8/3/2020
Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
EDITORS' PICK | 1,420,087 views | Jul 28, 2020, 06:00am EDT
Want To Escape From America?
12 Countries Where You Can Buy
Citizenship (And A Second
Passport)
Laura Begley Bloom Senior Contributor
ForbesWomen
Transformative Travel: I look at how travel can change lives.
After the 2016 presidential election, so many people were dreaming about
moving out of the US that Canada’s immigration website crashed. Now, the
idea of becoming an expat is getting hot again. According to a recent
YouGov survey, 31% of Americans say they are interested in bolting if their
candidate isn’t elected in the upcoming November elections. Tom Hanks
and Rita Wilson recently made headlines when they became honorary Greek
citizens and received second passports. And with the coronavirus pandemic
restricting travel for US citizens and the power of the US passport on the
decline, it’s no surprise that many Americans are investigating how they can
buy a second passport, whether it’s to seek shelter in another country or just
to be able to travel more freely.
READ MORE: “Want To Live And Work In Paradise? 7 Countries
Inviting Americans To Move Abroad”
Some countries like Barbados and Estonia are luring remote workers with
the promise of extended residency programs, which allow you to live and
work there for a specified amount of time. But when it comes to obtaining
an actual passport, it’s typically more complicated than you’d expect. It can
often take up to five years of living in a place to become a resident. (If Hanks
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
and Wilson had taken the normal route to Greek citizenship, they would
have had to invest several hundred thousand dollars in real estate and live in
the country for seven years.) Many countries also require you to renounce
your US citizenship.
Here’s the good news: There are also countries around the world that
welcome Americans—for a price—with citizen by investment programs that
grant residency and a second passport. And thanks to the coronavirus
pandemic, a handful of Caribbean islands are making it even easier (and
cheaper) than ever to obtain a second passport.
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A view of Carvoeiro in Portugal—just one of the places where you can buy citizenship around the ...
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“Demand for these programs is accelerating, just as the supply has grown
globally,” says Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, a company that
helps people obtain citizenship in other countries. “Increasingly, nations
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
and wealthy individuals see investment migration as more than a
competitive advantage. Today, it is viewed as an absolute requirement in a
volatile world.”
If the idea of moving abroad is truly calling your name, here are some of the
best places where you can obtain citizenship and a few of the top-line details
about what it will take to secure that coveted second passport.
Places to Get Caribbean Citizenship
The island of St. Kitts, where you can buy citizenship.
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St. Kitts & Nevis
This pair of lush islands has one of the strongest passports in the Caribbean,
allowing visa-free travel to more than 100 countries, including Italy and the
United Kingdom. Now St. Kitts & Nevis is offering a 23% discount on
citizenship through the end of 2020. With a $150,000 contribution to the
country’s “Sustainable Growth Fund” and a minimum real estate investment
of $200,000, a family of four can obtain passports. The contribution is
usually $195,000.
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
READ MORE: “35 Best And Worst Countries To Raise A Family
(You Won’t Believe America’s Ranking)”
A view of the Pitons on St. Lucia, where you can buy citizenship and a second passport.
GETTY
St. Lucia
The island of St. Lucia started offering residency to foreigners in 2015, and
according to Nestor Alfred, CEO of the St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment
Program, about 700 people have obtained passports since then. In May, the
price to obtain citizenship was cut in half thanks to new “Covid-19 Relief”
bonds: Through the end of 2020, it’ll cost $250,000 for an individual and
$300,000 for a family of four. With a St. Lucia passport, you can get visafree or visa-on-arrival access to 146 global destinations.
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
Colorful houses along the waterfront in St John's, Antigua.
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Antigua and Barbuda
Another twin-island nation, Antigua and Barbuda welcomes foreigners who
want to live the Caribbean dream and is making it less expensive to get a
passport here. A $100,000 donation to the country’s development fund,
plus a real estate investment, will secure passports for a family of four, and
the government recently made it cheaper to add more children. A passport
here will get you visa-free access to 151 destinations.
READ MORE: “COVID Report: The Best And Worst Airlines
During Coronavirus”
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
The village of Scotts Head on Dominica.
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Dominica
The tiny Caribbean island of Dominica also welcomes foreigners to its
beautiful shores and is considered to be one of the best countries for
citizenship by investment, since citizenship is extended to your spouse,
dependent children and dependent parents or grandparents and can also be
passed on to future generations. Applicants need to either make a
contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund or invest in luxury and
sustainable hotels and resorts.
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
St. George's, the capital of Grenada.
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Grenada
With a passport from Grenada, you can get visa-free access to many
countries, including China. There are two different ways to obtain
citizenship, including a $150,000 contribution to the country's National
Transformation Fund via the Grenadian Citizenship-by-Investment
Program or by buying approved real estate with a minimum value of
$350,000
Places to Get Citizenship in Europe
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
It's possible to become a citizen of Portugal.
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Portugal
Portugal has become a hot spot for people looking to quit their jobs and
move abroad. In order to get a Portugal passport, you need to participate in
the Golden Visa program, which has several ways to qualify, including
making a donation to Portuguese art and culture, investing in a business,
starting a business or by buying real estate. Fun fact: To become a citizen,
you’ll need to take a Portuguese history test.
READ MORE: “Foreigners Reveal: 17 Weird Things Americans
Do (That We Think Are Normal)”
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
The skyline of Valletta, Malta.
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Malta
Malta’s Individual Investor Program is one of the most popular citizenship
schemes. To get Maltese citizenship it’ll cost you approximately $1.1 million
through a combination of donations and real estate holdings. In return, you
have the right to live and work in Malta or throughout the EU. You’ll also get
visa-free access to 183 place around the world.
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
Girne on the island of Cyprus island.
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Cyprus
The Cyprus Investment Program doesn’t come cheap: You’ll need to spend
about $2.5 million between donations and real estate investments, but in
exchange you’ll be able to travel visa-free to 174 destinations worldwide.
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
You could live here: Vienna.
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Austria
Austria has one of the world’s strongest passports, giving its holders visafree access to 187 destinations worldwide, plus the right to live in all EU
member countries. But it’s not cheap: You’ll need to make a minimum
investment of about $3.5 million.
Places to get Citizenship Around the World
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
On a hike to Roy's Peak in Wanaka, New Zealand.
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New Zealand
If it was good enough for the Lord of the Rings, it’s good enough for you.
New Zealand has made headlines with wealthy expats like Paypal cofounder Peter Thiel buying their way to citizenship. But it doesn’t come
cheap. There are two different ways to get citizenship in New Zealand by
investment, starting with an investment of at least $2 million over a fouryear period.
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
Hot air balloons at sunrise in Cappadocia, Turkey—your possible new home.
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Turkey
With a real estate investment of $250,000, you can buy your way into
Turkey’s Citizenship-by-Investment Program, which secures a Turkish
passport that will give you citizenship in this gorgeous country plus visa-free
or visa-on-arrival access to 111 destinations around the globe.
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
On Champagne Beach in Vanuatu.
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Vanuatu
Who wouldn’t want to live in the South Pacific? The archipelago of Vanuatu
—about 1,000 miles east of Australia—has a Development Support Program
that requires a non-refundable donation to the islands of $180,000 for a
family of four. In return, you’ll get a passport that will secure visa-free travel
to 116 countries, plus the opportunity to call this island paradise your new
home.
Editor’s Note 7/29/20: The news about Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
receiving Greek passports was added to this story after publication. Details
about Turkish citizenship were also updated.
READ MORE:
• “35 Best And Worst Countries To Raise A Family (You Won’t Believe
America’s Ranking)”
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Want To Escape From America? 12 Countries Where You Can Buy Citizenship (And A Second Passport)
• “Want To Live And Work In Paradise? 7 Countries Inviting Americans To
Move Abroad”
• “Coronavirus Deals: 5 Cheapest Places To Buy Real Estate Now (And Make
Money)”
• “Ranked: The 20 Top Places Americans Are Dreaming About Right Now”
• “Ranked: The 10 US Cities Best Positioned To Recover From Coronavirus
(And The 10 Worst)”
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I’m a travel and lifestyle authority and a content strategist who works with brands to
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