FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Citizenship by Investment offers individual entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors a better tax planning options, the opportunity to expand their businesses globally, provide security to their investments and improves their family lifestyle. High net-worth individuals can opt to choose between Dual Citizenship (where the countries of citizenship by birth established a bilateral agreement with the country of your new Citizenship by Investment, and by means of which person has a legitimate status of a dual citizen in both countries) or Second Citizenship (when there is no bilateral agreement on dual citizenship and each state considers a person to be only citizen).

Obtaining an alternative Citizenship or Residency by Investment is a complex process, with multiple programs and investment options to compare and choose from, proposing what suits the investor's need and budget, collecting required documents, preparing affidavits and declarations, getting them translated, notarizing & legalizing (when and if required), going through and filling up various applications forms (personal information, family details, net-worth and banking details, travel and medical history, etc.), scheduling the appointments for medical and biometrics (when and if required), conducting initial due diligence and to find out risk involved (if any). All this raises the opportunities for obtaining the required citizenship and or residency. Our Citizenship and Residency advisors will always have detailed discussions with you while onboarding to understand your needs and goals, in order to propose a program that suits your investments and is aligned with your goals.

CBI “Citizenship by Investment” programs allows foreign investors and their families to obtain the alternate citizenship and passport(s) by contributing to the economy of the host country. To opt it there are several instruments such as contributions/donation in countries approved national fund, investing in a government approved real estate option, or investing in a government approved bond. CBI “Citizenship by Investment” programs are not a new concept rather been existing since 1984 by one of the Caribbean islands named St Kitts & Nevis. As of today, over 100 countries in the world have some form of investment migration legislation in place, however a few offers Citizenship by Investment (i.e., Antigua & Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Turkey, Vanuatu etc.)

There are several benefits of having Citizenship by Investment, such as global mobility that allows passport holders to travel visa-free to over 140 countries and jurisdiction that includes Hong Kong, Singapore, UK, and the Schengen Area (Russia, and China too depending on the country offering Citizenship by Investment). Citizenship by Investment is considered to be insurance police or a plan B for many individuals from under developed countries to avoid any political unrest, for security of their loved ones and their investments. Most of the Caribbean countries offering Citizenship by Investment are home to home to the best United States offshore universities (Grenada for instance is home to St George’s University that is one of the finest medical, veterinary, and arts and sciences schools, and graduates train in some of the top hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom and is internationally accredited) Citizenship by Investment provides countless opportunities to extend your business in different jurisdictions, and it provides a better-quality life, with complete assets protection and tax planning.

The lowest possible contribution/investment starts with a one-time non-refundable contribution of USD 100,000 plus other related fees in a government approved fund of the concern country. The minimum contribution/investment may vary depending on the country of citizenship and the family size.

In general, it takes 3 to 6 months. However, from the date that your application has been accepted for processing, it will take approximately ninety (90) days to the grant of citizenship. Should there be any delay in the processing of your application, your Authorised Agent will be informed.

No, most of the countries allows dual citizenship / second passport and you are not required to renounce your citizenships. However, depending on the country of your current citizenship it is advisable to contact one of our expert Investment Migration Advisor prior to initiating the process.

No, the applicant and their qualified dependents are not required to travel to Caribbean or Turkey during the application process. However, the applicant(s) must visit Antigua & Barbuda “Caribbean jurisdiction” and live there for five days during the initial five years.

Principal applicant must be over 18 years of age or more, no criminal record or prosecution, can prove the source of funds are earned through legitimate source, is in good health, principal applicant can also include spouse, financial dependent children under the age of 30 years (except Turkey where you can include dependent children under 18 years of age), parents of principal applicant or spouse financially dependent on principal applicant, siblings can also be included provided they are unmarried and financially dependent on principal applicant.

No, by law only a licensed agent can apply for Citizenship by Investment on behalf of the investors. CBI “Citizenship by Investment law” prohibits applicants from applying by themselves. Licensed agent is a person authorized by the Government to act on your behalf, who will assist you in arranging list of required documents, filling in the forms and supporting legalizing the document etc

No, You do not have to reside in the Caribbean (Except Antigua & Barbuda “a Caribbean jurisdiction” where you must spent 5 days during the initial 5 years) or Turkey before or after citizenship is granted.

The Caribbean is a diverse region with significant economic potential and growth opportunities. Gross National Income (GNI) per capita varies from around US$800 to over US$30,000 and most countries rely primarily on tourism, while some on commodity exports. With its stunning scenery and vibrant cultures, the Caribbean is one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Sustainable use of ocean resources, known as the “blue economy,” offers potential for economic diversification, while preserving the region’s environment, as well as further development of other sectors with potential for growth (source the world bank) As part of the Easter Caribbean Central Bank and currency system, their currency is stable, secure, and tied to the United States dollar. Business can also be conducted in United States dollars. There are no taxes on the repatriation of profit.

There is no wealth, gift, inheritance, foreign income, or capital gains tax in the Caribbean. As a citizen, should you decide to live in the Caribbean you would be liable to pay income tax on the income generated in the country.

Most of the passport will be valid for a period of 5 to 10 years, depending on the country offering the citizenship, and will be considered for renewal.

Each country that offers CBI “Citizenship by Investment” option has their own set of contribution/investment options. Most sought after option however is via Government approved funds, because that is the lowest possible contribution/investment required, simple and straight forward option. Some of the qualifying contribution/investment options are as below: GOVERNMENT APPROVED FUND Generally these funds are non-profit fund, starting with a one-time non-refundable contribution of USD 100,000 plus other related fees. The minimum contribution/investment may vary depending on the country of citizenship and the family size. GOVERNMENT APPROVED REAL ESTATE investments start with USD 220,000 plus other related fees. GOVERNMENT APPROVED BOND which is a is a non-interest-bearing bond, investment start with USD 300,000 plus other related fees. ENTERPRISE PROJECT There are currently no enterprise projects open for investment. PRIVATE HOME SALE investments start with USD 400,000 plus other related fees. PUBLIC BENEFIT OPTIONS investments start with USD 175,000 plus other related fees BUSINESS INVESTMENT has two investment options, one includes the principal applicant making an investment in an approved business of at least USD 1,500,000, and second with a minimum of 2 investors to make a joint investment in an approved business totaling at least USD 5,000,000. Each applicant is required to contribute at least USD 400,000 to the joint investment. UNIVERSITY FUND option is a mechanism for financing UWI’s fourth landed campus, where the applicants are required to make an investment of USD 150,000 for a family of up to six (6) or more. JOB CREATION for at least 50 people, as attested by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in Türkiye. BANK DEPOSIT starts with a deposit of USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency in banks operating in Türkiye.

Yes, in addition to the government approved contribution and or the selected investment route, principal applicant and the dependent family members must be paying fees that includes fees relating to Due Diligence (bank Due Diligence in some of the Caribbean countries), the processing of the application, issuance of passport and the citizenship certificate. For a detailed breakdown of the fees involved please contact one of our expert Investment Migration Advisor.

Well, Yes and No, some of the countries allows successful Citizenship by Investment applicants to change their name and some they don’t. It is advisable to contact one of our expert Investment Migration Advisor prior to initiating the process.

Our services are not limited until you receive the required Citizenship and Passport, our after sales team remain in touch with you until your initial investment is returned depending on the investment route (i.e., Government approved real estate option, investment in Government approved bond etc.). We help you renew your passport(s), assist you further in case of a lost passport or passport replacements in case if all pages have been used, and much more.

Under Citizenship by Investment laws, all the citizens are entitled to a passport. This means that citizens cannot be denied a passport, and once provided your passport will be renewed.

Residence Permit or Residency Visa are visa categories that allow foreign national to reside in a country “or multiple countries” for a fixed or indefinite length of time, these permits/visa could be of temporary or permanent nature. Almost all the countries have one or more options for residence permit that allows individuals to relocate to a certain country for various reasons (i.e., pathway to Citizenship of that country, better education, access to world class health care, investment security, political stability etc.)

Yes, both visa categories are different based on a fixed or indefinite length of time. In general, temporary residence permit is issued for a short span of time and the Permanent Residency are valid from 05 to 10 years depending on the country of concern. Temporary residents may not have access to certain benefits such as multi-entry, access to education or health care, and the individuals must exit from that country or take a step further and apply for Permanent Residency or Citizenship.

All of the RBI “Residency by Investment” programs are source attracting foreign investment, creating jobs, increasing tax revenue, contributing countries economy, and since the investors belong from different countries and this contributes to cultural diversity, population growth, rehabilitations and renovation in low density areas (i.e., in case of Portugal). Overall, these programs are mutually beneficial for both the country and the investor.

Yes, most of the countries offering permanent residence permit / golden visa / long term investor visa required principal applicant and the dependents to visit the country for a mandatory trip to complete their biometrics, selecting/viewing the property, obtaining tax number, and opening bank account. To know more about any particular country please contact one of our experts Investment Migration Advisor.

Most opted option while obtaining European residence permit is Portugal Golden visa via purchase of property with a value of EUR 280,000 or more in a low population density area. However, their other countries that offer programs with a lower investment value. To know more please contact one of our experts Investment Migration Advisor.

Each country has their own set of approved investment options, and some are as below: REAL ESTATE Lowest possible property investment option starts with EUR 250,000 in Greece. JOB CREATION of at least 10 job positions. CAPITAL TRANSFER Lowest possible investment option starts with a value equal to or above EUR 250,000 for investing in artistic output or supporting the arts, in Portugal. PASSIVE INCOME There is no minimum investment threshold required. ENTREPRENEUR/ BUSINESS FORMATION CONTRIBUTION To know more please contact one of our experts Investment Migration Advisor.

Each country has their own criteria before approving for Residency by Investment programs (Golden visa or Permanent Residence permit), and the time varies from 2 to 3 months (such as in Greece) and 10 to 18 months (such as in Portugal), however depending on each applicants own criteria the processing time may vary.

Most of the residence permit can be renewed based on multiple factors such as meeting physical residence requirements, meeting the investment requirement, continuing your working, or initiating your own business, renewal conditions / factors vary from country to country. It is always advised to get in touch with one of our expert Investment Migration Advisor who can guide you through the process.

Initial residence permit will be issued for 2 years, renewable for 2 each time until you decide to turn this into a Permanent Residency or Citizenship.

Permanent residence permits are valid for 5 years, and renewable afterwards.

Principle applicant must be over 18 years of age or more must, be of no criminal records, principal applicant can include spouse, and unmarried children financially dependent on him or her, the parents that are fully dependent on principal applicant may also be include. Some countries also qualify unmarried siblings below the age of 25 years of age with complete financial responsibility under principal applicant to be considered as dependent. To know more about it please contact one of our experts.

Yes, upon completion of 5 years as resident (Golden visa / Permanent Residence permit) you may apply for Citizenship, different conditions will apply such as requirement of physical stay, language proficiency, no criminal records, to pass history, and geography or a culture tests depending the country in consideration. For further information please contact one of our experts.

Yes, if you chose to reside in the country and are spending over 183 days a year your income (i.e., rental income, salary or business) generated in the country in consideration will be taxed. However some countries may offer special tax regime (i.e., Portugal offers NHR “non-habitual residence”, to know more about it please contact one of our experts.

Individuals that are not from EU “European Union”, EEA “European Economic Area” was established via the international agreement which enables the extension of the European Union's single market to member states of the European Free Trade Association (all 27 European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway are considered to be EEA).

Business Migration program provides multiple pathways for High Net-worth Individual, Business Owner, Entrepreneurs, Senior Manager / Directors to open new business and or to expand your existing business abroad, they may also take their occupational skills and experience to their new migration destination such as ICT "Intra Company Transfer" visa in Canada, or D2/D7 visa for Portugal.

Yes, all the Caribbean countries offer investment route via investment in actual Real Estate and or the hotel shares in Government approved projects starting with minimum investment of USD 200,000, alternatively you can choose to invest in Government approved Bonds such as in St. Lucia.

Yes, all the Caribbean countries offer Citizenship by Investments via investment option offers returns on investment, and the rental income are usually between 2-5% annually while the investment holding period.

Yes, investment options such as Real estate and or the Bonds are government approved investment options, that means the officials of countries offering Citizenship by Investment controls regulatory authorities (such as banks for bonds) and the developers (for the real estate)

Yes, as long as you held the property for the required number of years after obtaining your citizenship.

Obtaining an alternative Citizenship by Investment is a complex process, with multiple programs and investment options to compare and choose from, depending on the country offering citizenship the documents may vary, however some of the documents are mandatory documents in all jurisdictions such as: Passport, Birth / Marriage certificate, National IDs (i.e., Emirates ID, Aadhar Card “for applicants from Indi”, CNIC / NICOP “for applicants from Pakistan” etc.), Proof of funds, Citizenship application form, Police clearance certificate.

A Police Clearance Certificate is a document provided by a law enforcement agency confirming the absence of a criminal record, depending the law from the country offering Citizenship by Investment principal applicant and all the adults in the application are required to provide one from the country of their birth and any country they have lived/are residents at. For further details please contact one of our expert Investment Migration Advisor.

Upon receiving citizenship, each applicant is required to sign an Oath of Allegiance. The Oath must be signed before a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace, Consular Officer or Honorary Consul of the country offering Citizenship by Investment, or Commissioner of Oaths.

All supporting documents must be submitted in “ENGLISH”. Where the original language of the supporting document is NOT English, then you MUST provide the document in its original language in addition to the authenticated translation to the English language.

A person who, as head of a family, must be 18 years of age or above undertakes an investment for the purpose of acquiring Citizenship by Investment and signs the relevant undertakings on behalf of his or her dependent.

Yes, you may include your spouse, dependent children, dependent parents, and dependent siblings in general. However, this may vary depending the country offering Citizenship by Investment (for the Caribbean countries allow inclusion of parents, and Türkiye does not allow adding the parents even if they are financially dependent on principal applicant). For further details please contact one of our expert Investment Migration Advisor.

Definition of a qualified dependent is as below: A spouse of the principal applicant. A child “biological or legally adopted child” under 30 years of age of the principal applicant or the spouse of the principal applicant, who is enrolled at a recognised institution, substantially supported by the principal applicant or the spouse of the principal applicant. Parents or grandparents of the principal applicant or the spouse of the principal applicant above the age of 55 years of age “depending on the country offering Citizenship by Investment program” who are substantially supported by the principal applicant or the spouse of the principal applicant. An unmarried daughter of the principal applicant or the spouse of the principal applicant who is under 25 years of age and is living with them, and a child of the principal applicant or the spouse of the principal applicant who is of any age physically or mentally challenged, will be considered on case-to-case bases. For further details relating to which of your family members may be included in your application please contact one of our expert Investment Migration Advisor.

In a case where your child does not fall within the criteria of 'qualifying dependent', he/she would need to apply as a separate 'principal applicant' provided they are 18 years of age or older.

Yes, subject to the full-filment of certain requirements, citizenship can be extended to your spouse, dependent children (and to their extended family in future. Spouse of your child would not be qualified as of now, however their kids will qualify without any additional investment as long as one of the parents is a citizen of country offering Citizenship by Investment”), dependent parents and grandparents.

Vazir Investment is part of Vazir Group, we are one of the leading Government authorize immigration services providers, having strong presence in (UAE, India, Canada, Portugal, Malta, and Slovenia). Our team consists of professional members of IMC (Investment Migration Council), CICC (College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants), RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) that are officially qualified agents safeguarding your interest by offering regulated and authentic professional advice on immigration be it the (Residency by investment or Citizenship by Investment) and that suits your investment need and budget.

Vazir Group has been in the Investment Migration industry for over 10 years, having diverse clientele from all walks of life including Entrepreneurs, Business Owners & Directors from the top 50 public companies in UAE, and organizations such as Amazon, IBM, Procter & Gamble, Oracle and General Electric among Fortune 500 companies. Our satisfied clients give us the courage to say that we are proud of our reputation within the industry that our team has painstakingly built over the years.

Yes, all the countries offering Citizenship by Investment programs has a robust and rigorous due diligence process which involves engaging law enforcement and third-party due diligence firms to conduct due diligence on all family members including principal applicant, spouse, and any dependent who is above 16 years of age “dependent kids below 16 years of age does not go through due diligence”. Upon receipt of feedback from law enforcement and due diligence firms, a decision is made on the application. In addition to the official due diligence, we at Vazir Investments conduct initial due diligence to find out risk involved (if any) as this raises the opportunities for obtaining the required citizenship and or residency.

We provide 07 Citizenship by Investment programs that are Antigua & Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Malta, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia and Türkiye. For further details please contact one of our expert Investment Migration Advisor.

Confidentiality is our key priority, from the initial due diligence and throughout the application process all information and documents collected are kept confidential, except where necessary checks are carried out by Authorised Due Diligence agencies and international partners.

We provide 11 Residency by Investment programs in Canada, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United States of America.

Vazir Investment is always looking to formulate profitable partnerships which can accelerate business growth. If you feel you can add incremental value to the growth of our business, we would love to hear from you. Our key business focus is on offering customized immigration solutions like RCBI “Residency / Citizenship by Investment”, UAE golden visa by Investment, and business migration programs in UAE, Canada, and Europe. Some of the highlights on why to join are as below: Comprehensive support throughout the process. Provides competitive commissions / higher government commissions. Empowers our partners with the tools and support. Strong presence in (UAE, India, Canada, Portugal, Malta, and Slovenia). Provide on ground services (i.e., obtaining documents, legalization, attestation etc.). Frequently provides updates on new programs or proposed changes. We tend to make immigration process simplified. Confidentiality is our highest priority. We would encourage you to fill in the form so our Business Development Directors will contact you and we take you onboard.

As of today, over 100 countries in the world have some form of Investment Migration legislation in place. However, a few offers Citizenship by Investment (also know as Economic Citizenship or Passport by Investment). These programs are mutually beneficial for both the investor and the country “most of the programs are source of attracting foreign investment, creating jobs, funds that boast host countries development, contributing countries economy”.

Countries like Antigua & Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Turkey, Malta, and others have been offering Citizenship by Investment programs that enables qualified applicants and their family to obtain dual passport / citizenship in return of their investments in government approved investment options such as real estate, government funds etc.

United Arab Emirates launched its golden visa (a unique long-term residence visa with exclusive benefits) back in 2018 that enables foreign talent, entrepreneurs, investors, and their families to make UAE their second home, where they can live, work or study. Since its launch the UAE golden visa has been a major success and have attracted thousands of individuals and families who are looking towards UAE’s safe & secure environment, low tax regime, stable political environment, and thriving economy.

Five of the Caribbean countries (i.e., Antigua & Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, and St. Lucia) are offering their Citizenship by Investment, qualified investors can obtain Citizenship in 90 to 120 by option one of the governments approved investment option such as Real-estate, government fund etc.

In general Caribbean countries (i.e., Antigua & Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, and St. Lucia), Turkey, Montenegro, and North Macedonia are considered to offer second citizenship in 90 to 120 days after submission of the application.

There are no minimum investment criteria set by the Canadian government (however, the individuals must be financially strong and having access to liquid funds worth CAD 200,000 or more and have the required capital to support their operations in Canada i.e, hiring and paying wages to local talent, rental, business promotions etc.).

Two of the business investment opportunities opted in year 2022-2023 that are attracting investor, business owner or the entrepreneur are OINP “Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program” and ICT “Intra Company Transfer” both the programs are pathway to Canadian Permanent Residence and Citizenship.

Several countries around the world offer Residency by Investment programs with the option to buy or invest in real estate, value for your investment residency programs is United Arab Emirates “USD 550,000”, Portugal “EUR 280,000”, Greece “EUR 250,000”, Spain “EUR 500,000” and Malta.

Most countries allow their citizens to seek another or multiple citizenships as much as they wanted, but there are some countries that do not allow dual citizenship, such as Ethiopia, India, Iran, Monaco, Singapore, Monaco & few others. If you are a citizen of a country that does not allow dual citizenship you may schedule free consultation with one of our migration experts.