If you don’t already have a second passport, and don’t qualify for one via ancestry, marriage, or extended residence in that country, you may be able to acquire this document through an investment or contribution. (If you’re not already familiar with the benefits of a second passport, click here.)
At present, only two countries have an established program for awarding qualified persons who make investments in or contributions to that country with “economic citizenship” and eligibility for a passport: the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis. Several other countries, including Belize, Grenada, and Ireland once had economic citizenship programs that are no longer in effect.
However, almost every country has provisions in its Constitution or law of nationality giving the government the power to grant nationality upon persons who make an outstanding contribution to that country. Acceptable contributions may include a direct investment or contribution, or proof of outstanding achievement in culture, scholarship, or sport for the benefit of that country. Countries that exercise this authority at least occasionally include Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cyprus, Guinea-Bissau, Iceland, Montenegro, Nicaragua, and Slovakia.
As governments worldwide scramble for revenue in the deepening global recession, I anticipate additional options economic citizenship to become available. For instance, there are serious discussions in Belize and Grenada for renewal of those economic citizenship programs.
Unfortunately, numerous promoters have created Web sites to sell bogus citizenship from countries without legally-mandated economic citizenship programs. In recent years, citizenships and passports from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Lithuania, Panama, and other countries have all been promoted. These offers are either scams or involve illegally purchased or stolen documents. Securing a passport on this basis, through fraudulent misrepresentation, either directly or through an agent is clearly illegal. Your passport could be revoked at any time and you could be subject to arrest and/or deportation.
The Nestmann Group, Ltd. can assist individuals seeking a second passport through an economic contribution or investment in Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, and in selected EU countries. Please contact us for more information.
Copyright (c) 2012 by Mark Nestmann