Programs offering citizenship or permanent residence to wealthy investors are popular amongst applicants for a number of reasons ranging from visa-free travel privileges to a stable and secure life for families with access to quality education and healthcare services. Demand for investment immigration has doubted over the past five years and is expected to continue to rise.

A second passport is often a shortcut to a better life and is popular amongst individuals from China, the Middle East, and Russia. Further, investing at the right time and in the right country can, over the long run, offer fantastic returns for the applicant.

However, not all programs are the same for all applicants. In-demand investment immigration programs like the US EB-5 visa can come with a two-year waiting period. Other popular options, like the citizenship by investment program of St Kitts and Nevis or Cyprus may offer faster processing at a higher price tag.

Cyprus

Introduced in May 2013, the Citizenship by Investment program offers fast-track residence or citizenship of the European Union in lieu of a minimum investment of €5 million. Permissible asset classes include government bonds, real estate, and local enterprises. A group of individuals can obtain citizenship by investing just €2.5 million provided the plan's total value is not less than €12.5 million. Additional requirements include purchase of a residence in the country of value of at least €500,000.

Benefits of the program include grant of citizenship and a Cypriot passport, right to travel, work, and reside in an EU nation without any restrictions, visa-free travel to around 150 other countries, and freedom to reside in any other country without loss of citizenship status. The program is popular because of its low rejection rates and short processing time of just 3-5 months.

Malta

Malta's IIP offers EU citizenship to applicants contributing €650,000 to the National Development Fund, €150,000 in approved securities for a period of five years, and payment of a due diligence fee of €7,500.

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