Citizenship programmes vary by country, but the core requirements look broadly similar. If you are considering applying, here is what you should expect to prepare.
Personal eligibility
- Clean criminal record (police clearance from every country you have lived in for the past 10 years, sometimes longer).
- Clean source of funds (audited financial statements, bank statements, salary slips, business ownership records, sale agreements).
- Medical fitness certificate.
- Passport and identification documents.
- Marriage and birth certificates (apostilled and translated where required).
- Proof of address.
Investment or contribution
Depending on the programme:
- Donation — non refundable contribution to a government fund (Caribbean: USD 200,000 to USD 250,000 per main applicant).
- Real estate — purchase of approved property, usually held for 5 to 7 years (Caribbean: from USD 200,000 to USD 400,000; Türkiye: USD 400,000; Greece: EUR 250,000 to EUR 800,000 depending on region).
- Bonds or business investment — government bonds or qualifying business investments.
- Job creation — required for routes such as UK innovator founder or US EB 5.
Due diligence
All major programmes use international due diligence firms (Thomson Reuters, BDO, S RM, Exiger, Kroll). Expect detailed background checks on every applicant aged 16 and over, including social media, prior business associations and source of wealth.
Fees
- Government processing fees (typically USD 5,000 to USD 50,000 per applicant).
- Due diligence fees (typically USD 5,000 to USD 15,000 per adult).
- Agent and legal fees (typically USD 15,000 to USD 50,000).
- Bank fees and currency conversion costs.
Physical presence
- Caribbean programmes: no residency requirement.
- Türkiye: no residency requirement.
- Malta: residency requirement.
- Portugal Golden Visa: minimal stay requirement (around 7 days per year).
- Greece Golden Visa: no minimum stay for residency.
- EU citizenship via naturalisation routes: meaningful residency required (5+ years).
Tax and legal advice
You should engage a tax adviser in both your current jurisdiction and the target jurisdiction before any application. Citizenship has implications for tax residency only if you also move your life, but acquiring a passport in a sanctioned context can create unintended consequences.
Timeline
- Caribbean: 6 to 18 months.
- Türkiye: 4 to 8 months.
- Portugal: 24 to 36 months for residency card.
- Greece: 4 to 12 months for residency card.
- Malta: longer, multi year process.
Practical reminder
Use a licensed agent registered with the destination country's CIU (Citizenship by Investment Unit) or equivalent regulator. Anyone selling shortcuts is selling you a problem.
If you want vetted introductions, we work with regulated partners across multiple jurisdictions.