In line with the unfavorable situations that make travelling less accessible for many individuals around the world, a lot of people wonder if they can obtain a second citizenship at the comfort of their own home without having to fulfill any travel or residency requirements in the process. A second residency or citizenship is a key component in diversifying your investments and interests in the global economy.
It is more important than ever now not to be tied to one country which is why we have listed down a list of citizenship and residency programs with an exceptional component: All of these programs do not require you to travel during the application process to obtain your citizenship or residency.
CANADA
Many times applicants for Permanent Residency in Canada think that the application takes a lot of time. In fact it can take less then you expect, 6 to 9 months, and until the process is finished you don’t need to travel at all. This makes it ideal because you use the present time to prepare the application, submit it and by the end of the COVID-19 restrictions you can have your Canadian PR.
PORTUGAL
Portugal offers one of the most popular Golden Visa programs in Europe. Following a minimum real estate investment of €350,000, applicants can apply for a Portuguese residency visa. To initiate the process there is no need to visit Portugal. After discussing the available real estate options with Vazir Group experts, a property reservation can be made remotely. Applicants will then be required to open a Portuguese bank account and finalized the property purchase, all of which can be done through Power of Attorney. The residency visa will then be submitted and a pre-approval decision will be made in approximately two months from the date of submission. It is only after this stage that the applicant will be required to visit Portugal to submit their biometric data to finalize the process.
GREECE
In Greece, applicants can transfer their funds directly to the seller for their property purchase, or even make some payments through credit card. Power of Attorney can also be arranged through a local notary or consulate service. Greece’s permanent residency program requires a property purchase of €250,000 and will enable buyers to gain a 5 year PR permit and visa-free travel to the Schengen zone.
TURKEY
Citizenship by Investment in Turkey can be completed entirely without travelling to Turkey. In a similar manner to Portugal, the property purchase and opening of a bank account can all be completed through Power of Attorney. The whole application process will take between 3-6 months.
Each country has its own process, so the requirements will vary slightly depending on the program you choose. Factors that can influence your decision are whether you intend to relocate or not, equally the type of investment you intend to make is important, and can require a thorough examination of potential returns.
DOMINICA
Apart from opening its embassy in Abu Dhabi, the government of Dominica and its citizenship by investment program have been helping families and investors to become global citizens and obtain the passport with a smooth application process which does not require applicants to travel to Dominica. With a $100,000 contribution to the Dominica’s Economic Diversification Fund, or a minimum $200,000 investment in a government approved real estate property, an investor will receive Dominica Passport by applying to Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program, which is one of the most popular Caribbean Second Citizenship Program.
GRENADA
A Grenadian passport enables the holder to travel to 143 countries worldwide as well as gain access to the E-2 Visa program in the USA. Grenada Citizenship by Investment Program gives investors the chance to obtain Grenada’s Second Passport through either a one-time monetary contribution of $150,000, or a real estate investment of at least $200,000. Just like the other mentioned Caribbean Citizenship by investment Programs, investor will receive Grenada Passport within 4 to 6 months.
SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS
Saint Kitts and Nevis operates the oldest and most established citizenship by investment program worldwide. An investor can choose to make a onetime, nonrefundable $150,000 donation to the Government’s Sustainable Growth Fund, or invest in a government approved real-estate property for $200,000 or $400,000.
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
Antigua is one of the most cost-effective options for families looking to gain a second citizenship. To complete the application process and receive your passport, no travel is required. There is a requirement to spend a minimum of five days in Antigua which would only need to be for-filled five years following the approval of your citizenship application. Donation starts from $100,000 + costs.
