What are the cheapest countries to obtain their citizenship?

Ways some countries grant their citizenship to foreigners

We live in a changing world, governed by strict laws and many restrictions on the movement of individuals, their travel, and the freedom to conduct their activities and businesses. These restrictions are often based on the nationality we hold, leaving us bound by the limitations of our passports and original citizenship, unable to travel except to a limited number of countries.

Investors have always sought new citizenships to open up new horizons, expand their opportunities, and overcome borders to grow their businesses or achieve their dreams. The most prominent options for them are those offered by several countries under specific conditions.

Many countries around the world offer certain programs that enable foreign residents or investors in some business sectors on their lands to obtain their citizenship, according to various and diverse plans, which we will discuss in this article.

1. Donation

This is one of the methods some countries have found to attract investors and capital owners aspiring to obtain their citizenship.

The conditions for donation naturally vary from one country to another among those that allow obtaining their citizenship in exchange, as does the amount required for donation, some of which we will clarify in this article.

2. Buying shares and bonds

In some countries, a set of laws have been enacted that grant the right to obtain citizenship in exchange for buying shares and bonds in their vital or governmental projects, which naturally supports the economy of those countries. Through these investment or economic programs, some governments have achieved effective results in attracting capital and enhancing economic growth.

3. Buying real estate

As for the option of real estate investment in exchange for obtaining citizenship, it is also one of the most popular options among investors, as this investment is considered a real one, without causing any loss to its owner. All that is required is to buy a property and keep it for a certain period, according to the law of the country granting citizenship, after which the owner can resell, invest, or benefit from it during that period.

4. Starting an investment activity and employing citizens

The goals of countries granting their citizenship are often purely investment and economic, aiming to support their economy or improve the economic conditions of their citizens. Therefore, some countries have chosen the condition of investing in people in exchange for granting citizenship, as Turkey has done, for example.

5. Marriage to a citizen

And proving the marital status and its continuation for a certain period, which varies from one country to another.

6. Exceptionally granted citizenships

These are given by countries to foreigners residing on their lands who have achieved notable accomplishments, or who represent those countries abroad.

What are the 5 cheapest countries to obtain their citizenship?

After discussing the main reasons for granting citizenship to foreigners in countries around the world, here are the most prominent and cheapest countries in terms of financial cost:

1. Saint Kitts and Nevis

This country consists of two islands that were under the British crown, characterized by its relatively weak economy and small population. It is also a tourist destination for the wealthy seeking relaxation in its luxurious resorts, blessed with the beautiful nature of the Caribbean Sea.

You can obtain the citizenship and passport of Saint Kitts and Nevis in two ways.

• Real estate investment: with a minimum of $200,000 in a real estate project, or within a project that is part of the country's infrastructure, or one of its tourist resorts licensed for this purpose and approved by the government.
• Donation: with an amount of $150,000 to the government, which is non-refundable. Citizenship is granted on this basis to a family of 4, and the amount increases according to the number of family members applying for citizenship.

The passport of Saint Kitts and Nevis is considered a good passport, allowing its holder to enter the Schengen area, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other countries.

2. Latvia

Latvia is a country in northeastern Europe, bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, and Belarus to the southeast, and overlooks the Baltic Sea to the west.

Latvia offers two ways to obtain Latvian citizenship through investment:

• Investment in the National Development Fund: with a value of 200,000 euros, for a period of no less than 5 years.
• Buying real estate in Latvia worth 500,000 euros, and keeping it for 5 years as well.

The Latvian passport ranks strongly worldwide in the "Passport Index" at the time of writing this article. It allows its holder to enter 171 countries without a visa, including 47 countries that issue a visa upon arrival at the airport.

3. Dominica

Dominica is a small country, consisting of an island of 754 square kilometers in the Caribbean Sea, and is one of the well-known countries that allowed obtaining its citizenship and passport through three routes:

• Real estate investment in projects approved by the Government of Dominica, and buying shares worth no less than $200,000.
• Donation to the Economic Diversification Fund of no less than $100,000, with the amount increasing according to the number of family members applying for Dominican citizenship.
• Alternative investment in potential government and private projects.

The Dominica passport ranks 72nd globally in the "Passport Index" at the time of writing this article, allowing its holder to enter 135 countries without a visa, including 42 countries that issue a visa upon arrival at the airport.

4. Turkey

According to the citizenship law and its successive amendments in Turkey, the right to apply for citizenship is granted in exchange for one of several types of investment, the most important of which are:

• Real estate investment, when owning a property or a group of properties in Turkey worth $400,000, provided that the property is not sold for a full 3 years.
• Bank deposit, by depositing $500,000 or its equivalent in one of the Turkish banks, for a full three years.
• Contribution to one of the investment funds: with an amount of $500,000.

In recent years, there has been a significant demand for the Turkish passport and the investment paths leading to it, seeking its advantages. The Turkish passport is ranked 83rd globally according to the "Passport Index" at the time of writing this article, and allows its holder to enter 128 countries without a visa, including 52 countries that issue a visa upon arrival at the airport.

5. Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia joined the list of countries granting citizenship through investment in 2015, with the minimum investment for obtaining citizenship starting from $100,000 or more, depending on the program chosen by the investor.

Available citizenship programs in Saint Lucia include: contributing to the state fund, buying government bonds, or investments in real estate and business.

The passport of Saint Lucia ranks 69th globally in the "Passport Index" at the time of writing this article, and allows its holder to enter 138 countries without a visa, including Schengen countries, in addition to 42 countries that grant a visa upon arrival at the airport.

Why is the Turkish citizenship program among the best?

After the previous overview of a group of countries that offer or allow citizenship in exchange for investment, we find that all options compete with each other, between countries that offer their passport with difficult or more flexible conditions. However, based on our direct experience with hundreds of investment cases in Turkey and elsewhere, we find ourselves favoring investment in Turkey over other options.

Turkey is a strong, young country with an active international presence, and its international relations are continuously expanding, unlike other countries. In addition, its central location between Europe, Asia, and the Arab region makes it an ideal choice for living, residence, or even business development with investments connected to this part of the world.

Moreover, investment in Turkey has a retroactive benefit for its owner, whether through owning investment properties, guaranteed bank deposits, or other options that yield returns to the investor, unlike donations required by other countries that cannot be recovered.

The Turkish citizenship program also covers all family members of the investor under the age of 18, in addition to the spouse, regardless of the number of family members, while we have seen that other programs increase costs according to the number of family members.

Not to mention the cultural and civilizational component that Turkey enjoys, and its connection to the civilization of the Arab region in general.

For more information about the Turkish citizenship program, consult Imtilak Real Estate

With hundreds of real estate investors in Turkey whom we have had the honor to serve in the citizenship program through real estate ownership, we have always been pioneers in the field of Turkish citizenship services, luxury real estate ownership, and safe investment, with more than 11 years of experience in the real estate sector in general.

We invite you at Imtilak Real Estate to discover our professional service packages, which cover all stages of ownership and purchase, making the difficult easy, and overcoming obstacles to make them simple, through our free tours, expert consultations, and pre- and post-sale services, until you obtain Turkish citizenship.

Edited by: Imtilak Real Estate©