Citizenship by Investment and Residency
Citizenship by investment gives you and your family a second passport; residency gives you a secure place to live and invest. Compare the benefits of each program.
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What citizenship by investment is
Several countries grant citizenship, or residency, to people who make a contribution or investment in their economy. Each program has its own law that sets the ways to invest, who you can include and what is required afterwards. Citizenship by investment is also called passport by investment, and residency by investment is often known as a golden visa.
The main difference: citizenship gives you a second passport and is for life; residency lets you live in the country and, over the years, can lead to nationality.
Citizenship by investment programs
Current programs in the Caribbean and Türkiye, with the benefits each government publishes.
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Saint Kitts and Nevis
Citizenship by investment
Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship comes from the oldest program of its kind, created in 1984. It offers a contribution to sustainable development, a public benefit option, and private or developer real estate.
- Lifelong citizenship that can be passed on to future generations
- No residency requirement to keep the citizenship once granted
- Includes spouse, children under 18, children up to 30 in full-time studies and parents aged 55 or over
- Dependants, including newborns, can be added after citizenship is granted
- The official process generally takes 3 to 6 months
The investment is made after the approval-in-principle letter. Interviews may be required for the applicant and dependants aged 16 and over.
Official source: Citizenship Unit of Saint Kitts and Nevis (ciu.gov.kn)
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Antigua and Barbuda
Citizenship by investment
Antigua and Barbuda citizenship is obtained through the National Development Fund, the University of the West Indies fund, approved real estate or an investment in an eligible business.
- One of the broadest family definitions: spouse, children up to 30, parents and grandparents aged 55 or over, and unmarried siblings
- A future spouse, and future grandchildren of a dependent child, can be added later
- Four investment options to choose from
- Citizenship for the main applicant and the whole family in a single application
After obtaining citizenship, you must spend at least 5 days in the country within the first 5 years. Approved real estate must be kept for 5 years.
Official source: Citizenship by Investment Unit of Antigua and Barbuda (cip.gov.ag)
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Saint Lucia
Citizenship by investment
Saint Lucia citizenship can be obtained in four ways: the National Economic Fund, approved real estate, approved enterprise projects and the National Action Bond.
- About 90 days from acceptance of the file to the grant of citizenship
- Includes qualifying dependants in the same application
- A government bond option, in addition to the fund and real estate
- Choice among approved real estate and business projects
Documents must be in English; those in another language go with an authenticated translation.
Official source: Citizenship by Investment Programme of Saint Lucia (cipsaintlucia.com)
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Türkiye
Citizenship by investment
Türkiye grants Turkish citizenship by exception, by presidential decision, to foreigners who make one of the investments listed in its citizenship regulation.
- Direct citizenship, without first living in the country for years
- Seven ways to qualify: real estate, bank deposit, government bonds, investment funds, private pension, fixed capital or creating 50 jobs
- You can move between investment types to complete the required period
- Minor children can acquire citizenship together with the investor
Most options must be kept for 3 years; real estate carries a 3-year no-sale note in the land registry. The money must come in foreign currency and be exchanged through a Turkish bank.
Official source: Regulation of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, article 20 (amended in 2022 and 2023)
Residency by investment
If you want to live in the country, or a base for your family or business, these programs grant residency in exchange for an investment.
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Panama
Permanent residency · Qualified Investor
Panama residency for investors is permanent from the start: it is granted to people who make a qualifying investment in the country. The program was updated in September 2026.
- Permanent residency from approval, without going through a temporary permit first
- You can apply through an attorney before traveling to Panama
- Maximum review periods set by law: 15 business days at the Ministry of Commerce and 30 at Immigration
- The investment can be held through a Panamanian corporation or foundation
- Spouse and children can be included, and also added later
Official source: Executive Decree 17 of 2026 (Official Gazette 30613)
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Brazil
Residency by real estate investment
Brazil residency by investment is granted to people who buy urban real estate in the country with their own funds from abroad.
- An initial 4-year residency that can become indefinite
- Only 14 days in Brazil required every two years
- You can buy one or several properties, finished or under construction
- A lower minimum in the North and Northeast regions
- Co-ownership is allowed, and part of the price can be financed
The application goes to the Ministry of Justice and can also be filed if you are already in Brazil.
Official source: Normative Resolution CNIg 36/2018, amended by Resolution 46/2021
How Panainfo helps
We guide you through the whole process, from choosing the program to receiving the certificate or residency card. In the Caribbean programs the application is filed through an agent authorized by each government, as each country's law requires.
- We help you compare programs based on your family, budget and plans
- We prepare the document checklist and review each document
- Apostilles, legalizations and translations
- A Panamanian corporation or foundation, if you want to invest through one
- Follow-up of the file until approval
Amounts and costs
Each government sets its own minimum amounts and fees and changes them often. They also depend on the option you choose and the number of people you include. That is why we do not publish them here: we send them to you in writing, with the current official figures, in your quote.
The travel conditions for each passport are decided by each destination country and can also change. Before we start, we confirm the current situation of the program you are interested in.
Frequently asked questions
What is citizenship by investment?
It is a program through which a country grants its citizenship to people who make an investment or contribution in its economy, under its law.
Can I have dual citizenship?
Yes, in the countries on this page that address it in their official sources: you keep your current nationality. What you need to check is whether your home country accepts dual citizenship; we confirm it for your case.
Can I include my family?
Yes. All programs allow you to include your spouse and children; several also accept parents, grandparents or siblings, depending on each country's rules.
Do I have to live in the country?
It depends on the program. Saint Kitts and Nevis does not require you to live there to keep citizenship; Antigua and Barbuda asks for 5 days in the first 5 years; Brazil asks for 14 days every two years.
How long does the process take?
According to the governments, about 90 days in Saint Lucia and 3 to 6 months in Saint Kitts and Nevis. In Panama the law sets maximum periods for each authority.
How much do I have to invest?
It depends on the country, the option and the size of the family, and governments update the amounts often. We send you the current official figures in your quote.
General information. It does not replace advice for your specific case; requirements and official fees may change.