your position to make the most from the second passport opportunity and relocate your family to any of 10 prestigious locations of the world. ”
Yuliya Andresyuk,
Head of Legal Oracle Capital Group
