How Long Does It Take To Get Your Passport Back

Eight Easiest And Fastest
Citizenships & Passports To Get In 2021

• AUTHOR
  Team Sovereign Man
• LAST UPDATED
  June 18, 2020

Most people think having multiple passports is just for the "James Bonds" and super wealthy of this world.

But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, It's possible for ANYONE to obtain dual citizenship and a valuable second passport.

Whether it's escaping an overzealous Covid lockdown, or avoiding riots, civil unrest, and international conflict, 2020 has made one thing crystal clear: there is no downside to having options for where you can live, work, and raise a family.

Having multiple passports and citizenships is not so crazy after all. In fact, it's starting to seem crazy NOT to give yourself this option.

The most frequent questions we get are "Where are the easiest countries to get citizenship ?" and "What are the fastest and easiest passports to get ?"

In this article, we'll cover both questions and even include the easiest European citizenship and passport options for 2021.

The Four Ways To Get A Second Citizenship & Passport

Before we get into the countries themselves, the first thing you should know about how to get an easy foreign citizenship is that there are four different ways. They're based on:

1.     Ancestry
2.     Time
3.     Money
4.     Flexibility (Naturalization)

By far, the easiest way to get a passport is through ancestry. It's a little-known shortcut that could give you an excellent European passport and oftentimes costs next to nothing to obtain.

Here's how it works: if you've got parents, grandparents (and in some cases great-grandparents) from Italy, Ireland, Hungary or several other countries, you might already qualify for citizenship. That means you could get your second passport quickly, cheaply and hassle-free.

It's called citizenship by descent.

This is an excellent option that we recommend EVERYONE considers first.

To get a better idea of how this process works, you can download a free in-depth intelligence report on How To Get an Italian Passport & Citizenship By Descent here.

Even if you don't have Italian ancestors this report will give you a better idea of how citizenship by descent works.

Further Reading Citizenship By Descent Example: How To Get an Italian Passport

But what if you don't have the "right" grandparents?

Don't worry, there are still a few fast tracks to citizenship that don't involve having blood ties to a country. In fact, the second easiest way to get a passport simply requires you to have a little patience and to put in a little time.

The time option usually involves obtaining residency in a foreign country. You first obtain legal residency, which then leads to full citizenship after a few years. Countries that give citizenship easily generally offer it after several years of  residency in the country.

Does this mean you have to live there full-time?

Not necessarily. One of the easiest European passports to obtain does require at least some on-the-ground residency, to prove commitment to that nation. And the fastest passport in South America requires you to live in that country for a total of about a year.­

But "residency" doesn't always mean you have to live there the whole time.

The Easiest EU Countries To Get Citizenship And a Passport

"How to get a passport in the European Union?" is the most common question from our readers. So let's start here...

• Portugal is the easiest overall option for EU citizenship
• Belgium offers the easiest EU citizenship if you move your business there
• Spain offers the fastest way to get EU citizenship if you come from one of the former Spanish colonies
• Malta is the easiest EU passport to obtain if you have the money for a citizenship-by-investment program

1. Portugal
The Easiest OVERALL Option for EU Citizenship.

Portugal is a great country to get citizenship from. Its passport is first-class, with visa-free access to 159 countries in 2020. As a Portuguese passport holder, you'll enjoy the ability to live, work and travel freely in all 27 member-states of the EU (after discounting the UK.)

Getting a Portuguese passport is relatively easy. It requires becoming a resident of Portugal, and after five years, applying for citizenship.

Portugal's D7 Visa is frequently also referred to as the Retirement Visa, Passive Income Visa or Online Worker Visa. The D7 Visa offers foreigners the ability to obtain temporary residency –  provided that you have sufficient means to support yourself and any dependent family members while in Portugal.

The initial permit is issued for two years, and then renewed for another three. After five total years of residency you can apply for citizenship and a passport, subject to certain conditions.

To obtain residency under the D7 visa, you will need to prove that you have sufficient recurrent income to sustain yourself in Portugal. The Portuguese authorities prefer seeing long-term, stable, passively derived income (i.e. not salary-based).

The official financial requirements are rather low, and tied to the Portuguese minimum wage (which in 2021, is €665 — about US $799 — a month).

• Primary applicant –  The current minimum wage of €665;
• Spouse – 50% of the current minimum wage or €332.50;
• Dependent children under 18 years of age – 30% of the current minimum wage or €191.

But don't fret if you have no stable income to boast. Portugal will also be happy to accept savings, or a combination of savings and income.

In case of just savings, you will need to prove that you will be able to sustain yourself for at least 24 months in Portugal – the length of validity of your initial residency permit.

Thus, all the numbers above you will need to multiply by 24. That means that for a family of four you would need to prove that you have at least €32,040 (~$40,000) saved.

But that's the bare minimum. It's better to show at least a few thousand more. Your local Portuguese consulate – where you'll submit your residency application – can advise you about what minimum sum they'd realistically like to see.

In our opinion, the D7 Visa  is one of the best ways to obtain residency in Portugal, and it can lead to Portuguse Citizenship through naturalization after five years.

Unlike with the Portuguese Golden Visa program, there is no minimum required investment in property, and the application and service fees can be up to eight times lower than those associated with a Golden Visa.

The trade-off is that you need to spend a minimum of four months per year in Portugal to keep your D7 residency permit renewable, and to become eligible to apply for citizenship.

With the D7, Portugal wants you to spend significant time on the ground. Here are the rules:

1. You must stay in Portugal at least four months a year in total, AND
2. You cannot be away from Portugal for longer than six months in a row.

So if you plan to fly to Portugal just once a year, you must plan to come for at least six months.

And if you can visit Portugal twice a year or more frequently, then you could spend less total time on the ground. For example, you could stay in Portugal from January till March (3 months) and then again in September (1 month). This way you would comply with both of the above-mentioned requirements.

In contrast, on a Golden Visa, the minimum stay requirement has recently been lowered to an average of just seven days per year throughout your residency.

In addition, you will also be expected to prove basic proficiency in Portuguese (A2 language level) if you wish to apply for citizenship after five years of maintaining your D7 residency..

Lots of European countries make it difficult for those who weren't born there to get citizenship. In contrast, Portugal offers a fairly easy second citizenship route. In fact, it's the easiest EU citizenship option for those without the "right" grandparents.

But how do you get it?

You will need to apply for your initial visa to stay in Portugal from your local consulate. We encourage you to apply roughly three to four months within your expected departure date for Portugal.

Once you have your D7 visa, you must travel to Portugal to obtain your temporary residence permit, which you will receive after a visit with the local authorities.

After five years of temporary residency in Portugal, you will be eligible for permanent residency and citizenship (the naturalization period was reduced from six to five years in mid-2018).

So if you have a few years, and don't have grandparents from Ireland, Italy or a German father, then Portugal is currently the European country where it is easiest to get citizenship.

Now, in this case, "easy" does not mean "Panama easy". The financial requirements are higher to establish Portuguese residency, and you do need to spend more time on the ground than you do in Panama.

But Portugal offers an incredible passport. And given the low barriers to entry, the lax residency requirements and the shortest timeline to naturalization in the EU, Portugal is by far the easiest way to get EU citizenship (without ancestry).

Keep in mind however, that even though it's possibly the easiest European passport to obtain, the path from Portuguese residency to full citizenship takes at least five years of residency1

2. Belgium
The Easiest Option For EU Citizenship for Business People.

If you're looking to relocate an existing or willing to start a new business, Belgium is a great choice because it offers a fantastic, Tier 1 passport with visa-free access to 158 countries.

Just like Portugal, with a Belgian passport, you could live and work anywhere in the EU. You've got free access to the European continent, no nightmarish red tape involved.

Unlike Portugal however, which requires only financial means, Belgium is one the easiest European passports to obtain for those looking to start a business.

So, what's involved?

First of all, you'll need to establish economic ties in Belgium through one of two options:

1. Option 1: Establishing your own company in Belgium and obtaining a "Professional" Card (PC)".
2. Option 2: Obtaining a work permit through a European company – also known as the Single Work Permit (SWP) or "Permis Unique".

Option 1: The Professional Card (PC)

Belgium offers the professional card to applicants who can help grow its economy, either by creating jobs, increasing exports, investing in fixed assets, by offering underrepresented services in Belgium, or by adding economic value in some other way.

So when you obtain a "professional" card, you're gaining work authorization as an entrepreneur, not an employee (which is Option #2).

The rules have changed since we last wrote about this strategy. Basically the procedure now looks like this:

• Apply for a "professional" card and present a business proposal to the government at the same time.
• Once you obtain the card, set up a Belgian company to carry out the project proposal.

To reduce the possibility of the government rejecting your project after you've already incorporated the company, it now makes sense to present your well-crafted, comprehensive business plan to the government concurrently with applying for the card.

Keep in mind that the rejection risk exists mainly when your project does not include an EU citizen.

Otherwise, you can act as a shareholder, a non-active partner, while an EU citizen serves as a director. Once your professional card is granted, you can register as a self-employed resident, and as director or active partner of the company.

This path is an established way to obtain the professional card (PC), with a pretty high success rate, according to local legal experts.

Alternatively, you can also purchase an already established Belgian business.

This residency process takes anywhere from six months to a year, but it ends up being cheaper (in terms of taxes) than gaining a work permit as an employee.

What else is required to make Option 1 work?

Your business plan will need to be comprehensive, outlining your idea, your motivations, your CV, your track record, your blueprint for success, and your financial projections.

You'll need to prove entrepreneurial or managerial experience. You'll also need to demonstrate the financial means to support your business. You'll likely increase your chances of success going this route if you pledge to employ others.

Our legal contacts inform us that one part-time employee, to be hired after six months, is usually sufficient for a small company. That should cost you around €800/month in wages. You'll also pay "social contributions", but there are generally plenty of subsidies available.

As a Belgian resident, you can stay or leave the country as you please, but if you want full citizenship, you'll eventually need to establish strong ties to Belgium.

Option 2: The Single Work Permit (Permis Unique)

This track involves a work permit and requires you to obtain a position with a Belgian company before entering the country. If you are a non-EU national, then your Belgian employer must apply on your behalf at the Regional Office of Employment.

This track also takes less time to obtain than the Professional Card — generally only about three or four months.

The conditions to obtain the Single Work Permit (SWP) are approximately the same as those for a Belgian work permit. (The employer still has to apply for you, for example.)

It is important to note that the SWP can also be obtained by "sending yourself" to Belgium from a company abroad.

The gist is that you obtain a work permit through a non-Belgian company… on the basis of exploring the market (for example – but it can be for anything else, in fact).

And yes, the company that sends you to Belgium can be yours.

You'll also need to have at least one other person listed as a shareholder in this parent company. This creates a viable work contract, as you'll be reporting back to that person.

This path can potentially be faster than setting up a company in Belgium to gain the Professional Card. Again, it only takes two to four months to obtain a Single Work Permit — either through a Belgian company that employs you, or through this other way of being sent to Belgium by a foreign company.

Alternatively, you can also purchase an already established Belgian business.

If you are sent from a company abroad as a "posted" or "seconded" employee, there won't be any "social contributions" to pay.

This path is effective for residency, but because you're not paying into retirement and health schemes, it could jeopardize a future application for citizenship, as well as your healthcare status in Belgium if you don't have private insurance.

This residency process takes anywhere from six months to a year, but it ends up being cheaper (in terms of taxes) than gaining a work permit as an employee.

So what's required for Belgian citizenship?

Keep the business that you registered open and active. Don't commit any crimes. Learn a little French or Flemish (Dutch) or German. Put your kids in Belgian schools. Join a few organizations and attend meetings. Show that this is more than just a residency on paper.

You can renew your residency (first after 2 years, then every 5 years) so long as you keep a clean record and fulfill your business obligations.

After just five years, you can apply for naturalization (full citizenship).

If you're looking to start or relocate a business, Belgium might be the easiest EU citizenship to get.

3. Spain
The Best Option OVERALL for EU Citizenship for Those of Latin Descent

Spain is by far the best (meaning fastest and cheapest) option for citizens of countries that used to be Spanish colonies.

That's because Spain cuts the residency requirement from ten years to just two years for citizens of any Spanish-speaking country in the Americas, but also Brasil and the Philippines.

And Spain does not require you to renounce your original citizenship – which is the case if you come from other countries.

A Spanish passport is a fantastic asset to own. In fact, it's one of the best in the world and ranks in the top 10 in our international passport ranking.

Spanish citizenship gives you visa-free access to 161 countries, including all of the European Union.

If you are not a citizen of a former Spanish colony (or the Philippines), we'd encourage you to reconsider Spanish residency if your ultimate goal is to get a passport. Spain will require that you reside in the country for ten years, and give up your original citizenship.

(In that case, we suggest you check out obtaining residency and citizenship in Portugal instead)

But if you are of Latin descent or a citizen of a former Spanish colony, Spain will not require you to give up your first citizenship, and cuts down the residency requirement to just two years.

How Americans could qualify to get a Spanish Passport in around 3 Years...

If you're already a member of our premium service, Sovereign: Man Confidential you have access to our February 2020 Monthly Letter about a possible backdoor option for those not from a former Spanish colony. We say possible, because it is still untested.

But through our on the ground research we believe that moving to Puerto Rico could allow you to qualify.

Puerto Rico is a US territory, and it technically doesn't have its own citizenship. But that means US citizens can move there as easily as moving to any other state. And after living in Puerto Rico for one year, anyone can obtain a single-page certificate confirming that they are a citizen of Puerto Rico.

Our lawyers on both sides of the Atlantic believe this will fulfil the legal requirements of obtaining Spanish residency through citizenship in a former colony.

Gaining residency in Spain is relatively straightforward. You can qualify for residency under the residencia no lucrativa program if you can prove that you have sufficient means.

Spain will be satisfied if you show them either enough savings or recurrent income.

In 2020, they want to see at least €2,295 income for the main applicant plus another €537 for each dependent whom you bring with you.

Income should proceed from stable sources such as your social security or pension payments.

However, if you do not have any eligible income to boast, you can also show you have enough savings and/or liquid investments.

Since Spain grants your first residency for 12 months, the government wants to see that you have enough money to sustain yourself in Spain for one full year without working.

So for a main applicant you will need to show at least €25,816 (calculated as €2,295 * 12) in your bank or brokerage account… plus another €6,454 (calculated as €537 * 12) for each dependent.

A family of four should safely qualify with about €45,500 (~$55,000) already saved.

You will need to apply for your initial entry visa into Spain from your local consulate at home. Once in Spain, you will be able to pick up your residence permit on the ground.

After two years, you will become eligible for a Spanish passport.

4. Malta
The Easiest Option for EU Citizenship if Money Is No Issue.

In 2020, Malta revised its citizenship by investment program extensively, with a mandatory residency period being introduced, along with two investment options reflecting either a standard or fast track residency period.

As of December 2020, the Maltese passport is the easiest option for anyone to pursue if they wish to get EU citizenship AND money isn't an issue (if money is an issue, we suggest you check out Portugal instead).

Malta will grant foreigners citizenship in less than 15 months in exchange for a combination of donation and investment into the country.

The key program changes for 2020 are included below:

1. You will need to make a one-time, non-refundable donation of either €600,000 or €750,000 to the government, depending on whether you opt for the standard or fast track residency process (36 months vs. 12 months). For dependents, the contribution is set at €50,000. All adult dependents must apply for residency, not just the main applicant.
2. You will need to buy real estate worth at least €700,000 OR rent a property for at least €16,000 for five years (meaning you will end up paying €80,000 in rent).
3. You will be required to make a compulsory donation of €10,000 to a Maltese NGO (previously only €5,000).
4. The requirement to invest in government bonds has been removed altogether.
5. The maximum age for dependents was increased from 27 to 29 years. If dependents meet the legal definition of disability, they can still be included in their parent's application, regardless of age.
6. The program's Due Diligence fees were increased to €15,000 for the main applicant, and €10,000 for dependents.

If these requirements scare you, then a passport from Malta likely isn't for you.

But if you have no problem meeting the requirements, a Maltese passport is an excellent travel document that gives you visa-free access to 158 countries including all of the European Union (Malta is part of both the European Union and the Schengen Area).

In fact, Malta is by far the best citizenship you can acquire by investment anywhere in the world (it also comes with a steep price tag).

Once you've met the requirements, you will need to maintain residency in Malta for 12 or 36 months before you can qualify for a passport, depending on your donation amount.

That doesn't mean, however, that you will need to be in Malta for the entire time. In fact, there are no strict time requirements for you to spend a lot of time there – you just have to come fill out the paperwork in person.

Malta is a great place to spend time. But once you are a Maltese citizen, you have unfettered access to all of Europe, and you can choose to live anywhere you like in the EU.

The easiest passports & citizenships outside of the EU

Once you look outside of the EU things get even easier:

• Panama is the easiest place in the world to establish residency and get citizenship after five years
• Argentina is by far the fastest country to get citizenship in (only around three years in total)
• Brazil is the easiest passport to get for those who are flexible
• And the Caribbean offers the cheapest citizenship-by-investment programs if you have the money

5. Panama
The Easiest Place In The World To Establish Residency

Panama is one of the easiest places to get citizenship in the world because of its simple, fast track residency process. And residency, in this case, is the first step towards a second passport.

The process works like this: you go to Panama and use one of 50+ options to apply for residency. (Yes. More than 50. They really want people to come to Panama. And the country also has easy citizenship requirements .)

Panama's Friendly Nations and Retirement Visas are the easiest and allow the majority of people to become a permanent resident very quickly.

Once you submit your residency application, you can leave.

Then, you come back a few months later to pick up your documents and ID card. You're now a legal resident of Panama. You can live in Panama if you want to – and it's a great, modern, beautiful place with a thriving economy – but you don't have to.

After two years, you apply (in Panama) to renew your residency.

Then, after a total of five years of residency, you can apply for naturalization (full citizenship).

It helps if you can speak at least some Spanish, and if you can show some social and/or business ties to Panama.

This strategy makes Panama possibly the easiest country to become a citizen (without using the ancestry option).

Yes, it takes some time – five years of residency – but the process is generally simple and hassle-free. And five years is actually not a lot of time to wait when it comes to non-ancestry-based second citizenships.

The only major drawback of Panamanian citizenship is that the passport itself is not considered a Tier 1 document. In other words, you don't get into as many countries visa-free and hassle-free with a Panamanian passport as you would with, say, a Belgian or Portuguese passport.

2020 PROGRAM UPDATE: In 2020, Panama launched four Golden Visa type programs for citizens of countries not included in the Friendly Nations list. You can find out more about the new Panamanian Residency By Investment Programs here.

6. Argentina
The Fastest Country To Get Citizenship In

South America offers many excellent easy second passport options.

One of them is Argentina, which offers the fastest way to get citizenship in the region. After obtaining residency in Argentina, you can qualify for full citizenship after only TWO years of living there (plus processing time of several additional months).

Two years is incredibly fast by all international standards.

Argentina's passport is also a pretty solid travel document, with visa-free access to more than 150 countries– including all of Europe and Russia, Southeast Asia, South America. The only major drawback is that an Argentinian passport does not give you visa-free access to the US or Canada.

(The best passport, and the most valuable second citizenship in South America, is offered by Chile. We detail how to get Chilean citizenship in our free report – The Four Passports ANYONE Can Obtain.)

Getting residency in Argentina is pretty easy. The official requirement is that you show a minimum of $1,000/month in passive income to be eligible, but our lawyers recommend showing $2,000 or more.

What kind of income qualifies?

• Income derived from financial investments: dividends, annuities, receipts from a trust, interest payments from Certificates of Deposit, etc.
• Retirement payments, such as Social Security
• Regular distributions from a business you own outside of Argentina
• Rental income from outside Argentina

If you have steady, passive income, you could qualify for a rentista visa, which is a one-year visa that can be extended in one-year increments. You'd need to set up an Argentine bank account and have the money deposited there monthly.

If this option appeals to you, it's best to start the process on the ground in Argentina, and not at a consulate in your home country, which could quickly become a bureaucratic mess. Once you've got your temporary visa/residency, then you'll need to start spending time in Argentina.

You will need to spend at least six months per year there over the course of those two years.

At that point, you may apply for naturalization. You will need a bit of Spanish language proficiency, but the exam is easy enough to pass without full fluency.

Keep in mind that in spring 2020 Argentina ordered one of the strictest coronavirus lockdowns of any country. Argentina banned commercial flights in and out of the country through September 2020, and were barring tourists from entering the country during much of the COVID-19 lockdowns…

Argentina even went so far as to ban its own citizens and residents who were outside of the country from coming back home between March 16-31, 2020. That is something to keep in mind, especially if freedom to travel during potential future government lockdowns figures prominently into your reasons for acquiring a second passport.

But investing time is not the only way to get foreign citizenship. There's a more orthodox way that requires a little flexibility.

7. Brazil
The Easiest Passport To Get For Those Who Are Flexible

There are two great things about having Brazilian citizenship:

One, they refuse to extradite their citizens to answer for foreign crimes. It just doesn't happen.

This doesn't just apply to crimes, but also to any activity foreign governments may not like. For example, Glenn Greenwald, who helped break the Edward Snowden story, lives in Brazil. He might have moved there to be with his Brazilian partner, but he likely stays there for the protection the country offers.

Two, ANYONE can be Brazilian, whatever their ethnicity– black, white, brown, Asian… it doesn't matter. Brazil is a huge melting pot. If you become a citizen of Nicaragua, you're going to stand out if you're a green-eyed redhead.

But not in Brazil. Gisele Bündchen, the blonde, blue-eyed model, is from Brazil… So is Pele, who is black. Both types blend in there.

Brazil's is such an easy passport to get because it is the KING of 'flexible' citizenship options– getting married, adopting a child, hell… even adopting a rainforest, in some cases.

And it can happen in as little as one to three years.

One option is to marry a Brazilian citizen and apply for permanent residency immediately after that. After one year of permanent residency, you can apply for naturalization and a Brazilian passport. Talk about how to get a passport easily!

Another option is having a baby in Brazil. In our Sovereign Man: Confidential member library, we profiled a couple who moved to Brazil and had their baby there.

The baby automatically became Brazilian. Ten months later, the parents gained permanent residency. A year later – and yes, they lived in Brazil the whole time – the couple qualified to apply for naturalization (full citizenship).

What's more, the "family reunification visa" could allow the couple to bring their parents in as well.

You do need to speak basic Portuguese to become a citizen, but you don't need to be fluent.

You'll likely learn the language quickly, though: Brazilians love to talk. I always tell people that you can show up in Brazil naked, not knowing a soul, and you'll immediately have 20 new friends willing to give you the shirts off their backs. It's a hard place to not like.

2020 UPDATE: Brazil also offers an immigration category specifically for investors. After you bring BRL 600,000 into the country, you can get a 5-year residency permit. Given the real's depreciation, this translates to approximately $130,000 only, which is quite affordable, relatively speaking.

You can invest the money in anything, or just leave it sitting in your Brazillian bank account. The program can lead to citizenship through regular naturalization after 5 years, making it an interesting option if you're looking to gain a second passport in Latin America.

If you want to give your future child the invaluable gift of a second citizenship and passport, download our free report The Four Passports ANYONE Can Obtain

Inside we have included a complete list of countries that give citizenship by birth.

Further Reading A full list of countries that give citizenship by birth inside our free report The Four Passports ANYONE Can Obtain

8. Caribbean
Cheapest Citizenship-By-Investment Option For Wealthy Individuals

If money isn't an issue, then you could look into acquiring Citizenship By Investment from one of a number of Caribbean nations.

The region is home to five Citizenship By Investment programs, and is responsible for making the sale of citizenship in exchange for donations mainstream around the world.

After Hurricane Maria ravaged the region in 2017, several Caribbean nations made their programs even more attractive by literally halving their prices to attract capital.

Most of these Caribbean countries rely on tourism as their primary economic engine. Therefore tax revenue plummeted in the spring of 2020 as coronavirus essentially shut down the tourism industry.

In response, St. Lucia became the first country to offer a COVID-19 discount on its citizenship by investment program. You can now buy a $250,000 bond from St. Lucia which will be paid back (without interest) after five years.

That means you could buy citizenship for as little as the cost of the filing fee – about $40,000.

But keep in mind the cost of the value of that money lost to inflation. Then there is the opportunity cost of having $250,000 tied up for five years. Plus the risk of St. Lucia defaulting on its bond obligations.

Still, for some people it is an option worth considering.

Saint Kitts also offers a discount of $45,000 for families in 2020.  More countries will likely follow and offer Covid-related discounts.

Even before the recent changes, the most attractive option for single applicants was St. Lucia. For a $109,550 exclusive of service provider fees) one-time donation to the government, you can get a passport from St. Lucia, which gives you visa-free access to 123 countries, including the EU (but excluding the US and Canada).

For families, we suggest looking at Antigua & Barbuda, where a family of 4 can get citizenship on the island for just $147,200.

2020 PROGRAM UPDATE: In May 2020, the Antiguan government announced that they will be slashing the application costs for families of six. Whereas previously the total cost of obtaining the country's citizenship would have been $185,000 for a family of 6, the fee reduction means that you will now only have to spend $150,000 all-in.

As an added bonus, one family member can take advantage of a one-year, tuition-only scholarship from the University of the West Indies as part of the deal.

Seventh and subsequent family members can be added to the application for an additional $15,000 per dependent.

An Antiguan passport is similar to that of St. Lucia in that it gives you access to 129 countries visa-free, including the EU, but excluding the US and Canada.

In both cases, there are no residency requirements, meaning that you are not required to spend any time at all in the country after that. Antigua is the one exception, where you are expected to visit the country for five days within the first five years of gaining their citizenship.

The processing time for the entire process is around three to five months – so if you are looking for an expedited passport in a tax haven and you have the means, then a Caribbean passport could make a lot of sense.

You can learn more about this option, and other Carribean passports on "COVID sale"  in our in-depth article about citizenship-by-investment.

9. The Best Value BONUS Option

We promised you eight easy citizenship and passport options in this article, but we have one more option up our sleeve: Chile.

It is the best passport and the most valuable second citizenship in South America. A Chilean passport gives you visa-free access to 147 countries and ranks in 18th place on our Sovereign Man Passport Ranking Index.

However… please note:

Given the impact of COVID-19 on bureaucracies around the world, applying for Chilean citizenship by naturalization has become a LOT more cumbersome and time consuming.

Various members of the Sovereign Man team have been trying to complete a citizenship application in the past couple of years, and have so far not been successful. A key challenge has been that months pass without much feedback from the local authorities.

And the fastest recent successful naturalization that we know of, finished in 2020, took two full years.

So if you are in a hurry to obtain a second citizenship, Chile may not be the best option for you.

To learn more about this option, download our free report "Four Passports ANYONE can Obtain ".

Inside you'll also learn…

• Four second passports ANYONE can obtain
• Which country will give you a second passport without you having to spend hardly any time there.
• How to get an excellent second passport from Europe.
• Which second passport option is the most affordable and best value.
• Where you can get a valuable second passport in less than HALF the time compared to other countries.

Why Getting a Second Passport Could be one of the Smartest Things You Ever Do

There are many ways to acquire a second passport– many more than we're able to list in this article. (Luckily, we've written dozens more pieces detailing, step-by-step, how to acquire easy second citizenships. Check them out in the Sovereign Man archives.)

We encourage you to research your options – and then TAKE ACTION.

If you have one nationality, then one, single government has total control over your life, your finances, your business, and your personal affairs.

We saw many different responses from governments when it came to coronavirus lockdowns. And governments also respond differently to civil unrest, riots, and protests. The events of 2020 have made it obvious that you want to have more than one option to choose which government's rules you prefer to live under.

Sadly, these days, anything is on the table. Tensions between India and China are rising after a June 2020 border clash which killed Indian troops. The US and China are steadily marching into a cold war. And the world is a tinderbox, that would only take a random spark to ignite.

The US government is printing vast amounts of money, which could easily devalue the currency, lead to extreme economic repercussions, and spark serious internal and external conflict.

At that point, with just one citizenship, you have little recourse to get out of harm's way.

It means that you're chained to the consequences of that single government's decisions, no matter how destructive, no matter whether you agree.

A second passport is an insurance policy. A way to take your power back.

Hopefully you'll never need it. And hopefully, you'll never need the fire insurance policy that protects your home, either.

But if that day ever comes when you smell smoke, you'll thank your lucky stars you're covered.

Getting a second passport also means expanding your work, leisure and investment options – both for yourself and for your kids. Many universities in Europe, for example, are low-cost or free to EU nationals. And another passport can also be great for protecting your assets and even yourself: as far as I can tell, terrorists aren't going after Chileans.

Having a second passport just makes sense. In this article, we've covered just a few of the many easy second citizenships out there.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you don't have time to read the full article, here are the most frequently asked questions we get…

What's the easiest country to get citizenship in?

Panama is by far the easiest place in the world to get citizenship in.

It's extremely easy to get residency for most people and after five years, you can apply for citizenship.

There are no official requirements to spend time there, but the more ties you can demonstrate, the better are your chances of being approved.

You can read more about this option here.

But depending on your personal situation there could be an even easier option for you. Such as…

• Argentina is by far the fastest country to get citizenship in (only around three years in total)
• Brazil is the easiest passport to get for those who are willing to have a baby there or adopt a child
• And the Caribbean offers the cheapest citizenship-by-investment programs if you have the money

What's the easiest EU citizenship and passport you can get?

If you're looking for an EU passport, then Portugal is by far the easiest option for most people.

The Retirement and Online Worker Visa is the best way to obtain residency in Portugal. And after five years of residency you can apply for citizenship.

You can read more about this option here.

But it's not the only option. You should also consider…

• Belgium offers the easiest EU citizenship if you move your business there
• Spain offers the fastest way to get EU citizenship if you come from one of the former Spanish colonies
• Malta is the easiest EU passport to obtain if you have the money for a citizenship-by-investment program

What's the fastest citizenship & passport you can get?

There are several options if you are in a hurry…

• Argentina is by far the fastest country to get citizenship in for most people (only around three years in total)
• Spain offers the fastest way to get EU citizenship if you come from one of the former Spanish colonies (only around 2-3 years)
• Citizenship by investment can get you a citizenship and passport in as little as a few months, but it will cost you upwards of $100,000

Is there an even easier option?

Yes, there is…

By far, the easiest way to get a passport is through ancestry. It's a little-known shortcut that could give you an excellent European passport and oftentimes costs next to nothing to obtain.

If you've got parents, grandparents (and in some cases great-grandparents) from Italy, Ireland, Hungary or several other countries, you might already qualify for citizenship. That means you could get your second passport quickly, cheaply and hassle-free.

This an excellent option that we recommend EVERYONE considers first.

You can learn more about it in our in-depth article on citizenship by descent and ancestry.

Free Resources

Download Our Free
Easiest Citizenship & Passport Comparison Sheet

Inside you'll see all the options you have at a glance and find…

• The 5 easiest options to obtain EU citizenship & passport and 9 options outside the EU ​
• How and where to obtain a valuable citizenship and passport after just two years of residency (while paying next to nothing)
• The best instant citizenship options for singles, families and those who want EU citizenship
• Which options allow you to obtain a second passport while spending the least amount of time in the country
• The 14 countries that might give you FREE citizenship & passport if you have parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents from there

Download Our Free Report
The Four Passports ANYONE Can Obtain

Get our free intelligence report, with detailed instructions on how ANYONE can obtain an Excellent Second Passport through residency and discover …

• Four second passports ANYONE can obtain
• Which country will give you a second passport while spending barely any time there.
• How to get an excellent second passport from Europe.
• Which second passport option is the most affordable and best value.
• Where you can get a valuable second passport in less than HALF the time compared to other countries.

Download Our Free
Citizenship-By-Investment Comparison Sheet

In this article we covered three citizenship-by-investment programs, but there are 10 more programs around the world.

Download our Citizenship By Investment Comparison Table to see all available programs at a glance.

• The differences between the programs (number of visa-free countries, price, investment options, taxation, …)
• Which countries you can enter without a visa with each passport (and the differences between them)

It could potentially help you save tens or even hundreds of thousands of Dollars by picking the best passport for your personal situation at the lowest price…

Download Our Free Report
Italian Passport & Citizenship By Descent

The very first option that EVERYONE should consider is citizenship by descent…

Inside this free premium intelligence you'll see how to get an excellent European passport if you have Italian ancestors.

And even if you don't have Italian ancestors, this report is still useful to get a better idea of how the process works.

• Step-by-step instructions on how to get an Italian passport & citizenship if you have Italian ancestors.
• The little-known fast-track shortcut that will cut the process down from years to just a few months!
• And much more…

Our Products

Sovereign Man: Confidential is our flagship intelligence  service informing you about the best places on Earth to safely protect your life, your liberty and your assets.

Our intelligence reports cover all four ways to get a second passport & citizenship in detail.

Additionally we also have intelligence on everything from new residency, foreign banking, options to reduce, defer, or even eliminate your taxes, to incredible investment picks outside the mainstream.

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Source: https://www.sovereignman.com/lifestyle-design/four-valuable-passports-that-anyone-can-obtain-6109/

Posted by: fraziertherrudy.blogspot.com

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