Thailand added to countries that Dominica passport holders can enter easily, adding to the other benefits offered by the Dominica citizenship program.

Thailand has recently expanded and facilitated entry to several countries, including the representative of the Caribbean nations (Dominica passport holders) in order to enjoy a longer stay and simpler entry procedures.

Dominica, the so-called Nature Island, whose official language is English and whose people widely speak French, offers its passport holders many benefits, including tax management, family reunification and freedom of movement.

Details on how to get to Thailand with a Dominica passport

While many Caribbean countries require a visa to enter Thailand, Dominica passport holders are an exception, as they can now obtain a visa on arrival and stay for 60 days at a time.

In this regard, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement at the end of May 2024 stating that it has expanded the list of countries that can visit Thailand with a visa on arrival or without a visa with the aim of developing tourism and facilitating the entry of visitors from all over the world.

The requirements for entering Thailand with a visa on arrival are a passport valid for at least 6 months, proof of return ticket, a statement proving that the Dominican citizen has sufficient funds during his stay, and activation of health insurance during the stay.

The holder of a Dominican passport should be aware that this residence does not allow work, but you can hold business meetings, tourism, treatment, and visit acquaintances.

In addition to Dominica, there are now 16 new countries that can access Thailand with a visa on arrival and you are allowed to stay for 60 days, including Jordan, Croatia, and Morocco.

 

 

1. Expands the Suspended Nationalities for Dominica Passport

 

In early 2024, Dominica suspended all new applications from citizens of Yemen, who can still obtain a second citizenship from Saint Kitts or Saint Lucia.

Yemeni citizens have been added to the other suspended groups, which are citizens of Northern Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Russia, Belarus, and Kurdistan.

2. Change in Dominica Passport Fee Structure

 

Like other Caribbean countries, Dominica has changed its pricing structure to match the rest of its neighbors offering Caribbean citizenship and now the pricing structure is as follows:

· Donate to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF):

Contribute $200,000 per person or $250,000 for a family of 4, plus additional dependent costs and pre-screening fees.

· Real Estate Investment Option

Invest $200,000 in Dominican real estate with the right to resell the property after 3 or 5 years to another person who wants to apply for Dominican citizenship with the purchased property.

3. Boosting Dominica Passport with New Countries

 

Dominica has started requiring Turkish citizens to obtain a visa before visiting Dominica, reflecting updates to travel laws in both countries.

In addition to Thailand, Dominica passport holders can now travel to Argentina without a visa and enter Vietnam with a visa on arrival. All of these steps have boosted Dominica’s passport to rank 34th in the world and allow visa-free access to over 135 other countries, including all Schengen countries, Singapore and Hong Kong.

It is worth noting that Dominica has an embassy in the United Arab Emirates to facilitate any logistical procedures related to passport holders from the Middle East who wish to obtain citizenship after investing in Dominica.

For more information on how to obtain Dominican citizenship and learn more about its benefits in more detail or obtain other second citizenship programs around the world, please contact the Global Citizen Consultants team, the official authorized office for obtaining citizenship by investment around the world.

The Portuguese residency or the so-called golden visa is the key to entering the European world after investing in the booming investment funds.

The Portuguese residency program is not only a path to obtaining residency and citizenship from Europe, but also an opportunity to invest in the best innovative and profitable European sectors today.

Live permanently in Europe with Portuguese residency

Portuguese residency, officially known as the Activity Residence for Investment (ARI), is an initiative launched in 2012 and designed specifically for individuals from outside the European Union, which prepares them to live in Portugal for 5 years and then obtain Portuguese citizenship.

Portugal has proven in recent decades that it has promising sectors not only in tourism and trade, but also in technology and investment in local funds and stocks.

The Portuguese residency requires a stay of only 7 days per year during the first 5 years, which is especially useful for people who have responsibilities outside Portugal and do not want to stay there continuously while taking advantage of the benefits offered by this program.

The benefits of obtaining Portuguese residency include access to healthcare, multiple investment opportunities, the ability to open businesses and companies, a European lifestyle, convenient tax management, family reunification, eligibility for European passport, and the ability to live and move throughout Europe.

The processing time for Portuguese residency depends on a number of factors, but currently takes about a year, during which applicants are granted special visas until the Portuguese residency permit is issued. The nice thing for those considering Portuguese citizenship is that the 5 years are counted from the date of application and not from the time of obtaining the Portuguese residency permit.

After 5 years of residency in Portugal, the investor will have 3 options: either continue with the Portuguese residency program, obtain permanent residency, or apply for Portuguese citizenship. If you decide to choose the last two options, you will have the right to resell your investment unless you consider maintaining the Portuguese residency program.

 

After the decision to cancel the real estate investment option and transfer capital to obtain Portuguese residency, it became clear that there are several other ways to obtain Portuguese residency, most notably investing in investment funds with an amount of 500 thousand euros.

Although diversifying investment in several funds requires a little more effort and costs than investing in a single fund, this is useful in diversifying your investment portfolio. It is also possible to use a company to invest in Portuguese funds.

The attractiveness of investment funds compared to other options is due to several reasons, most notably the distribution of investment and the fact that these funds are managed by experts, tax exemptions, strict supervision, huge investment returns, and the lack of the need to visit to verify the investment.

Portuguese residency and types of qualified investment funds

1. Private stock funds

Invest in companies with strong growth prospects such as the health, agriculture, technology, renewable energy and manufacturing sectors.

2. Capital funds

Invest in emerging companies capable of growth such as the sectors of artificial intelligence, technology, e-commerce, renewable energy and innovation.

3. Mutual Funds

Unlike stock funds, with the option of mutual funds you invest in companies listed on the stock market and there are fewer sectors in this type compared to the other two, the most important of which are telecommunications and financial services.

Top investment sectors to get Portuguese residency in 2024

✓ Technology and communications

✓ Renewable energy

✓ Tourism and hospitality

✓ Health technologies

✓ Agricultural production

Contact Global Citizen if you are interested in the Portuguese Golden Visa program or citizenship by investment programs around the world. Book a free consultation now!

In addition to citizenship by investment, the Caribbean islands are known for their huge return opportunities in tourism and real estate.

Real estate is a popular way to obtain citizenship by investment in the Caribbean islands. Buying a beachfront property for $200,000 is enough to obtain Caribbean citizenship.

In light of the rapid economic growth and increased demand for tourist real estate, citizenship by investment in real estate has become a strategic option for building wealth and achieving commercial returns.

Countries offer citizenship by investment in real estate

1. Citizenship by investment in Antigua and Barbuda

 

Antigua offers two options for obtaining citizenship by investment in real estate. You can either invest in a duplex property or invest in an entire property in areas close to the beach with white sand surrounded by palm trees. Whichever option you choose, you will have to wait 5 years before you can resell it.

However, with the small population, it will be difficult to find the labor and management necessary to maintain real estate investment, in addition to the fact that the island is relatively small and the planning area is limited.

2. Citizenship by investment in Saint Kitts and Nevis

 

Do you want to obtain citizenship from a country whose real estate is located on beaches that smell of tropical plants? Saint Kitts Citizenship offers three options to purchase a property and obtain citizenship by investment.

The three options are to either invest in an approved property and maintain it for 7 years, purchase an approved private residence, or purchase a larger residence for the whole family.

3. Citizenship by investment in Dominica

 

Dominica offers the option of real estate investment in a natural paradise surrounded by rainforests for citizenship by investment. After 5 years, you are allowed to resell it.

With the cheapest properties in the Caribbean, don’t think you’ll find good properties easily and don’t expect good deals to be available for long on this island.

4. Citizenship by investment in Grenada

 

Grenada, the Spice Island, offers citizenship by real estate investment in two ways: either purchasing a share in an approved project, or purchasing an entire real estate project. After 5 years of obtaining Grenada citizenship, you can sell the property used for investment.

There is a limited amount of infrastructure and real estate that can be expanded, and financing options are limited on this island, so prepare to do careful research when deciding on an investment.

5. Citizenship by investment in Saint Lucia

 

Citizenship by investment in Saint Lucia is one of the lowest investment requirements in the Caribbean countries. Investing $200,000 in a luxury property surrounded by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean is enough to obtain Saint Lucia citizenship.

Saint Lucia is not just a place where you can buy a beachfront property, but it is a popular destination for citizenship by investment, as investors are allowed visa-free entry to more than 150 countries, as well as having favorable tax laws and social systems that are beneficial for your entire family.

 

  Total returns on investment ◈ 

◈ The ability to sell shares in the future

◈ Diversify assets and investment portfolio

◈ Free vacations on nature islands

In citizenship by real estate investment focus on:

✓ Real estate investment price

✓ The advantages offered by investing in the chosen property

✓ The pros and cons surrounding the country, citizenship and property you will have

Let Global Citizen Consultants guide you towards the right path full of opportunities and guaranteed returns thanks to its long experience in second citizenship programs. Contact one of our Citizenship by Investment advisors.

The new decision on the Greek Golden Visa was revealed following the long-awaited adjustment decisions, which targeted real estate investment.

The Ministry of Finance submitted the new legislation to the House of Representatives and is now awaiting its approval, but given the ruling majority, the decision will be inevitable according to all indications. It will be implemented at the beginning of October, which means there is still time to apply for the Greek Golden Visa program before these changes.

The Greek Golden Visa program is one of the popular programs to obtain residency in Europe and then live, work and move in Europe comfortably with your family, and then obtain citizenship in the future.

Greek Golden Visa Changes for 2024

On March 22, 2024, the Greek Ministry of Finance issued a package of decisions related to the Greek Golden Visa Program, including raising the value of real estate investment from 250 thousand euros to 800 thousand euros.

The Greek Golden Visa program was launched in 2014 during the economic crisis Greece was experiencing, including falling property prices and a decline in construction.

The good news is that property prices did not rise to €800,000 across the country for the Greek Golden Visa, but only in major cities such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Santorini and islands with a population of more than 3,100.

The cost of the remaining areas became 400 thousand euros. As for commercial properties converted into residential properties for the purpose of restoration, they are still at the old price, meaning 250 thousand euros. In this regard, Greek Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis stated that they are adopting balanced measures regarding the Greek Golden Visa Program, taking into account the needs of the population and attracting foreign investments to the country.

He added that these steps come within the framework of the housing policy, which the government aims to provide high-quality housing for citizens while preserving investments.

According to Greek financial data, rental prices rose by more than 20% after the economic crisis that struck the country in 2018 and affected the purchasing power of families.

As per the figures issued by the relevant Greek authorities, more than 20,000 European permanent residence permits have been granted to real estate investors, most of whom are Turkish and Chinese investors.

 

Real estate has proven to be an attractive option for wealthy people wishing to invest in the EU, as it offers residence permits and tax benefits, but as the saying goes, beauty is not perfect. This is because leftist governments in Europe restrict residency by investment programs in Europe.

Spain is one of the latest countries to announce that it will close the Spanish Golden Visa program soon, not to mention that Portugal has canceled real estate investment to obtain residency in Portugal due to the crisis of high housing prices, and the Netherlands, Britain and Ireland have ended their programs.

In the summer of 2023, Greece raised real estate investment prices for a Greek Golden Visa from 250,000 euros to 500 euros in Athens and some other major countries, and is now raising them again to 800,000 euros.

What are other changes to the Greek Golden Visa?

✓ Investors should invest in one property rather than several properties of lower value.

✓ The property area must not be less than 120 square metres.

✓ A share in shared ownership can be purchased for a minimum value of 400 or 800 thousand euros.

✓ Properties can be rented, but not for a short period.

✓ The property cannot be used as a workplace.

✓ If investors violate one of the conditions, they will lose their Greek Golden Visa residence permit for 5 years and will be fined.

Can I get the Greek Golden Visa at the previous price?

Yes, it is possible to obtain a Greek Golden Visa at the old real estate investment prices, which range between 250 and 500 thousand euros in the event of purchasing a property and paying 10% of its right or signing a pre-contract or purchase agreement by September 30, 2024, and completing their investments before the beginning of 2025. And if they are unable to complete the investment till the beginning of 2025, they will then have to invest in another property until May 2025.

Do you want to get the Greek Golden Visa Program before the prices rise? Contact the Global Citizen Consultants as soon as possible. Also browse our articles in the field of residency and citizenship by investment.

After the decision to join Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen Area, inspection procedures between Bulgaria, Romania and Schengen now cancelled.

Initially, Romania and Bulgaria were accepted to join the Schengen Area by air and sea, and the decision to join by land was postponed. It is expected that attempts to land join will continue throughout 2024.

With this decision, the Schengen Area continues to promote greater cohesion and communication between its jurisdictions and at the same time will support these two countries with new projects in order to ensure their compliance with the laws and a strong security level at the external borders of the Schengen Area.

The decision to join Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area

The European Council took an important decision to add Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area and implement it fully on March 31 of this year (2024). This is the ninth expansion of the Schengen Area, which shows the extent of countries’ harmony and adaptation in one place.

This accession helps strengthen the unity of the European Council and facilitate travel, trade and tourism between European countries within the Schengen Area.

The Schengen Area was established in 1985 after an agreement between 5 European countries. Since then, the region has expanded to include 27 countries with a population of 420 million citizens living in one region without borders.

Attempts to join Bulgaria and Romania are not new. Accession procedures began in 2011, and in 2022 and 2023, monitoring committees revealed the extent of the two countries’ readiness to join and demonstrated their implementation of all required basic standards.

This accession will have long-term dimensions and benefits, the most important of which is increasing trade, tourism and cultural exchange in this region, with the ease of movement of citizens of these countries to the two parties more easily than before.

As Bulgaria and Romania have now joined, Cyprus has also submitted its accession papers and is expected to join soon.

The importance of arriving to Romania

Romania is located at the crossroads of Europe, specifically on the edges of eastern, central and southeastern Europe. Romania has a population of 2 million people. The capital of Romania is Bucharest. It is a city that combines modernity and history, and provides unique tourist attractions and different experiences.

One of the advantages of this decision is that Romania will become more attractive to foreign citizens and tourists, in addition to increasing the value of the port of Constanta on the Black Sea.

As for Romania itself, it will now be able to airlift medicines, sensitive technical materials, military and civilian logistics to other countries.

Romania is a suitable environment and business destination for investors. It is favored by innovators and businessmen because of its strong cultural roots.

The lower costs of doing business in Romania also makes it a better choice for startups specifically, which helps in setting up and managing these startups.

The Golden Visa means that investors and their families obtain residency in Europe, with the right to obtain European citizenship after years.

Because of today’s international interconnectedness, wealthy investors from around the world are looking for ways to enhance personal development, diversify investments, and enjoy diverse cultures.

Whether you are interested in personal growth, opening a business, learning, or engaging in educational programs, with Golden Visa programs, you will have the right to travel and meet all requirements.

Golden visa programs offer countless benefits to investors, from the legal right to reside and move in Europe to access to European health and education systems and the possibility of starting or developing a business. All these advantages allow investors to pursue diverse opportunities.

What are Golden Visa Programs?

The Golden Visa Program is a tool used by governments to benefit from foreign investments in the form of real estate, financial contributions to countries, or opening companies and employing local citizens. In return, these individuals are granted the right to reside and enjoy all European benefits.

Citizenship and Golden Visa programs are no longer just about ease of movement, but are also about seizing many opportunities, ultimately leading to international golden options.

Individuals may find these programs somewhat attractive, but they are not equal. Some may offer more benefits and advantages than others, depending on the investor’s profile and goals.

Individuals are looking for the Golden Visa Program in order to diversify their assets, access new markets, improve quality of life and obtain citizenship in the future.

At the same time, the Golden Visa programs allow you to add family members and thus obtain opportunities and privileges similar to the main investor, and benefit from the first-class European health and educational programs.

 

Read more about European Permanent Residency for the investors

Read More about European Permanent Residency for the investors

Golden Visa and Citizenship by Investment programs allow you to maintain a high quality of life and comprehensive plans for any unexpected events.

Many interested people have heard about the Golden Visa and Citizenship by Investment programs, and most of them may not know the true meaning of these terms and all the details and information related to them.

In this blog we will list the differences between the Golden Visa and Citizenship by Investment programs, and more specifically the Caribbean Citizenship and European Golden Visa programs, as they are the most popular programs in these areas.

About Golden Visa and Citizenship Programs

There are a variety of countries in the world located in different places that offer these two programmes, the most important of which are the Caribbean, Turkey and Europe.

If you are thinking about improving the quality of your life and the lives of your family members, you should consider the Golden Visa and Second Citizenship programs. To find out which program suits you best, this article will guide you.

Choosing a program that is friendly to foreigners and does not impose double taxes in the case of dual citizenship is very important, which is why investors should discuss such matters with legal experts in the field of citizenship so that they do not make a mistake in their choice.

The Caribbean countries represented by Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Grenada offer the most popular citizenship program in the world. They are beautiful natural islands located in North America and enjoy a desirable tropical climate.

Caribbean countries have established these programs since the 1980s. After that, it was included in the constitutions of their countries and could not be abolished in any way. The advantages that place Caribbean countries at the top of citizenship programs are the lack of residency requirements, reasonable investment demand, and in return offers frequent entry into countries, access to tax breaks, and business & family opportunities.

Golden visa programs are the word synonymous with residency programs in Europe. A number of European countries grant temporary residency to individuals, which later turns into permanent residency and then into citizenship.

The Golden Visa Program helps people live, study and work across Europe after investing in one of its countries, the most famous of which are Spain, Portugal, Malta and Greece.

The difference between a golden visa and citizenship

 

1. Golden visa and citizenship, which cheaper?

To obtain a European visa, you must invest between 250 and 500 thousand euros in European real estate, and after 5 years you are entitled to recover the money you used to purchase the property. Portugal has other investment options, such as investing in non-real estate funds.

Caribbean Citizenship by Investment: The citizenship amount is approximately $200,000 as a non-refundable contribution and $200,000 as a real estate investment, which you can resell after 7 years, with many other options tailored for family members.

2. What to apply for a golden visa and citizenship?

To obtain the Caribbean Citizenship Program, there is no requirement for residence or personal attendance in order to obtain it, nor language tests and academic and practical certificates required. All you have to do is invest in one of the above ways and then prove that the money used in this investment comes from unsuspected sources, and then you have to prove that you are not a person with a bad reputation enough to obtain citizenship.

Unlike citizenship, you must stay several days a year to maintain your golden visa, and the number of days required increases if you are considering obtaining citizenship in the future. Yes, the number of days required is not many, but it requires commitment and travel annually. In addition, applicants must prove their financial capabilities, good conduct, good health, and then invest in one of the available ways.

3. What does the Golden Visa and Citizenship offer you?

The European Citizenship Program enables mobility, business management and benefit from Europe’s outstanding health and education systems. A European visa also leads to permanent residence in Europe and hence a European passport.

Caribbean citizenship offers the same benefits as a Golden Visa, but on a larger scale and in a greater number of countries, as having a Caribbean passport means entry to more than 150 countries without a visa, in addition to establishing a business and maintaining property in the best tax environment for businessmen in the world.

4. Similarities between Golden Visa and Citizenship

✦ With both programs, you can add your family with financial additions, but the only difference is that the Golden Visa program gives you the right to add a spouse, children, and parents, but some Caribbean citizenship programs allow siblings and grandparents to also be added like the rest of the family members mentioned in the Golden Visa program.

✦ The two countries have unique tax systems in the world, as there are no taxes on wealth, transfers, capital, property, gifts, inheritance, and all trade outside their territories.

✦ The Caribbean countries are beautiful islands with mountainous features, coasts, and clear waters located near North America, and they enjoy a mixed tropical atmosphere. Europe is famous for its diverse nature and culture full of beauty and history.

✦ Both programs are 100% reliable. They were designed several years ago and are popular not only by the author but all over the world. It cannot be abolished because it is mentioned in the constitutions. The Golden Visa and Citizenship programs accept residency and dual citizenship, and after choosing one of them you can wait a maximum of 6 months to obtain it.

European Permanent Residency Programs provide the opportunity for investors and their family members to obtain permanent residency from Europe.

The European permanent residency programs are suitable for people who want to have the advantages of the country in addition to the benefits offered by the program, because Europe has the highest standards of living in the world.

The European Permanent Residency Program is the best option for citizens of Gulf and Middle Eastern countries whose governments do not accept dual citizenship and who find what they are looking for in these programs rather than citizenship by investment programs.

European permanent residence

Many Arab individuals have been attracted to European permanent residency due to deteriorating economic, social and political conditions, increasing barriers, weak passports and lack of benefit from citizenship programs because most Arab countries do not accept dual citizenship. These programs are seen as an alternative recourse alongside the goals of business, taxation and freedom of movement.

If you want to know why the European economic system is strong, you can look at 4 factors that Europe has, which are unemployment, GDP, income tax, and inflation. From these factors, you can know the extent of the economic strength of any country.

This is the pivotal and perhaps the first reason for many people seeking permanent residence in Europe. Modern European markets help you expand and enhance your idea and business network in a smarter and broader way.

European permanent residency has its advantages that benefit individuals residing in the Arabian Gulf region and North Africa in particular, and provides immediate permanent residency with investment in its fields.

Yes, obstacles and challenges come with every daring businessman, but a weak passport should not be one of these obstacles or challenges that limit your ambitions and the prosperity of your business.

At the same time, permanent residency creates added value for people and their family members by opening up many areas for investment, living, travel, and preparing for any potential fluctuations.

Not all European countries offer a good European permanent residency program for individuals. Some of them require huge sums of money for this, such as Cyprus, and some require long-term residency and difficult requirements. Portugal, Spain, Greece and Malta are some of the most popular European permanent residency programmes.

European permanent residency gains

 

An additional layer of security and emergency plan for investors, their family members and their wealth in cases of security problems, natural accidents, foreign relations and banking systems experienced by their countries.

Attendance to excellent European and international universities at local prices, with comprehensive and continuous access to first-class European social facilities.

A smart approach to minimizing taxes and protecting assets with the help of business-friendly tax systems.

Using the service to deposit and withdraw funds from reliable external bank accounts without paying taxes, with the possibility of enabling banking activities throughout Europe.

Get safe, invest anywhere, and have a backup plan.

The possibility of benefiting from the famous European health systems, and not only that, but free of charge for all family members.