Citizenship by investment

Citizenship-by-investment programmes grant full nationality to people who make a qualifying financial contribution, typically a donation to a government fund or an investment in approved property or businesses, subject to background and due diligence checks. Unlike a golden visa, which gives residence, this confers citizenship directly, usually with little or no requirement to have lived in the country first. Such programmes have been offered by a small number of countries, many of them small island states. The passport may bring visa-free travel to other countries, and citizenship can often be passed on to children.

These schemes are controversial and under pressure. Governments and international bodies have raised concerns about money laundering, tax evasion and security, and some countries have withdrawn visa-free access for passports issued through programmes they regard as weak. In 2025 the EU’s Court of Justice ruled that one member state’s scheme breached EU law, because EU citizenship cannot be granted as a commercial transaction. A new citizenship does not by itself change your tax position: tax usually follows residence, although the US taxes its citizens wherever they live. Your existing country may not permit dual nationality. Rules, costs and even whether a programme exists change often, so rely on official sources and independent legal advice.