Every term,
defined clearly.

The body of law, regulation, and procedure designed to prevent the proceeds of crime from being legitimised through the financial system. AML compliance is a core obligation for CBI/RBI programmes.

The non-refundable government processing fee paid on submission of a CBI / RBI application, separate from the qualifying investment and the due-diligence fee.

The capture of unique physical identifiers — fingerprints, facial images, iris scans — required by most CBI / RBI programmes during the application process.

A government programme granting full citizenship and a passport in exchange for a qualifying economic contribution — typically a non-refundable donation or an approved real-estate purchase.

An OECD framework for automatic exchange of financial-account information between participating tax authorities. The non-US counterpart to FATCA.

A family member of a main applicant who is included in the same CBI / RBI application — typically a spouse, children below an age threshold, and qualifying parents.

The legal status of being a recognised citizen of two countries simultaneously. Permitted by most CBI-issuing states and by the majority of major Western jurisdictions, but explicitly prohibited by some.

The investigative process — covering identity, source of funds, criminal history, and reputational risk — that every investment-migration applicant must satisfy before approval.

A political and economic union of 27 European states. EU citizenship — acquired through citizenship of any member state — grants the right to live, work, and study across the entire bloc.

The intergovernmental body that sets global standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Its evaluations and "grey list" designations materially shape investment-migration compliance.

A US tax-information-sharing regime requiring foreign financial institutions to report on accounts held by US persons. Has material implications for any US-connected investment-migration applicant.

A colloquial term for European Residency-by-Investment programmes — most notably Portugal, Greece, and Italy — granting residence in exchange for an approved investment.

The professional field encompassing all routes by which an individual acquires citizenship or residency through an economic investment in the host country.

The regulatory requirement on financial institutions and licensed agents to verify the identity of clients before establishing a business relationship.

The non-refundable government contribution route in Caribbean CBI programmes. The simplest and fastest path, but the contribution is not recoverable.

The legal process by which a non-citizen acquires citizenship of a country, typically after a qualifying period of residency and the satisfaction of integration requirements.

The formal declaration of loyalty to a new country, sworn by applicants at the final stage of citizenship acquisition — including in some CBI programmes.

An individual entrusted with prominent public functions — or a close family member or business associate of such an individual. PEPs trigger enhanced due-diligence requirements under AML law.

An investment that meets the statutory criteria of a CBI / RBI programme — including amount, asset class, holding period, and (in some cases) job-creation tests.

A CBI / RBI investment route requiring purchase of approved real estate above a minimum threshold. The property can typically be resold after a 5–7 year holding period.

A government programme granting a residence permit — and the right to live, work, or simply travel — in exchange for a qualifying investment. Citizenship, if available, comes after a multi-year residency period.

A bloc of 29 European states that have abolished internal border controls, allowing visa-free movement between them for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

Documentary evidence proving where the specific money used in a transaction originated. A core component of due diligence for every investment-migration application.

The legal status that makes an individual subject to taxation in a given country, typically determined by physical presence, domicile, or centre of vital interests — not by citizenship.

A tax system that taxes only income generated within the country's borders, leaving foreign-source income untaxed. Operated by most Caribbean CBI states.

The ability to enter a country for a short stay without obtaining a visa in advance. The visa-free count of a passport is the standard headline metric for passport strength.