Glossary

Citizenship (CBI) gives you a passport right away with all rights, including passing it on to children. Residence (RBI) gives the right to live in the country, while the passport comes later, after years of residence and naturalization. CBI is about the passport, RBI is about living in the country.

Caribbean programs start at roughly $200,000-250,000 as a contribution for a family, plus government fees and due diligence. An EU passport through Malta costs considerably more. An exact estimate is calculated for your family composition and the chosen route (contribution or real estate).

Classic Caribbean investment programs usually take 4-8 months. A passport by descent (repatriation) takes from 6 to 24 months. Malta requires a period of prior residence and takes longer.

Classic Caribbean programs do not require permanent residence — that is the whole point. It is enough to pass due diligence and make the investment; some programs ask for one short visit for biometrics or the oath.

It is a deep check of the applicant: criminal history, sanctions, source of funds, court cases, and political ties. This is where refusals happen most often, so applicants prepare for it in advance.

Refusal is possible — most often because of an unclear source of funds or hidden problems in the background. Government due diligence fees are non-refundable, so the file is prepared in advance to pass on the first try.

Most countries with investment programs (Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts, Malta, Turkey) allow dual citizenship. Some countries (China, the UAE, Singapore) do not recognize a second citizenship for their nationals — check the rules of your own country first.

On its own, no. Tax residency is determined by where you physically live (usually 183+ days a year); citizenship by itself does not affect it. A Grenada passport does not make you a tax resident of Grenada.

A residence permit is a temporary status that must be renewed every 1-2 years. Permanent residency is an indefinite right to live in the country without renewal. A residence permit is usually the first step, permanent residency the next, and citizenship after that.

A general name for residence programs in exchange for a large investment (real estate, funds, a deposit). It gives the right to live in the country, and in the EU to travel freely across Schengen. Well-known examples: Greece, Portugal, and the UAE.

Obtaining a passport without investment if you prove that your ancestors were citizens of the country. It works for Israel, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, and others. The main challenge is to gather and legalize archival documents of kinship.

Source of Wealth is how you built your wealth in general (business, salary, inheritance). Source of Funds is where the specific money for this investment comes from. The bank and the reviewer look at both and want to see documents.

Yes. You can usually add a spouse, children (up to 18-30 years old depending on program rules), and in many programs parents. Each person carries separate fees, so a family costs more than a single applicant.

Visa-free travel to 140-150 countries (including Schengen for up to 90 days and often the United Kingdom), a backup status for the family, and — in the case of Grenada — access to the E-2 business visa in the United States.

E-2 is a US visa for those who invest in their own American business and live in the country while it operates. It is available only to nationals of countries with an E-2 treaty; among Caribbean programs, Grenada has such a treaty.

It all starts with the goal: travel, relocation, taxes, a US business, or a backup plan. Different countries and types of status suit different goals. We review your situation and select an option with a full estimate for the family.

Large payments in reliable deals go through an escrow account: the money is frozen with an independent agent and released to the recipient only after the conditions are met (registration of ownership or approval of the application).

KYC is customer identification when opening an account: who you are and where the money comes from. AML is the whole system of anti-money-laundering rules, of which KYC is a part. Any large sum must be backed up with documents.

It is the country you pay taxes to — usually where you live more than 183 days a year. Citizenship and tax residency are different things, and a second passport by itself does not change your taxes.

With the block titled «Where to start» above: it has simple answers about residence, permanent residence, second citizenship, and due diligence. After that you can message us — we will review your situation and suggest real options with no obligation.