How much it costs to pay your way out of South Africa
There are over 100 countries where South Africans can get a second passport or residency by investing in them, says Sarah Young, an investment migration manager at Sable International.
According to Sable International, price in terms of citizenship-by-investment can vary substantially depending on the programme and jurisdiction you choose and whether you’re after a second citizenship or simply a second residency.
Despite concern over costs being a high priority for prospective emigrators, deciding on a programme depends on more than what you can afford, said Young.
You have considered if you are in a position to uproot your family and leave the country, said Young. “Some programmes are effectively ‘immigrant visas’, and therefore there is an expectation that you will relocate to the jurisdiction and make it your permanent home once you have been granted residency – but many are not.”
Young added that another factor to consider is the size of your family and who you would like to benefit.
“Most, if not all, countries allow the applicant to include their spouse and children, but some allow you to include your extended family too.”
In terms of how long you will need to stay in the other country is also dependent on your choice, said Young. “Some require a minimum of 183-days a year, some a nominal number of days, while with others, you never have to set foot in the country if you don’t want to.”
It is important to note that some programmes take only a few months, while others require years of forward planning.
According to the emigration assistance firm, these are the top four options that South Africans are leaning towards:
Grenada
The main appeal of Granada’s programme is that there is no requirement to travel to the island before, during or after the citizenship process is complete – there’s no minimum stay requirement.
With a Grenadian passport, you can travel visa-free to over 140 countries (compared to South Africa’s 105), said Young.
| Factors | |
|---|---|
| Relocation required | No |
| Family that may be included | Spouse, children, financially dependent adult children up to the age of 29, financially dependent parents and grandparents, and single siblings with no children. |
| Timeline | 6 to 8 months |
| Minimum investment amount | $150,000 NTF government donation or $220,00 real estate investment and $50,000 government contribution |
| Minimum stay requirements | None |
| Total | Between R2.58 million to R4.6 million |
Portugal
“While many investment programmes require you to give a portion of your funds directly to the government, Golden Visa Portugal allows you to put the full investment amount into a property or a private equity fund, where it has a chance to grow.”
| Factors | |
|---|---|
| Relocation required | No |
| Family that may be included | Spouse, children, unmarried financially dependant adult children who are enrolled in full-time education, and dependent parents/parents-in-law |
| Timeline | 18 months until first temporary residency visa is granted, seven to eight years until citizenship |
| Minimum investment amount | €280,000, €350,000 and €500,000 real estate investment categories or €500,000 private equity fund |
| Minimum stay requirements | 35 days over five years |
| Total | R5 million |
Ireland
Ireland offers one of the world’s most powerful passports and it’s also currently the only passport that allows settlement in both the EU and UK. With an Irish passport, you can travel visa-free to 190 countries.
| Factors | |
|---|---|
| Relocation required | Not required to maintain Stamp 4 permanent residency. Yes, if you wish to apply for citizenship. |
| Family that may be included | Spouse, children, unmarried financially dependent adult children up to the age of 24 who are enrolled in full-time education |
| Timeline | 6 to 9 months for residency, 5 to 6 years for citizenship |
| Minimum investment amount | €500,000 endowment, or €1 million enterprise investment, or €1 million investment fund, or €2 million real estate investment trust (REIT). |
| Minimum stay requirements | One day per year to maintain residency. For citizenship, at least half of the minimum five-year period must be spent living in Ireland and the 12 months prior to a citizenship application must be spent in Ireland. |
| Total: | Between R9 million and R35 million |
Malta
Malta’s Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) is one of the most successful residency-by-investment programmes as it’s more affordable than many other European residency programmes and offers visa-free travel throughout the Schengen area.
| Factors | |
|---|---|
| Relocation required | No |
| Family that may be included | Spouse, children, unmarried financially dependent adult children under the age of 29, and financially dependent parents and grandparents above 55 years of age |
| Timeline | 2 months |
| Minimum investment amount | Only €100,000 and real estate purchase or five-year property lease. However, the main applicant is required to possess capital/assets of not less than €500,000, of which €150,000 must be in financial assets. |
| Minimum stay requirements | None |
| Total | R9 million |
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