Where investors can buy a second passport and how much it will cost

The United States is one of 23 countries that offer citizenship or a residency visa in exchange for investments, normally in real estate

(Credit: iStock)
(Credit: iStock)

The United States is hardly the only country that offers immigration opportunities in exchange for investments.

Other countries have their own versions of the EB-5 program in the United States, which provides green cards in exchange for employment-generating investments of $500,000 or more.

Some countries offer citizenship in exchange for investments – normally in real estate – while others offer a residency visa.

Business Insider compiled the following list of countries that offer residency or citizenship in exchange for a minimum amount of investment (denominated here in U.S. dollars):

~Thailand – “elite residency” for $15,253.

~Latvia – residency for $74,973.

~Saint Lucia – citizenship for $100,000.

~Dominica – citizenship for $100,000.

~Antigua and Barbuda – citizenship for $100,000.

~St. Kitts and Nevis – citizenship for $150,000.

~Grenada – citizenship for $150,000.

~ Vanuatu – citizenship for $155,000.

~Moldova – citizenship for $169,292.

~Cambodia – citizenship for $245,230.

~Greece – residency for $290,143.

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~Portugal – “golden visa” for $406,200.

~Montenegro – citizenship for $406,200.

~United States – citizenship for $500,000.

~Spain – “golden visa” for $580,286

~Bulgaria – citizenship for $593,384.

~Canada – citizenship for $612,075.

~Turkey – citizenship for $1 million.

~Malta – citizenship for $1 million.

~ Australia – residency for $1.08 million.

~Cyprus – citizenship for $1.74 million.

~New Zealand – residency for $1.98 million.

~UK – visa for $2.57 million.

According to a 2017 survey of wealthy people by CS Global Partners, 89 percent wanted a second passport, and 34 percent had explored investment as a means of attaining citizenship in another country.

Nuri Katz, president of international advisory firm Apex Capital Partners, told Business Insider that many wealthy individuals seek a second or third passport for travel benefits and tax advantages, and for some, residency or citizenship in another country is a status symbol comparable to an expensive car. [Evening Standard]Mike Seemuth