Important Points on Citizenship

Several countries have adopted provisions that allow the acquisition of citizenship on the basis of an investment and/or a direct contribution to the state as a means of developing the country. For example, in Serbia, Article 19 of the Serbian Citizenship Act states that the government can reward foreign persons with citizenship in the event of extraordinary merit. This may take various forms, including economic contributions, but citizenship is not granted on the basis of capital contribution alone. The foreign investor must make an extraordinary contribution alongside his investment, such as introducing new technologies or creating a substantial number of new jobs in Serbia.

Countries that have comparable provisions, such as Albania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Ukraine, and others, offer this opportunity for special, selected individuals. GCI seeks such individuals worldwide and presents them to the government. The same applies to economic diplomats, which GCI searches for under mandates from different countries.

The classic Citizenship by Investment Program, which individual countries offer, is available to anyone who meets the country’s specific requirements. Information about these programs can typically be obtained from the country’s embassy, although many embassies are not familiar with the detailed laws of their Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

European Union Citizenship and Passport: Facts and Considerations

We need to highlight the fact that scams related to second citizenship and passports are on the rise. Many new commercial products in this market, such as EU citizenship and passports from countries like Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Belgium, and Switzerland, can seem too good to be true. These tricks are common and often mislead consumers from legitimate options.

Only Malta and Cyprus in the European Union offer legitimate economic citizenship programs. Austria allows foreign nationals to invest in its national welfare and obtain Austrian citizenship and passports, but this is not guaranteed. Moreover, Austria’s program does not have clear investment requirements, although the recommended amount is around 2-3 million euros. Austria also prohibits dual citizenship and does not actively promote its citizenship program. Be wary of offers for Swiss or Belgian passports that claim they can be acquired for as little as €30,000 in just 2-3 months—these are clear scams.

Passports and Citizenship

A passport is an internationally recognized identification and travel document issued by a sovereign state or a United Nations organization. Passports are granted based on citizenship, and non-citizen passports are generally illegal. However, certain exceptions exist, such as diplomatic passports and specific permits like those issued to retirees in Panama.

The general rules for acquiring citizenship in European countries are quite similar. Each country has specific rules for stateless persons, refugees, or individuals with close ties to the country. In some cases, citizenship may be granted without prior residency, subject to proof of ancestry, ethnicity, marriage, or family ties.

Citizenship Programs Comparison

Residence Programs Comparison