Frequently asked questions

Investment migration is the legal process of obtaining citizenship or residency in a foreign country through a qualifying financial contribution — such as a government fund donation, real estate purchase, or business investment. Programmes are offered by sovereign governments and are fully legal, internationally recognised, and increasingly common among UHNW and HNW individuals and families.

Residence by investment gives you the right to live in a country; citizenship by investment makes you a national with a passport and full civic rights.

Residence permits usually need renewing and may carry stay requirements, while citizenship is generally permanent. Many families combine the two to cover different needs.

A golden visa is a residence permit granted to non-nationals who make a qualifying investment, such as property, a fund or a business, in the issuing country.

It gives you and your eligible family members the right to live in the country, subject to the permit's conditions and renewals. It is a residence status, not citizenship.

Citizenship by investment is a government programme granting nationality to applicants who make a qualifying contribution and pass due diligence.

Qualifying options typically include a contribution to a national fund or an approved real estate or business investment. Each country sets its own rules, and approval is always at the government's discretion.

A golden visa grants residency — the right to live, work, and travel in a country — but not citizenship or a second passport. Citizenship by investment grants full citizenship, including a second passport with all associated rights. Some programmes (like Portugal's) offer a residency-first route with citizenship eligibility after 5 years of residency. The right choice depends entirely on your goals: travel access, tax benefits, speed, or long-term settlement.

Not automatically. In some countries, years on a golden visa can count towards permanent residence or naturalisation under the general nationality rules.

Naturalisation usually involves additional conditions such as time spent in the country, language skills and integration requirements, and these rules can change. Treat citizenship as a possible later step, not a guaranteed outcome.

The right programme depends on several factors: your investment budget, desired timeline, tax goals, travel access requirements, family situation, and long-term intentions. Caribbean CBI programmes offer speed and affordability. European golden visas provide EU access and lifestyle. Malta offers full EU citizenship. UAE offers 0% income tax. Our advisors conduct a full eligibility and goal assessment in a free initial consultation — and present a personalised shortlist of the top 3 programmes for your profile.

It depends on the programme: several have no minimum stay, while others require a short visit, an interview or a period of residence before citizenship.

Check the stay rules for each programme on its page, and remember that holding a passport does not by itself make you tax resident in that country.

Stay rules vary: some golden visas have no minimum stay, others require a set number of days per year to keep or renew the permit.

Minimum-stay rules for keeping a permit are different from the residence needed for permanent residence, citizenship or tax residence, so plan for each separately.

Yes — our entire initial process (consultation, programme selection, document guidance, application preparation) can be completed remotely. Many clients obtain citizenship or residency without visiting the destination country at all. Caribbean CBI programmes and the UAE Golden Visa have zero physical presence requirements. Portugal requires just 7 days per year, which can often be structured around a short visit.

Start from your goals — travel, residence, education, business or a plan B — then compare budget, timeline, stay rules, family eligibility and tax.

Shortlist two or three programmes, check that your nationality and source of funds are eligible, and get a full family cost estimate before committing.

Expect a valid passport, police clearance, proof of the investment, evidence of a lawful source of funds, health insurance and family civil documents.

Most documents must be recent, certified or apostilled and officially translated. Requirements differ by country, so work from the issuing authority's current checklist.

There is no single 'best' — it depends on your priorities. Malta offers the most powerful EU passport (186 countries visa-free) but requires 12–14 months and €600K+. St. Kitts & Nevis is the world's oldest programme with 157 visa-free countries and 45–60 day processing from $250K. Dominica is the most affordable from $100K. Vanuatu is the fastest (30 days) but offers 98 visa-free countries. Our advisors help you identify the optimal balance for your specific situation.

Dominica offers the world's most affordable CBI programme, starting from $100,000 for a single applicant (government fund route). Vanuatu starts from approximately $130,000. Antigua & Barbuda from $230,000. St. Kitts & Nevis from $250,000. However, cheapest is not always best — visa-free access, processing time, due diligence standards, and programme stability all matter. Our advisors will recommend the right programme for your goals, not just the lowest price.

Yes — Malta's Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (MEIN) programme continues to operate in 2026, though it has undergone regulatory refinements. The programme requires a minimum contribution of €600,000 (or €750,000 for accelerated processing), a qualifying real estate investment or rental, and a charitable donation. The European Commission has scrutinised the programme but it remains fully operational. Annual quotas apply — Citizen Sure recommends early engagement.

Portugal's Golden Visa grants EU residency through a qualifying investment. In 2026, the main qualifying routes are investment funds (from €500,000) and commercial real estate. Residential real estate in Lisbon and Porto was removed as a qualifying investment in 2023. The programme requires just 7 days of physical presence per year, and after 5 years holders can apply for permanent residency and subsequently Portuguese (EU) citizenship.

Greece introduced tiered investment thresholds in 2024 that continue to apply in 2026. Prime areas including greater Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini now require a minimum real estate investment of €800,000. Other areas of Greece maintain the €250,000 threshold. The programme continues to offer EU residency with zero minimum stay requirements, and a 7-year path to Greek citizenship for those who meet residency criteria.

The UAE Golden Visa grants a 10-year renewable residency permit to qualifying investors, entrepreneurs, and talented individuals. The main investment route requires AED 2 million (approximately $545,000) in qualifying real estate or other approved assets. There is no minimum stay requirement for Golden Visa holders. The UAE levies zero income tax, zero capital gains tax, and zero inheritance tax — making it one of the most tax-efficient residency options globally.

Investment thresholds vary significantly by programme. The most affordable CBI programmes start from around $100,000 (Dominica) while premium EU citizenship programmes such as Malta require contributions from €600,000. Real estate investment routes and family inclusions affect the total cost. Our advisors will provide a precise cost estimate tailored to your profile and goals.

Processing times range from as little as 30 days (Vanuatu) to 14+ months (Malta). Caribbean programmes typically process in 2–4 months. EU golden visas typically take 6–12 months for residency issuance. The full path to EU citizenship (e.g. Portugal) takes 5 years from residency approval. Our advisors will recommend the optimal programme based on your timeline requirements.

Yes, in virtually all programmes. Most CBI and golden visa programmes allow the inclusion of a spouse or partner, dependent children (age limits vary), and in many cases dependent parents or grandparents. Additional contribution amounts apply for family members. Our advisors will confirm exact eligibility criteria for each family member.

A golden visa grants residency (the right to live, work, and travel in a country) but not citizenship or a second passport. Citizenship by investment grants full citizenship, including a second passport. Some programmes (like Portugal) offer a residency-first pathway with citizenship eligibility after 5 years. The right choice depends on your goals — our advisors will help you decide.

In most cases, no. Many programmes have minimal or zero physical presence requirements. UAE Golden Visa has no minimum stay requirement. Portugal requires only 7 days per year. Caribbean CBI programmes have no ongoing residency requirements. Malta requires 12 months of residency before citizenship is granted, but no ongoing requirement thereafter.

We conduct thorough pre-application due diligence on every client before any formal submission. This identifies and addresses any potential issues before they arise. Applications are only submitted when we are confident they will pass government scrutiny. A dedicated senior relationship manager oversees your case from start to finish.

Most citizenship by investment programmes let the main applicant include a spouse and children, and some also allow parents or other dependants.

Each programme defines eligible dependants by age, financial dependency and relationship, and every family member goes through due diligence. Additional government and due diligence fees usually apply per dependant.

Yes, most golden visa routes allow a spouse and dependent children to be included, and some also cover dependent parents.

Family members receive their own permits linked to the main investor's status, so renewals and any changes to the investment can affect the whole family.

Timelines range from about one to two months on the fastest programmes to more than a year on others, measured from submission of a complete file.

Document preparation, due diligence on each family member and government workload all affect the timeline. A well-prepared application is the most reliable way to avoid delays.

Vanuatu is the world's fastest CBI programme, with approvals typically issued in 30–45 days. St. Kitts & Nevis processes in 45–60 days. Antigua & Barbuda takes 3–4 months. Turkey processes in 3–6 months. EU citizenship programmes take significantly longer — Portugal requires 5+ years of residency, Malta 12–14 months from application. If speed is your priority, Caribbean programmes are unmatched.

The Portugal Golden Visa typically takes 6–12 months from application submission to residency card issuance, depending on the volume of applications at the Agency for Investment and External Trade of Portugal (AICEP). Pre-application preparation with Citizen Sure typically takes 4–8 weeks. After 5 years of residency maintenance, applicants may apply for permanent residency and, subsequently, citizenship.

Yes — virtually all programmes allow family inclusion. Spouses or civil partners, dependent children (age limits vary: typically under 25 for Caribbean programmes, under 18 for some EU programmes), and in many cases dependent parents and grandparents. Additional contribution or investment amounts apply per family member. Citizen Sure will map your full family structure against each programme's eligibility criteria as part of your initial consultation.

Yes, in several programmes. Portugal, Greece, and Spain allow dependent parents and parents-in-law to be included as dependents subject to eligibility criteria. Caribbean programmes vary — some allow parents over a certain age (typically 55+) as dependents. The key conditions are usually financial dependency on the main applicant and a clean background check. Our advisors will confirm eligibility for each family member.

Complex backgrounds are something we manage regularly — they are not necessarily disqualifying. Our pre-application due diligence process identifies potential concerns before any government submission. We advise on how best to present your profile, what documentation is required, and which programmes are most appropriate given your background. We will always be honest if a particular profile presents a very high risk of rejection.

Citizen Sure's service continues after approval. We assist with travel document registration, passport renewal (when due), additional family inclusions, any government-required renewals (some residency programmes require biennial renewal), and any correspondence with programme authorities. Your relationship manager remains your point of contact for the lifetime of your programme.

Citizenship is permanent and does not require renewal (your passport must be renewed, typically every 10 years). Residency permits and golden visas do require periodic renewal — Portugal and Greece require renewal every 2 years, UAE every 10 years. Caribbean CBI passports are renewed like standard passports. Citizen Sure manages all renewal processes as part of our ongoing client relationship.

Yes — most programmes allow post-approval family additions (for example, a new spouse, newborn child, or newly dependent parent). The process and costs vary by programme. Some programmes allow additions at any time; others require that additions be made within a certain period of the original approval. Our team advises on the options and manages the process on your behalf.

Total cost combines the qualifying investment, government fees, due diligence fees, third-party costs such as legal or property fees, and professional fees.

Government and due diligence fees usually rise with each family member. Ask for a full cost breakdown for your family before you commit, rather than comparing headline investment amounts alone.

Total costs include: (1) The qualifying investment itself (donation, real estate, or fund — varies by programme), (2) Government application and processing fees (typically $10,000–$50,000), (3) Due diligence fees ($5,000–$15,000 per applicant), (4) Legal and advisory fees. Citizen Sure provides a full, transparent cost breakdown at the start of your engagement — no hidden fees, no surprises.

It depends on the route. Government fund donations (Caribbean CBI) are non-returnable — they are contributions, not investments. Real estate investments can be sold after the minimum holding period (typically 5 years) and may appreciate in value. Fund investments in Portugal and Greece are held for the programme duration and returned at maturity. Our advisors will recommend the route that best matches your financial objectives.

The lowest current threshold for EU residency by investment is €250,000 in Greece (outside designated prime areas). Portugal's fund route starts from €500,000. Spain's golden visa requires €500,000 in real estate. Malta's golden visa (as distinct from citizenship) begins at €300,000. All prices are subject to change — we recommend requesting a current programme summary from our advisors.

There are three membership plans, at £299, £499 and £999 per month.

Each plan adds a different level of ongoing adviser support. The plans page compares what each one includes. Government fees and the qualifying investment are separate.

Yes. You can move between the £299, £499 and £999 per month plans as your needs change, or cancel, under the terms shown when you join.

Tax benefits vary enormously by programme and your current tax residency. UAE residency means 0% income tax and 0% capital gains tax. Portugal's NHR regime offers 20% flat income tax rate on Portuguese-source income and 0% on most foreign income for 10 years. Italy's flat tax regime caps liability at €100,000 annually. The right programme can save high earners millions per year — we quantify this precisely before any recommendation.

Tax residency is determined by your physical presence and the tax authority's rules — it is separate from citizenship. Obtaining a second citizenship does not automatically create a new tax obligation. However, changing tax residency (establishing genuine residency in a new country) does have implications in your departure country. Our tax advisory team conducts a full departure and arrival tax analysis before any programme is selected.

Due diligence is the background screening run on every applicant and adult family member, covering identity, criminal record, reputation and source of funds.

Checks typically use police certificates, international watchlists and third-party investigators. Being transparent about your history and wealth from the start is the best way through it.

Yes. Citizenship and residence by investment programmes are created and run by governments under their own laws, and official authorities decide applications.

Programmes are periodically reformed, suspended or closed, and some face scrutiny from other governments. Use regulated advisers, pay only through official channels and keep records of every step.

Many investment programmes allow dual citizenship, but whether you can keep your existing nationality depends on the law of your current country.

Some countries restrict or prohibit dual nationality or require you to notify the authorities. Check your home country's rules with an adviser before you apply.

Most countries permit dual citizenship, but there are notable exceptions. Germany, Japan, China, India, the Netherlands, and several others generally restrict dual citizenship, though exceptions exist. The US permits dual citizenship but imposes worldwide taxation on all citizens regardless of residence. Our legal team advises on the implications of dual citizenship for your specific nationality before any application is made.

All investment migration programmes require government due diligence covering: criminal background checks across all jurisdictions of residence, source of funds verification, source of wealth documentation, and in some cases media screening and business background checks. Citizen Sure conducts its own pre-application due diligence before any government submission so that issues are resolved before an application is filed.

Absolutely. All client information is handled under strict NDAs and our data security protocols. Your personal and financial information is never shared with third parties beyond what is required for your government application. We apply the same standards of confidentiality that you would expect from a top-tier law firm or private bank.