More than a dozen countries offer citizenship-by-investment opportunities to foreigners. Recent events in the world show that a second passport is a highly valuable asset to have. It will cost a considerable sum of money to obtain one but the feeling of increased safety can hardly be expressed in numbers.
However, the possibility to acquire foreign citizenship is not available to everybody. Each country that runs a citizenship-by-investment program has its own ‘black list’ of national states whose citizens/ permanent residents cannot apply for citizenship of the country. Below we compare the lists of nationalities that are prohibited from applying for foreign citizenship.
1. Vanuatu black list
Citizens of the following national states are not entitled to apply for economic citizenship of Vanuatu:
- Yemen Republic;
- Syria;
- Iraqi Republic;
- Iranian Islamic Republic;
- North Korean People’s Democratic Republic.
The authorities of Vanuatu will consider applications for citizenship submitted by citizens of these countries on the condition that they have not lived in the countries for at least five years. Residency in another national state has to be conclusively demonstrated.
Please mind that the black list can be altered. Stateless persons (apatrides) are entitled to apply for citizenship of Vanuatu.
2. Antigua and Barbuda black list
Citizens of the following countries cannot apply for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda by investment:
- Islamic Republic of Afghanistan;
- Iranian Islamic Republic;
- North Korean People’s Democratic Republic;
- Somalia;
- Republic of Yemen;
- Sudan.
There are certain exceptions, however. Citizens of the countries listed above can apply for economic citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda if they were born in one of the countries but they moved somewhere else before they turned 18. Besides, holders of permanent residence permits in the following states also qualify for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda:
- Canada;
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
- United States of America;
- Australia;
- New Zealand;
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;
- United Arab Emirates.
Applicants for Antiguan citizenship must have resided in one of the states listed above for at least ten years prior to filing the application. They should not have any economic ties with any of the blacklisted countries.
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3. Dominica black list
Stateless persons are entitled to apply for economic citizenship of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Applications form citizens of the blacklisted countries will be considered individually. The black list includes the following states:
- Iranian Islamic Republic;
- North Korean People’s Democratic Republic;
- Sudan.
The following exceptions apply:
- The candidate for citizenship of Dominica has not resided in any of the blacklisted countries over the last 10 years;
- The candidate does not have any substantial economic interest/ large assets in any of the blacklisted states;
- The candidate does not have any business relations with commercial companies nor government bodies of the blacklisted states.
Even if one or more of the exceptions is applicable to the particular candidate for Dominican citizenship, he or she will have to undergo enhanced security checks anyway.
4. Grenada black list
Officially, people of all nationalities are welcome to apply for Grenadian citizenship. However, applications from citizens of some countries will be considered with especial care. Please also bear in mind that your application for citizenship of Grenada will be automatically rejected if your application for economic citizenship of another country has been rejected.
5. St Kitts and Nevis black list
The Government of St Kitts and Nevis will not accept applications for citizenship from citizens of those countries that are on the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list. Currently, the list includes the following countries, among others:
- Islamic Republic of Afghanistan;
- Cuba;
- Iranian Islamic Republic;
- North Korean People’s Democratic Republic.
Citizens of the countries listed above cannot apply for economic citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis regardless of the actual place of their residence. Applications from citizens of other countries that are on the OFAC list can be accepted in exceptional cases after serious due diligence procedures have been carried out.
6. St Lucia black list
St Lucian authorities will not accept applications for economic citizenship from citizens of those countries that do not provide for an opportunity to carry out security checks. Currently, only one country is on the list:
- Iranian Islamic Republic.
Citizens of all other national states are welcome to apply for economic citizenship of St Lucia.
7. Malta black list
The Maltese citizenship-by-investment program is officially called ‘Maltese Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment’ (MCNESDI). The black list that the program has includes national states whose citizens are prohibited from entering the USA:
- Islamic Republic of Afghanistan;
- Chad;
- Eritrea;
- Iranian Islamic Republic;
- Kyrgyzstan;
- Libya;
- Myanmar (also known as Burma);
- Nigeria;
- North Korean People’s Democratic Republic;
- Somalia;
- Sudan;
- Syria;
- Tanzania;
- Venezuela;
- Yemen Republic.
If the candidate for Maltese citizenship is not a citizen of one of the countries listed above but they have economic or other types of ties with any of the countries, they cannot obtain Maltese citizenship either.
8. Turkey black list
Officially, there are no restrictions as to the nationality of the applicants for Turkish citizenship. However, citizens of some countries (such as Iran, for instance) may experience problems with opening bank accounts in Turkey. The bank account is required for purchasing real estate in the country or making other types of payments that allow meeting the conditions of the local citizenship-by-investment program.
9. Montenegro black list
There are no official restrictions as to the nationality of the applicants for Montenegrin citizenship. Each application, however, is considered individually.
10. Stateless persons (apatrides)
Stateless persons are welcome to apply for economic citizenship of the following countries:
- Commonwealth of Dominica;
- Vanuatu;
- Turkey;
- Antigua (stateless persons born in Brunei, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia) are welcome to apply.
National black lists: a comparatives analysis
We hope that the following table will make it easier to compare the requirements that each of the countries running citizenship-by-investment programs puts forward to the nationalities of the applicants for its citizenship.
National black lists
| Antigua | Dominica | Grenada | St Lucia | St Kitts | Vanuatu | Malta | Montenegro | Turkey | |
| Islamic Republic of Afghanistan | * / ** | **** | *** | **** | * | * / ** | * | **** | **** |
| Chad | **** | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** | * | **** | **** |
| Cuba | **** | **** | *** | **** | * | **** | **** | **** | **** |
| Eritrea | **** | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** | * | **** | **** |
| Iranian Islamic Republic | * / ** | * / ** | *** | * | * | * / ** | * | **** | **** |
| Kyrgyzstan | **** | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** | * | **** | **** |
| Libya | **** | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** | * | **** | **** |
| Myanmar (Burma) | **** | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** | * | **** | **** |
| Nigeria | **** | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** | * | **** | **** |
| North Korea | * / ** | **** | *** | **** | * | * / ** | * | **** | **** |
| Somalia | * / ** | **** | *** | **** | **** | * / ** | * | **** | **** |
| Sudan | * / ** | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** | * | **** | **** |
| Syria | **** | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** | * | **** | **** |
| Tanzania | **** | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** | * | **** | **** |
| Venezuela | **** | **** | *** | **** | **** | **** | * | **** | **** |
| Yemen Republic | * / ** | **** | *** | **** | **** | * / ** | * | **** | **** |
| Stateless persons | **** | **** | * | * | * | **** | * | **** | **** |
* – Filing an application for citizenship is impossible;
** – Filing an application for citizenship is possible if the candidate legally resides in a national state that is not on the black list;
*** – The application for citizenship will be declined if the application for citizenship of another foreign country has been declined before.
**** – Filing an application for citizenship is possible with no restrictions.
Expert support in applying for foreign citizenship by investment
Are you nor quite happy with having a single citizenship? Would you like to purchase a second passport? You have come to the right place! InternationalWealth experts will be happy to help you acquire foreign citizenship within a reasonable period of time.
Please apply for a free consultation on acquiring foreign citizenship without delay! We will help you choose the best second passport from those available in the market.
When considering applying for a foreign citizenship, you have to remember that individuals with a criminal past cannot acquire a second passport in any country. When submitting the application documents, you will have to supply a police clearance whatever country you apply to. Please contact us by email, live chat or a messenger and we will assist you in becoming a citizen of one more country. Having a second passport is a necessity nowadays, not a whim.
What advantages does a second passport bring?
Foreign citizenship brings many advantages including freedom of travel, new business opportunities, and a lesser tax burden. The most important thing, however, is that a second passport will make you feel more secure.
How much does a second passport cost?
The price starts at US$ 100k. The Covid-19 pandemic has made some national states offer temporary discounts on their citizenship. For instance, you can become a citizen of St Lucia by investing into Government bonds at half the price (US$ 250k instead of US$ 500k). The offer is valid until the end of 2021.
How long does it take to acquire a second passport?
Acquiring foreign citizenship can take between two and twelve months depending on the country. In an attempt to attract more clients during the coronavirus crisis, many countries running citizenship-by-investment programs now accept electronic applications. The possibility to file an application for foreign citizenship remotely is especially precious when travelling opportunities are seriously restricted.
