A webinar on “Residency and Citizenship by Investment Programme” was conducted on Sunday, 6 March by Associates Times, a US-based media organization in collaboration with the UK-based government citizenship advisory firm – CS Global Partners. The key focus in the webinar remained on the residence and citizenship by investment programme offered by various countries.
The discussions between Associates Times and CS Global Partners revealed that there are a total of 13 countries providing second citizenship currently. Still, the CBI Programmes of St Kitts and Nevis is known as the “Cradle of CBI Programmes” due to its longevity. In contrast, Dominica is providing dual citizenship with more straightforward route and it is also one of the longest-running programmes.
During the webinar, the host asked what are the significant changes that have happened in the CBI programme during the last ten years and what has kept it favourably desired, of which CEO Micha Emmett responded, “I think the main thing is chaos, as soon as there is a world event or even a regional event, we see an uptake of applicants coming from those regions, and it is much understood that with awareness, people realized the importance of getting access to global nations to expand their business worldwide and to educate children, so over the years, I have seen as the world changes and people have come from different regions understanding more and more the importance of holding a dual citizenship are.”
CEO of CS Global Partners, Micha Rose Emmett and Director Paul Singh stated that the five Caribbean countries- Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia which have been ranked in one of the top positions in the Financial Times Professional Wealth Management Magazine – CBI Index 2021, provides a multi-layered due diligence process which involves both internal and external vetting and screening of applicants so that only reliable applicants be provided with the dual citizenship.
CS Global Partners said that they have worked with both residences by investment programmes and citizenship by investment programmes. They found that the CBI programmes are the most straightforward, easy and seamless process to get a second citizenship. They also revealed that although CBI programmes of all 13 countries are best in their own ways, the programmes of Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis are very swift as it takes only three months, from the moment of submission to the moment of approval.
The Webinar also disclosed the process of due diligence in Caribbean countries, which is very important in ensuring that only trusted and legal applicants are allowed to acquire dual citizenship.
Furthermore, Micha Rose Emmett and Paul Singh talked about the two different types of investment programmes, including government fund investment or investment into pre-approved real estate development. The Government fund investment includes a single, direct donation which is refundable. At the same time, the latter allows applicants to make a single or, at times, joint investments into real estate projects that have already been pre-approved by the government.
Micha and Paul discussed the present situation of individuals who wants to acquire Residency and Citizenship by Investment Programme and talked with Associates Times about how people these days are looking for easy ways to attain global citizenship as they wish to expand their business boundaries all over the world along with the security and safety of their family members.