Before getting a second citizenship, 7 things you must know

1. For what purposes do you need a second citizenship?

Individuals try to find the right second citizenship programs for them for several purposes. It may be for global mobility, securing a second plan, working, living in the country in question, studying, or choosing a citizenship program based on family motivations. Understanding the goals of obtaining a second citizenship provides you with an informed path to choosing the right second citizenship program.

2. Learn about requirements for second citizenship programs

It is a good idea to carefully research the requirements of the programs you are considering a second citizenship from. The important question to check is: Does this country accept dual citizenship? Do you need to speak the country’s language and know its culture? Is there a need to reside in this country before or after obtaining citizenship? What is the required length of stay? Is it necessary to prove academic qualifications or work experience?

But the Saint Lucia Citizenship Program, for example, requires that a person have good morals and a clean criminal record enough to obtain citizenship.

3. Check out second citizenship programs

When you find the appropriate second citizenship program, you should go to the government websites of the country that offers this program and then check for the existence of these programs.

There are a lot of ads you see here and there. These advertisements show that there are some countries that offer citizenship by investment programs, but the truth is that most of these programs offer residency by investment, and after a long and difficult road you will be able to obtain citizenship.

Another example: Some time ago, companies started publishing advertisements about the North Macedonia Citizenship by Investment Program, and many applicants had already started applying and preparing, but it turned out that the program was only in the idea stage, and when the program started, investors who applied before it started Officially, they were not accepted. This is why it is worth noting that some media outlets are trying to show some programs in an official and realistic manner.

4. Have you ever been refused a visa?

If the second citizenship office does not ask you this question, you should consider changing it immediately, as it is one of the most important questions when it comes to having your visa rejected in advance. If this is later discovered, it will be considered fraud and you may face the possibility of having your new passport revoked.

Most countries with second citizenship by investment programs do not accept previously rejected individuals from countries that have visa-free entry agreements with countries offering second citizenship by investment, especially if related to Britain or the Schengen Area.

5. Adding dependent children to obtain a second citizenship

When reviewing the terms of countries offering citizenship and who can apply for citizenship with the main applicant, you will often see the word “dependent children”, which is different from children. Dependent children mean children over 18 years of age, unmarried, and who are completely financially dependent on the applicant or his or her spouse.

This is why programs try hard to ensure that people applying are fully supported by the applicant by requesting supporting paperwork. The applicant can show documents proving this, such as shared address, children’s academic record, bank transfers or other supporting papers. Submitting insufficient or weak paperwork will delay the application process because citizenship units will request additional paperwork, delaying the process. Therefore, it is important to avoid this from the beginning.

6. Important financial info that you must pay attention to

This can be considered one of the most important points, because if an investor applies for a second citizenship and has a clean criminal record but the source of his funds is questionable, he may be rejected. For this reason, it is important to support the file with the necessary supporting data proving the authenticity of the funds used to obtain citizenship.

In addition, at the final stage of applying for second citizenship, countries request administrative funds, which must be sent either from your own account or from your company account and not from third parties to avoid delays and additional paperwork required.

7. Choose an authorized agent for Second Citizenship Program

When choosing the program and then the agent to apply for it, it is necessary to ensure that this agent is registered in the register of companies approved to obtain the second citizenship in question. Unapproved companies are not prohibited from advertising, but while applying with them, your application will be rejected by the government.

For example, the country of Malta is advertised by many licensed and unlicensed companies, but the government only accepts applications through an authorized agent. On the other hand, Turkey does not need special agents. Anyone can apply in person or through a lawyer registered in Turkey.

When applying for a second citizenship and then searching for a company to apply with, it is important to choose an experienced company, even if this company is listed among the companies approved to obtain citizenship from a specific program.

To inquire about citizenship programs, you can leave a message to be answered by one of our experts in the field of second citizenship. Alternatively, you can also read our previous article on Citizenship by Investment to get comprehensive knowledge on choosing the ideal program.