Authorized agents are Government licensed agents appointed by Citizenship by Investment Units to submit applications on behalf of their clients. The first step to start the CBI application process is selecting carefully trusted licensed agent appointed by CBI units. By choosing a trusted, reputable and accredited agent, applicants can have peace of mind, their interests are safeguarded and that their application is handled with confidentiality, professionalism and integrity.
Authorised Agents enlist the assistance of marketers, promoters and sub-agents who are located across the globe. These promoters and sub-agents support marketing the CBI programme in their region and assist individuals applying for citizenship by investment. CBI agents have the required skills to help individuals at every step of the process and provide professional advice and assistance preparing and submitting the application.
Applying for citizenship involving investing large sums of money, so ensure that you have done your own due diligence before signing on with an Agent. Here are some important tips, you may wish to consider when choosing an Agent.
Selection Criteria
Background – Study about the authorized agent. Do they have good background? Check their office location, phone numbers, staff members .
Lawyer – Hire a lawyer where you live to seek proper legal advice on dual citizenship matters. The lawyer will be able to do thorough checks on the legality of programs and all people connected including agents, so that you are not scammed later.
Reputation – Ensure the agent has good reputation and not blacklisted. These agents serve as trusted advisors, offering invaluable insights and support to facilitate a successful application journey. Do your homework. Check the official website for specific information on price structure. CIU websites publish name of agent and contact details.
Accreditation and Licenses: Ensure the agent is on the official CBI list of Authorised Agents. Working with an Authorised Agent guarantees that they are accredited to manage the application process legally and competently. Don’t forget to request and check issued license from the agent. You can also ask for references, or talk to people already invested. It is also possible subagents work with top authorized agents.
Experience: Look for an Authorised Agent with a proven track record in the investment migration industry, preferably with specific experience in CBI Programme. Experienced agents can provide valuable insights, anticipate challenges, and streamline your application. Ask about how many cases they have processed, success rate, awards won, and for how many years they have been involved in the business.
Transparency and communication: A trustworthy Authorised Agent will offer transparent guidance on fees, requirements, and timelines. They should be able to answer your questions, keep you updated on your application’s progress, and address any concerns promptly. A good agent should be able to disclose guarantees, full breakdown of costs, refunds in the contract.
Real Estate: Real estate is often abused in many parts of the world. If you are investing in real estate chances are properties sold at inflated prices to foreigners, or the project itself too good to be true. To protect your investment, do thorough checks such as licenses obtained, land ownership, valuation report from surveyor, construction progress, completion, returns/yields, management fee, inheritance, tax obligations along with background/track record of the developer. Do a field check visiting the property. Also, Consult a local independent property lawyer to do a thorough background check.
Due diligence: Choose an Authorised Agent who prioritises thorough due diligence. As this is a cornerstone of the Programme, your agent should have a rigorous approach to KYC and background checks and compliance, ensuring that all legal requirements are met. Authorized agents should be able to clearly tell you about high risk and ineligible cases during pre-application. The Authorised Agent performs Know-Your-Client (KYC) checks and collects KYC documents, including (but not limited to): passports of the main applicant, the spouse, and all dependants, and proof of address through third party firms. KYC checks are the first steps in the due diligence process and include basic checks using the World-Check database (or an equivalent database). This allows agents to do an initial check to see any potential reputational issues for an applicant. They also check sanctions and wanted lists and provide a report on the applicants’ source of funds, political exposure, and identity. All these due diligence checks are handed over to the Unit for consideration.
Meeting – Meet the Agent in person or on a video call and ask questions about the CBI program. Agents frequently attend residency and citizenship events and conferences worldwide, you will have a great chance to meet them there.
Additional Support – Check with the agent if they offer additional support, post completing the service. These tasks can be opening bank accounts, immigration, accountancy and tax services, passport renewals, child additions, driving license etc..
Authorized Agents Never
Authorized agents follow ethics will not engage in the following:
- Provide false or misleading information
- Charge hidden or unauthorized fees
- Guaranteed 100% approval of citizenship application
- Violate rules of the CDBI programs
- Hide or Withold information from clients
- Engage in unethical practice.
An Authorised Agent in CBI plays a crucial role in guiding individuals through the application process. While these professionals provide invaluable assistance and support to applicants, there are certain actions that an authorised CBI agent will never engage in:
Misrepresentation: An Authorised Agent will never provide false or misleading information to applicants regarding the CBI Programme, eligibility criteria, investment options, or any other aspect of the application process.
Unauthorised Fees: An Authorised Agent will never charge unauthorised fees or hidden costs beyond what is stipulated by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU) for their services. Transparency in fee structures is essential. Agents may charge a discretionary legal processing fee which is determined by the agent.
Guaranteeing Approval: While Authorised Agents provide guidance and support throughout the application process, they will never guarantee 100% approval of an application. The decision ultimately rests with the government and is based on compliance with Programme regulations and Due Diligence checks.
Pay the Investment – Authorized agent will NOT ask you to make full investment in the pre-application stage. You will make the full investment post receiving letter of approval issued by government.
Receive Investments – Investments must be paid directly to government bank accounts. AA’s never ask you to make full investment to their bank account. However they are allowed to collect their agent fees.
Violating Regulations: Authorised Agents adhere to the strict regulations and guidelines set forth by the CBI Programme and will never knowingly violate these rules while assisting applicants.
Confidentiality – Authorized agents(AA) must be able to guarantee high privacy and confidentiality to their clients. They must secure secure and store sensitive personal data from leaks and thefts (data protection required by law).
Non-Disclosure of Information: Authorised Agents are committed to transparency and will never withhold essential information from applicants regarding their application status, requirements, or any other pertinent details related to the process.
Real Estate – Authorized agent will not offer unapproved real estate properties for citizenship. They work closely with trusted property developers with your investment application
Unethical Practices: Ethical conduct is paramount for an Authorised Agent. They will never engage in unethical practices such as bribery, fraud, or any other activities that could compromise the integrity of the CBI Programme. This includes undercutting prices or offering ‘discounts’.
Please contact us if you need a trusted authorized agent, providing a first class service.
