Brief

The fastest legal way to get a second passport for most people is through Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs offered by Caribbean nations like Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts & Nevis, starting at $100,000–$250,000 non-refundable donation. These deliver passports in 3–6 months with no residency requirement, strong visa-free access (140–160 countries), and dual citizenship allowance.

Additionally, some Latin American countries grant passports based on applicant’s status, humanitarian grounds, etc., like Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.

Other routes include residency-by-investment leading to naturalization (e.g., Portugal Golden Visa to citizenship in 5 years), descent from ancestors, marriage, or long-term residency, but CBI is quickest for non-ancestral cases.

Common Process

• Consult & Select: Work with a licensed agent to pick a program based on visa-free travel, taxes, and your profile (e.g., UAE residents favor Grenada for US E-2 visa access).
• Eligibility Check: Provide passport, CV, criminal record, source of funds proof; agent runs pre-check to flag issues like sanctions or prior refusals.
• Sign Mandate & Pay Fees: Agree to agent terms; pay due diligence ($7,500–$15,000/adult), application, and processing fees upfront.
• Prepare Documents: Gather medical exam, police clearances (from all countries lived in 10+ years), bank statements, investment proof; agent handles translations/apostilles.
• Submit & Due Diligence: Government reviews (2–4 months); they screen for money laundering, terrorism links via international databases.
• Approval in Principle: If passed, escrow investment (donation, real estate $200k+, bonds, or funds) and finalize payments.
• Oath & Passport: Take virtual/in-person oath if required; receive naturalization certificate and passport by mail (total 3–6 months).

Comparison

Country	Investment / Contribution	Processing Time
Antigua & Barbuda	$230k donation / $200k RE	4–6 months
Austria	€2M+ contribution	24–36 months
Cambodia	$245k	3–6 months
Dominica	$200k donation / $200k RE	6–9 months
Egypt	$250k	6–9 months
Grenada	$235k donation	6–9 months
Jordan	$750k	3–6 months
Latin America	150k	2-3 months
Nauru	$105k donation	3–4 months
North Macedonia	€200k–€400k	3–5 months
St. Kitts & Nevis	$250k donation	4–6 months
St. Lucia	$240k donation	6–12 months
Turkey	$400k RE / $500k deposit	3–6 months

* The above are indicative, kindly contact us for the current data.

Most of the programs require clean criminal record, source-of-wealth proof, and government due diligence beside other documents that are program specific. The above are indicative and do not include other family members.

Aspect	BVI	Cayman Islands	Seychelles	Meydan	JAFZA
Corporate tax	0% on foreign income	0%	0% on foreign income	0% on foreign income	0% on foreign income
Setup time	1-2 days	3-5 days	1-3 days	2-3 days	5-7 days
First year cost	USD 1,800	USD 3,500	USD 700	USD 3,500	USD 5,500
Renewal	USD 1,500	USD 2,900	USD 655	USD 3,500	USD 5,500
Audit requirement	No	No	No	No	Yes
Best for	Asset holding & international contracts	Financial & legal advisory	Low-cost startups	Most of the business, especially trading	Logistics

* All above are indicative and may change from time to time

All of the offshore jurisdictions require KYC documents (passport, proof of address), registered agent, and company name approval. UAE jurisdictions like Meydan and JAFZA demand economic substance declarations for tax exemptions, aligning with your local operations. Non-UAE spots like BVI offer simpler filings but face OECD scrutiny.

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