Easiest places you can buy citizenship
South African passports are notoriously hard to travel with, but what if you could reduce visa costs?
Have you ever dreamed of going where you please without the hassle of applying for all kinds of visas and spending thousands on the process alone? Well, it turns out there might be a way to get it done.
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The difference between residency and citizenship
Citizenship means you have the same rights as someone born in that country, like having a passport and the right to vote.
Residency is a bit different. While you can live, work and travel freely, you don't have all the same rights as someone with citizenship.
Temporary residency usually only lasts for a set period and it differs depending on the territory, while permanent residency doesn't have those time restrictions and will allow you to legally stay in an area, while getting a bit closer to becoming a naturalized citizen down the line.
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Golden visas, CIPs, and digital nomad visas
Golden visas are a popular way for people to gain residency in certain countries. In return, you must invest in the country's economy, often through donations or property investments.
These investments can start at around $250 000 (about R4.5 million) and countries that offer golden visas include Portugal, Spain, and Greece. In 2024, Spain issued about 800 golden visas to foreign nationals.
Similar to a golden visa, a Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP), requires a large investment, but instead of residency, you get full citizenship, including a passport. The cost usually starts from about $100 000 (R1.8 million).
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With more people working remotely, countries like Estonia, Germany, and Norway offer digital nomad visas. These visas allow people to live and work in a country for one to two years while paying taxes to their home country.
Easiest countries to buy citizenship and residency
According to Fodor's Travel, Caribbean nations are the place to be.
Nations like Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Kitts and Nevis offer CIP programs with various investment contribution options.
Cambodia has one of the most affordable CIP programs, starting at $245 000.
Singapore and Australia also have unique CIP programs but they require larger investments or high-net-worth individuals.
Turkey, Hungary, and Brazil offer golden visas.
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