Citizenship & Residency
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by Investment
Embrace the Dominican stability The Caribbean nation ranks the world’s best for investment and citizenship
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ominica’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme was recently declared the world’s best in a special report by the Financial Times subsidiary Professional Wealth Management. The independent study, titled the 2018 CBI Index, is the only comprehensive ranking system of citizenship by investment jurisdictions, critically analysing the 13 countries currently operating government-legislated programmes around the world. Since its first issue, no other country has managed to beat Dominica’s number one position.
The Best Experts at FT’s PWM awarded the Commonwealth of Dominica perfect results in five of the seven areas measured, which are considered most important from an investor’s perspective, according to independent researcher James McKay. The island-nation scored top marks for its security and vetting procedures (referred to in the report as due diligence), affordability (minimum investment outlay), speed (citizenship timeline), efficiency (ease of processing) and undemanding travel or residence requirements. As the country with the world’s best CBI programme, Dominica spearheads the investor immigration industry’s evolution with a balanced offering for both its new and current citizens. While it presents one of the oldest programmes, established in 1993, Dominica now occupies the leading position in a growing economic citizenship sector, fuelled by investors seeking new, international opportunities. The fastest One of the reasons why so many see Dominica as the best CBI offering in the industry is partly due to the speed at which it is capable to process applications, with
citizenship typically approved in less than two months. Even when the demand is very high, there is a government regulation in place whereby the Citizenship by Investment Unit will notify the authorised person on behalf of the main applicant as to whether their application has been approved in principle or not, provided all the documentation and procedures had been complied with fully. This is perceived as a particular advantage that Dominica has to offer to investors, without compromising on the quality of the programme or the security and stability that the Dominican citizenship proudly presents.
Most affordable Secondly, Dominica’s CBI investment thresholds start from US$100,000 for a main applicant, which is the most affordable option on the market. It is available in the form of a contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) and offers the opportunity for investors to obtain second citizenship more conveniently and improve the lives of Dominicans in the process. The second pathway to Dominican citizenship is an investment in designated real estate with a value of at least US$200,000, which can be sold after five years of receiving citizenship. Nonetheless, with top hotel brands like Marriott, Hilton or Kempinski, along with other luxury resorts developing world-class accommodation for the growing eco-tourism trade, Dominica continues attracts investors who are able to combine entrepreneurship with practicality. Future-proof Dominica’s CBI Programme encourages high net-worth individuals and international businesspersons, as well as their families, to invest in Dominica and obtain second citizenship for many reasons. In return for their contribution, applicants benefit from greater international mobility, new business opportunities, security and stability for their families and the chance to belong to a coveted Global Community. Dominican passport holders can travel easily to over 120 countries and territories, including business hubs like London, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Schengen Zone. Moreover,
Dominica’s new economic citizens can be certain of the integrity of their second nationality, thanks to the programme’s strong due diligence framework and exemplar reputation. As Dominican citizenship is for life and can be passed down to future generations, investors can be sure that their family legacy is protected.
GLOBAL COMMUNITY After pledging to become “the world’s first climate-resilient nation”, Dominica proves its economy is hurricane-proof thanks to its leading Citizenship by Investment Programme. Dominica’s Prime Minister the Honourable Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit recently stated that the results noted by experts at
FT/PWM “are, in many ways, even more meaningful in the wake of last year’s Hurricane Maria. We showed unfathomable resilience, and a consistent and diligent approach to service, resuming application processing for our citizenship programme within less than a week of the event. I can safely assure investors that our Citizenship by Investment Programme is indeed hurricane-proof.” Furthermore, this small Caribbean nation is devoted to innovative engineering research that could help other nations minimise the consequences of destructive adverse weather, as recently experienced by the east coast of the US following hurricane Florence landfall. This philosophy is ingrained in Dominica’s Global Community concept, which believes in caring not only for native or economic citizens, but the world. Holders of the Dominican economic citizenship can therefore be proud that their investment goes beyond their own benefit and eventually contributes to making the world a better place. Those looking to obtain Dominica’s sought-after citizenship are encouraged to visit the Government’s official website – cbiu.gov.dm
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Citizenship & Residency by Investment
Solidify your wealth and live a life of greater travel St Kitts and Nevis are pioneers in the investor immigration industry, bringing unrivalled privileges to entrepreneurs
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hinking globally has become intrinsic to visionary investors in the Middle East. St Kitts and Nevis seems to have been one step ahead for the past three decades when understanding the changing needs of investors, wherever their birthplace may be. It was this twin-island nation from the Caribbean that introduced to the world the concept of Citizenship by Investment in 1984, only a year after declaring its independence. Since then, it has allowed people across the globe to achieve a second nationality by making an investment towards the country’s future. As the pacesetter for the industry, it has become a popular avenue for more Middle Eastern high net-worth individuals and their families to solidify their wealth and live a life of greater travel, more lucrative business conditions, and the prospect of better education and health outcomes for all. Today, with over 30 years of unrivalled experience and expertise, St Kitts and Nevis continues to demonstrate vision and leadership in the investor immigration industry.
the twin islands. The HRF was an overall grand success for both current and economic citizens and was applauded internationally for its accomplishments.
Stable and secure with the Sustainable Growth Fund Following the success of the innovative Hurricane Relief Fund, a new investment route was announced – the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF). In another show of leadership, Prime Minister Timothy Harris introduced the SGF with the aim of delivering long-term reforms, such as enhancing the quality of education on the twin islands, boosting the already booming tourism sector, supporting indigenous entrepreneurship, and many other socioeconomic initiatives. This third investment channel is currently considered the most efficient and secure path to gaining second citizenship. “Many investors prefer making a contribution to the Sustainable Growth Fund, as it is the faster and more affordable route to St Kitts and Nevis’ citizenship,” says Paul Singh, Director of CS Global Partners, an international, industry-leading, award-
The Sustainable Growth Fund is not just about sustaining development for our nation, it is also about providing a strong investment opportunity for our potential economic citizen.
— Les Khan CEO of the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit
winning legal advisory firm specialising in citizenship and residency solutions. For an investment of US$150,000 per main applicant or US$195,000 for a family
of four, the SGF option is especially beneficial for larger families from the Middle East looking to second citizenship in the safest, most convenient way possible. The unique Accelerate Application Process guarantees successful candidates citizenship and the accompanying passport within 60 days. Additional fees apply, yet family members receive substantial discounts. CEO of the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit, Les Khan, suggests that the SGF tends to attract sharperminded individuals: “The Sustainable Growth Fund is not just about sustaining development for our nation, it is also about providing a strong investment opportunity for our potential economic citizens.” New citizens will also have access to invest
Grand success of the HRF option In September 2017, the Hurricane Relief Fund (HRF), as masterminded by Prime Minister Timothy Harris, was introduced as a new, time-limited avenue to obtain second citizenship through investment. It aimed to raise funds to deal with the aftermath of hurricanes Maria and Irma by appealing to those wishing to become economic citizens of St Kitts and Nevis. Within its six-month run, more than 1,200 applications had been submitted, attracting a significant investment into the country’s economy. The Harris administration recently announced that over $11 million from the Hurricane Relief Fund, with the help of international investors, had already been allocated to rehabilitate the homes of 900 families on
further in the SGF-stimulated projects, opening doors to creating greater wealth and personal prosperity.
Visa-free or privileges
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Besides the new entrepreneurial horizons presented by the strengthening economy of a prospering nation, led by a consistently stable government, what sets St Kitts and Nevis apart is its enviable external relations. Businesspersons holding a St Kitts and Nevis passport can travel on a visa-free or a visaon-arrival basis to over 150 countries and territories, including key business jurisdictions such as Germany, France, Holland, Italy and the UK. St Kitts and Nevis is known for forging extensive diplomatic ties, and its efforts are paying off. The country received international recognition recently from an independent study published by the Financial Times’ Professional Wealth Management. The latest results from the 2018 CBI Index have revealed that St Kitts and Nevis is making travel more accessible to their citizens. The special annual report elaborated by experts at FT/PWM ranked St Kitts and Nevis with top scores in areas of application processing, due diligence and convenient travel and residence requirements, placing the twinisland nation safely onto the global Citizenship by Investment podium. Regarded as the Platinum Standard of citizenship in the investor immigration industry, it also has one of the most robust due diligence frameworks, meaning that only the world’s best and brightest need apply. The exclusivity of the programme, in a country with an accelerating GDP and booming tourism sector, has only increased its popularity. Many in the GCC region see the value in investing in a country that believes in premium quality and standards. As the industry continues to evolve and more programmes entering the marketplace, St Kitts and Nevis will continue to play a critical part as the cradle and locomotive of Citizenship by Investment.
THE ST KITTS AND NEVIS CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAMME
PRESENTS
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due diligence, and residency requirements in a special report by the Financial Times’ PWM magazine.
I N V E S T. G R O W. PROSPER. WWW.CIU.GOV.KN
The SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FUND (SGF) is the faster and more affordable route to St Kitts and Nevis’citizenship.
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khaleej times | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT | ThursDAY, September 27, 2018
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Citizenship & Residency by Investment
PTGoldenvisa
Portuguese Golden Visa – fast track to EU citizenship
♦♦ David Machado
PTGoldenvisa.com is an awarded integrated service provider for Residence Permit in Portugal, offering Investors a complete service A-Z, assuring solutions for real estate, legal steps, banking services, tax optimisation and property management.
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he Portuguese Golden Visa Programme targets high-profile non-European investors interested in having a back-up plan for their future generations. The Advantages of the Programme are unique for investors, allowing them, and their families, to freely travel, work, live and study in all Schengen countries. The Golden Visa will enable investors to extend the application to direct family members, with no further investment requirements. The reduced minimum stay obligations within the country – only seven days on average per year – is another significant advantage for those not willing to relocate at the moment. The programme is also a fast track to reach citizenship since after five years investors have the right to apply for the Portuguese passport. Awarded as the best Residency Programme Globally 2015, 2016 and 2017, by the Global Residence Programme Index (GRPI), and aimed at attracting overseas investment to Portugal, the Golden Visa is
a very straightforward, simple and with clear legal rules. To apply for a Golden Visa through real estate investment, foreign nationals, either personally or through a company, are required to make an investment that conforms to one of the following conditions: Investment in real estate valued at at least €500,000; real estate with more than 30 years construction time with a value of at least €350,000; The Portuguese real estate is a safe haven for domestic and foreign investment, generating capital appreciation of more than 10 per cent per year and Rental income around 5 to 7 per cent. Alternatively, Golden Visa applicants can obtain access to the scheme through investment in a Portuguese Investment Fund — www.safeinvestmentfunds.com — in a minimum value of €350,000. This option was recently introduced by the Portuguese Authorities and have been highly requested by applicants, since it comes free of taxes and focused on the bottom line investment, creating a very fast and interesting solution to focus on High
Return on Investments. PTGoldenvisa.com is an awarded integrated service provider for Residence Permit in Portugal, offering Investors a complete service A-Z, assuring solutions for real estate, legal steps, banking services, tax optimisation and property management. Our clients have a long-term relationship with our team which fulfils all their needs during the investment period. We will continue to enlarge the scope of our integrated services since that is what differentiates our company from most of the service providers and makes us special.
– The writer is the CEO PTGOLDENVISA. PTGoldenVisa.com is a Brand from TOP INVESTOR VISA Group, a company Incorporated in DED, with Professional License: 784044, with offices in Dubai and Portugal.
For more info on Portugal Residence Permit Programme, please download a FREE EBOOK on our website: www.ptgoldenvisa.com
ThursDAY, September 27, 2018 | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT | khaleej times
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Citizenship & Residency by Investment
CYPRUSPASSPORTNOW
Cyprus – the most simple and efficient way to reach EU citizenship
♦♦ Tiago Camara
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lobal residency and citizenship, are an increasingly important aspect of the private and professional life of this new trend of global citizens. Diversification of both business and personal affairs through multiple residences or citizenships can deliver an increased quality of life, mobility, security, educational options, and improved tax and estate planning capabilities. For individuals, having the flexibility of choosing where to live, providing a better quality of life for their families, access to better education, and a safe haven in times of political instability is one of the main reasons to consider this type of solutions. The typical investor profile, looking for suitable solutions on Residence Permits and Citizenship, are wealthy individuals who are expats, or business owners, currently living in the Middle East, Asia or Africa. These investors are able to secure the future of their next generations normally through a Real Estate Investment in countries that provide them with this Golden Cards or even Passports. Not rarely, we have investors that spent all their life in a country working hard and making investments, and when they reach their retirement age they are requested to pack their bags and Leave! Cyprus has long established itself as one of the most attractive funds jurisdictions due to its excellent infrastructure, favourable tax regime and stable and wellregulated business environment. It is, therefore, one of the most competitive access points into the European markets and a primary relocation destination for high net worth individuals.
The predominant Investment option is the individual investment in the residential real estate, where the applicant must have made an investment of at least €2 million for the purchase or construction of buildings or the construction of other development projects (residential or commercial developments, developments in the tourism sector or other infrastructure projects). The procedure is simple, straightforward and time efficient, while it provides full protection of the investment. CYPRUSPASSPORTNOW.com is an integrated service provider for applicants interested in reaching the Cyprus CITIZENSHIP. We offer Investors a complete service A-Z, assuring INDEPENDENT and PROFITABLE solutions on the Real Estate, legal support, banking services, tax optimisation and property management. Our company developed a methodology based on three important steps – Know your
Cyprus has long established itself as one of the most attractive funds jurisdictions due to its excellent infrastructure, favourable tax regime and stable and well-regulated business environment. Customer; Independent Real Estate Market Research and Provide Best Solution. This important info will guarantee and optimise the investments of our clients. — The writer is CEO CyprusPassportNow.com
Cypruspassportnow.com is a Brand from TOP INVESTOR VISA Group, a company incorporated in DED, with Professional License: 784044, with offices in Dubai, Portugal and Cyprus.
For more info on Portugal Residence Permit Program, please download a FREE EBOOK on our website: www.cypruspassportnow.com