With so many citizenship-by-investment programs available, it’s essential to understand the pros and cons on offer and the relative terms on the market.
There are many CIP programs available around the world, each offering attractive returns, opportunities to purchase a home in beautiful destinations, and global freedom through visa-free travel.
Let’s sort through the best citizenship by investment programs to showcase some of the most enticing countries on offer.
Best Investor Visa Programs in Europe
Any list of countries offering citizenship by investment should include the following schemes, delivering unique lifestyle opportunities and attractive returns on property investment:
Portugal Residency by Investment
One of the most popular EU schemes, Portugal offers the opportunity to become a resident in just 90 days, with real estate purchases from €280,000.
Spain Residency by Investment
Considered one of the best investor visa programmes, applicants can contribute from €500,000 and secure European residency in two months.
Malta Residency by Investment
Another one of the best investment visas in the world, and specifically in the Schengen Zone, investors can secure an EU residency permit within 60 days of approval. Qualifying real estate purchases start from €300,000.
Most Popular Golden Visas Around the World
Next in our list of countries offering citizenship by investment, let’s look at some of the best passport-by-investment schemes you can consider to acquire a lifelong second passport.
Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Countries List
| Country | Minimum Investment | Passport Processing Time |
| Antigua and Barbuda | $100,000 | Three to four months |
| St. Lucia | $100,000 | Three to four months |
| Dominica | $100,000 | Two to three months |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | $150,000 | 45 – 60 days through the fast-track process |
| Grenada | $150,000 | Three to four months |
Acquiring Residency by Investment in 2024
The best investment visas in the world include several other options, ranging from permanent residency to full citizenship.
When choosing the right citizenship by investment program, we strongly advise seeking advice from Astons since there are several factors to consider:
- Whether the visa includes spouses, children and family members.
- How long you must maintain the investment.
- If there are physical residency or travel requirements.
- The range of investment options you have to choose between.
- Which countries you can travel to visa-free.
- Conditions to maintain your dual citizenship or residency.
- Opportunities to recoup your investment.
For example, the best citizenship by investment programme for a foreign national seeking a haven due to political instability may be a low threshold donation, which is non-refundable.
However, the best passport by investment for an investor looking to receive returns on a rental property may be a very different scheme.
Features of the Best Citizenship by Investment Programmes
The easiest way to compare the best citizenship by investment schemes available is to visit the Astons website or give us a call directly for tailored advice from one of our experienced consultants.
Some of the popular citizenship by investment countries in 2024 include:
- Turkey: fast processing within two months and citizenship through a real estate purchase from $400,000 make Turkey a regular contender on the list of the best citizenship by investment programmes.
- Vanuatu: this beautiful Pacific island nation grants a second passport with investments of $130,000, processing applications in just one month.
Please get in touch for more information about any of the programmes featured in our citizenship by investment list of countries.
Astons has years of knowledge of successfully managing residency and citizenship by investment applications for clients worldwide.
We are on hand to guide you through the process, with exclusive access to our tax advisers and legal team to ensure your permanent residency or second passport is processed quickly, with support at each step of the way.
Article updated January 2024
