How to Obtain Economic Citizenship: Programmes Compared

Also known as economic citizenship programs, immigration by investment schemes benefit both the government and the applicant. Below, you can read some interesting facts about obtaining economic citizenship and its main advantages, including the legal support our team can offer.

Quick Facts
Definition	Economic citizenship implies obtaining residency, direct permanent residency, or citizenship by making an investment in a country that has such a program.
Investment options	Real estate acquisition, donations, business investment, and buying financial instruments are some of the options that lead to economic citizenship in most countries.
Minimum investment amount	Each country has specific financial requirements depending on the type of investment chosen.
Popular economic citizenship countries	Some of the most popular countries where economic citizenship is available are Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica.
Time frame to acquire economic citizenship	Where direct citizenship is available, the average time to obtain a passport is 6 months.
Requirement to live in the respective countries	Some countries require successful applicants to live there, while others do not.
Direct immigration with family members	Some of them allow direct immigration with the main candidate on the same application.
Family members allowed to join the program	In most cases, spouses and children are allowed to move to the respective countries. In special cases, other relatives can also relocate.
Additional financial requirements for family members	In certain cases, additional fees must be paid.
Availability of economic citizenship in European countries	Yes, North Macedonia is one of these countries.
Availability of economic citizenship in South American states	Yes, Uruguay and Paraguay are two countries where indirect economic citizenship is available through golden visa schemes.
Dual citizenship permitted (YES/NO)	In some countries
Cheapest economic citizenship program	Vanuatu has the cheapest economic citizenship scheme.
Most innovative economic citizenship scheme	El Salvador’s citizenship by investment scheme which allows investors to access it through crypto investments.
Benefits of economic citizenship countries	– free-travel to various countries, – access to tax breaks in certain cases, – dual nationality in some countries.

What is economic citizenship, and how is it known?

the economic citizenship is known as citizenship by investment (CBI),
this status can be gained in various countries worldwide,
economic citizenship can be obtained in a maximum of 2-6 months,
specific investments can be directed through various citizenship schemes/national contribution, etc.

What types of investments can be done through economic citizenship routes?

real estate through purchase and rental (Malta offers residency by investment through real estate rentals);
financial instruments (purchase of shares, debentures, and other instruments) which the government approves;
companies (existing companies which meet certain criteria) or by setting up new companies;
various underdeveloped areas of the countries by setting up companies or by making other investments.

Here is also an infographic on this topic:

What are the eligibility criteria for economic citizenship?

have a clean criminal record or submit a certificate of good standing (this condition is universal);
indicating proof of the legitimacy of the funds used for the investment (this is often met in economic citizenship countries, as the authorities will verify the respective funds);
not being denied entry in other countries may also be a requirement that contributes to your moral good standing;
payment of various processing fees, in addition to the minimum amount required for the program itself (which varies by country).

How can I determine the best economic citizenship scheme in 2026?

With so many countries offering residency and citizenship by investment, choosing a program can be complicated; however, here are a few tips that can be of help:

choose the country based on whether you want to acquire residency or citizenship by investment;
based on the amount of money you are willing to invest (there are both cheap and expensive programs);
based on whether you intend to live in that country or not (some countries offering second passports do ask the applicant to live there);
the reputation and legal system of the respective country are also important in choosing the right economic citizenship program for you;
the ability to travel freely to other countries is one of the most important advantages of such a program.

Can you give some examples of countries with economic citizenship routes?

Yes. Here are some popular destinations:

Dominica – the CBI program is fully remote,
Eastern Caribbean countries – At least USD 200,000 is the minimum investment required,
Argentina – Investing at least USD 500,000 in qualifying projects,
St. Kitts & Nevis – At least USD 325,000 for a real estate property to gain citizenship,
Antigua & Barbuda – At least USD 300,000 invested in the real estate sector to access the economic citizenship program, etc.

Can family members relocate through economic citizenship schemes?

Yes.

Is the economic citizenship route a golden visa?

Yes, because applicants benefit from a wide range of advantages when investing in a country that offers economic citizenship.

Is dual citizenship permitted through economic citizenship routes?

Yes, in most countries.

Are there any special citizenship programs available?

Yes, for instance, in El Salvador, where crypto investments are permitted in exchange for citizenship.

What are the benefits of economic citizenship programs/schemes?

foreign investors have the most benefits when obtaining a golden visa/citizenship by investment because they can expand in powerful countries and enlarge their horizons by creating new partnerships,
these programs allow living, studying, and working in respective countries without restrictions,
freedom of movement is also facilitated through citizenship by investment schemes, etc.

For complete information on how economic citizenship programs work, please contact us. You can rely on us to help you buy a golden visa in a country of your choice.