Get to know some great things about citizenship programs.

In this article, you’ll get to know about some important details pertaining to various citizenship programs.

Portugal

Properties purchased for less than this price are of inferior and outside major cities in Portugal not worth buying. Portugal is a Schengen country, and you will be given residence permit valid for entry/exit through any member state in EU.  No requirement to live in Portugal. You might want to come to Portugal for fingerprinting once in a year or two years.  After 5 years Permanent Residency and after that +1 year, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship (means 6 years total) in a warm and sunny western European country. Recently Portugal have had problems with issuing residence permits to Chinese investors, caused delays, but seem to be on the track now.

St Kitts and Nevis

Citizenship programs in St. Kitts require just $250,000 donation, plus there are various charges and they will give you instant passport in about 8 months. Citizenship programs in St. Kitts are quite popular among them who have lots of problems with Canada and USA. Recently Canada canceled visa waiver agreement with St Kitts citing St Kitts selling passports to Iranians and Syrians. In 2014, US have accused St Kitts of facilitating financial crimes from passports obtained through Citizenship by investment program. Real estate in St Kitts is overpriced which are sold over 400,000$ and the total price for real estate + citizenship will go as high as $590,000.  Many of those from the Middle East, prefer $250,000 a cheap, best and fastest route. They don’t want to buy real estate from a faraway country, wasting so much money buying real estate.

Switzerland

Switzerland has business program which requires CHF 1 million or more turnover in Business. Another option is if you don’t intend to work, you can get residence in any Swiss canton by paying a lump sum tax (CHF 250,000) every year, plus you should rent or buy a house to live.

The problem with Switzerland is yes beautiful country to live, very expensive, PR only after 10 years of living and Swiss citizenship after 12 years of living (very difficult to get Swiss citizenship too). Swiss taxes are very high too for the rich!

United Kingdom

UK has a popular “entrepreneur program” where you have to start a company in UK with £200,000 pounds. You cannot work outside except for your company under this program. If you have more money say £2 million pounds, you can get residency in 2 months.

The problem with UK is you have to spend 8 months every year to qualify for PR and after 5 years you get UK citizenship. Another problem is with UK visa or residence permits; you cannot visit Schengen countries, having invested that kind of money. If you don’t want to live in UK then this program is not for you.

After the Brexit, i wonder UK is of any interest! If you look on the flip side, yes because pound is weak now, UK investor program is the cheapest.