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 lega…

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 rout…

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 offer…

Yes. Investment migration programmes are established and regulated by sovereign governments. They are fully legal, transparent, and internationally recognised. Citizen Sure operates in strict compliance with all applicable laws, anti-money laundering regulations, and international due diligence…

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 ph…

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 t…

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…

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 qualifyi…

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 jus…

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 contin…

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 fo…

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…

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…

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…

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 residen…

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. Afte…

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 amoun…

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 financ…

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 prog…

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 liabil…

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 i…

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 …

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 …

Absolutely. All client information is handled under strict NDAs and our ISO 27001-certified 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…

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…

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 stand…

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 a…