Category: Citizenship

The CIP Saint Lucia Program consists of CIP Unit and CIP Board to oversee and administer the citizenship by investment program. The Citizenship by Investment Unit (“the Unit”) are the general administrators of CIP Saint Lucia and are responsible to receive and assess all applications for citizenship and licenses. The Citizenship by Investment Board (“the…

We get a lot of questions about the possibility of changing names applying via citizenship by investments. Name change is legally guaranteed right in many countries. Rules have changed recently with CBI programs in 2024, restricting changing names for security reasons, especially changing names is used for identity laundering by criminals. There are many genuine…

The CBI industry is made up of private and professional stakeholders assisting applicants apply for a CBI programme: marketing agents, immigration agents, concierge firms, law enforcement agencies and financial institutions or wealth managers. 1. Marketing Agents Marketing agents recruit prospective investors to a programme and usually targetjurisdictions that are likely to have a large source…

Dominica has implemented strict rules for changing the name under the new citizenship by investment rules for 2024 to prevent identity laundering and the abuse of CBI program, after concerns were raised by EU, FATF and OECD. Under the new legislation, Applicants may be deprived of citizenship of Dominica pursuant to section 10 (2) or…

Solomon islands, a pacific country will soon be launching new citizenship by investment program alongside neighbors Vanuatu and Samoa who already have their CIP versions. CBI Draft Bill The Prime Minister of Solomon islands has announced completion first draft of citizenship by investment bill, soon to be tabled by parliament. The program once implemented, eligible…

The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was closed on 15 February 2023 and arrangements in relation to the orderly winding down of the Programme was put in place and the management of the closure in a way that is fair to all. The Programme was introduced in 2012 when the struggling Irish economy needed investment. The…

On 29 August 2024, the five Eastern Caribbean countries that offer Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programmes and the United States Department of the Treasury held a productive Roundtable in Grenada to discuss the status of implementation of the Six CBI Principles.   The CBI countries were represented by delegations comprising the Chairs, Chief Executive Officers and technical…

Starting mid 2025, the following an nations with visa free access, will require ETIAS online travel authorization to enter 30 European countries (including Schengen area). CIP Passports The ETIAS list covers the following countries are operating (or operated) a citizenship by investment programs in the past. 30 European Countries Registration required to enter the following…

The Portugal golden visa program has yet another attractive benefit. From now on golden visa investors who receive Portuguese citizenship after five years, can now apply for E-1 and E-2 visas to enter United States. The E-visas facilitates faster and easier business pathway to become a permanent resident of United States (Green card). The U.S. Embassy…

We always inform clients to seek legal advice (talk to a lawyer) on all dual citizenship matters, before applying for citizenship by investment. While many tout dual citizenship bringing extensive benefits such as freedom, mobility etc, little is told to investors about the drawbacks of dual nationality, which we will discuss one by one below.…