You can be a citizen of the world and unlock a global lifestyle, if you have the money to invest in other countries. Henley & Partners, a globe citizenship and residency advisory firm based in Cape Town, has released a list of the best residency programmes globally.
It also lists the best citizenship-by-investment programmes in the world.
“Across the economic spectrum, individuals want to transcend the constraints imposed on them by their country of origin and access business, education, career, and lifestyle opportunities on a global scale. Alternative residence and citizenship represent the most direct routes to global mobility and overall stability, since individuals who have residence or citizenship in multiple jurisdictions benefit from each country’s best practices and are less vulnerable to its risks and shortcomings,” Henley & Partners said.
In its most basic form, citizenship-by-investment is a process whereby qualified individuals are screened in order to be granted full citizenship in exchange for their financial contribution to the passport-issuing state.
Residence-by-investment has a similar process, except that candidates are granted temporary residence, which may at a later stage be extended into permanent residence or citizenship. Henley & Partners states that neither programme is better than the other, and that each offers its own advantages.
Residence-by-investment programmes gives high-net-worth individuals the option of relocation to a favorable jurisdiction and becoming tax-paying residents of that jurisdiction. Citizen-by-investment programmes provide wealthy families with a second or third passport, which provide these families with the rights enjoyed by residents of the jurisdiction, as well as the broader right of travel and trade.
Listen below are the most credible and successful residence and citizenship programmes in the world. These programmes uphold the highest in standards in terms of diligence, attracting vetted individuals who can bring capital and talent into the country in question.
Best Residency-by-Investment Programmes
| Global rank | Program | Passport allowances | Minimum capital required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portugal | Visa-free travel to 177 countries | R3 million |
| 2 | Malta | Visa-free travel to 173 countries | R8.2 million |
| 3 | Thailand | Visa-free travel to 75 countries | R194,000 |
| 4 | UK | Visa-free travel to 177 countries | R34.2 million |
| 5 | US | Visa-free travel to 176 countries | R6.1 million |
| 6 | Switzerland | Visa-free travel to 176 countries | Between R1.8 million – R12.5 million |
| 7 | Canada | Visa-free travel to 176 countries | R7.6 million |
Top Citizenship-by-Investment Programmes
| Global rank | Program | Passport allowance | Minimum capital required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malta | Visa-free travel to 173 countries | R15 million |
| 2 | Cyprus | Visa-free travel to 163 countries | R30 million |
| 3 | Austria | Visa-free travel to 177 countries | R120 million |
| 4 | Antigua and Barbuda | Visa-free travel to 140 countries | R1.2 million |
| 5 | Grenada | Visa-free travel to 131 countries | R1.8 million |
| 6 | St. Kitts and Nevis | Visa-free travel to 141 countries | R1.8 million |
| 7 | St. Lucia | Visa-free travel to 132 countries | R1.2 million |
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