Citizenship By Investment Programs 2025

Citizenship-by investment programs attract a number of high net worth individuals in developing nations, looking to add a second passport  in their investment portfolio. A second passport provides a greater mobility along with visa free travel freedom. The CBI market has turned into a $20 billion dollar industry annually along the Golden visa market is valued at another $30 billion. Together the Investor Residence and Citizenship market is a combined $50 billion as of 2025 and is projected to grow further every year.

Joachim Stern (2011) coined the term jus pecuniae for acquisition of citizenship through financial contributions and to describe the bureaucratic fees for citizenship applications.

St Kitts introduced the first citizenship by investment program in 1984, then Dominica joined in 1993 and it was only in 2014 many more countries joined the CIP club and the market for investment citizenship gained momentum giving rise to a $2 billion dollar industry. Recently St Lucia and Vanuatu joined the citizenship by investment market along with Malta and Cyprus in Europe.

According to IMF article   “Offering citizenship in return for investment has been a “win-win” for some small Caribbean states. The substantial inflows of funds from these programs have helped boost employment and growth. Inflows to the public sector alone in St. Kitts and Nevis had grown to nearly 25 percent of GDP as of 2013”.

Another IMF article says Citizenship by investment is a growing phenomenon –  The rapid growth of private wealth, especially in emerging market economies, has led to a significant increase in affluent people interested in greater global mobility and fewer travel obstacles posed by visa restrictions, which became increasingly burdensome after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This prompted a recent proliferation of so-called citizenship-by-investment or economic citizenship programs, which allow high-net-worth people from developing or emerging economy countries to legitimately acquire passports that facilitate international travel in Europe and Schengen Area.

A second citizenship is like an insurance policy of the 21st centuryChristian Kalin, Chairman of Henley and Partners

Benefits of Second Passport

• Safety and protection in a second country.
• Mobility and visa free travel freedom (visa waiver)
• Perfect gift for your family transferring citizenship through generations.
• A Plan B option for Asset protection offshore
• Must in an investment portfolio for family offices, bankers and hedge fund managers
• Safety, privacy and protection from war, political problems.
• Protect you wealth offshore in a stable country with strong currency.
• Dual citizen status becoming a Global citizen expanding  freedom across the globe.
• World class education for children at best universities abroad.
• Opportunity to invest in international real estate markets to setup second home.
• Tax free planning on your worldwide income
• Passport is a modern day insurance policy of the 21st century
• Ease of doing business without wasting time waiting for visas.

The most important reason why these ‘citizen by investment’ programs gained so much popularity recently, citizenships are approved  very fast within 2-3 months without any trip to the country and there are no residency requirements. Exceptions are Malta requires one year residency, Cyprus requires 6 months prior residency.