A new report analyses the best countries for residence and citizenship-by-investment programmes – through which a second passport or residence status can be secured.<\/p>\n
The report was compiled by Henley & Partners, focusing specifically on high net worth individuals who can gain citizenship through smart investing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our experience of managing the assets of high-net-worth South Africans, we see that generally they don\u2019t actually want to emigrate but rather use this for global freedom, mobility, access and most importantly their \u2018plan B\u2019 – as an insurance policy for themselves or their children,\u201dthe group said.<\/p>\n
The Global Residence and Citizenship Programs (GRCP) 2015 Report looked at a number of factors to determine the best countries for investment and the advantages across immigration law, tax and quality of living.<\/p>\n
It looked at 19 of the most relevant residence-by-investment programs and seven citizenship-by-investment programmes currently available globally.<\/p>\n
The world\u2019s best residence by investment countries:<\/strong><\/p>\n Of the 19 residence programs reviewed, Portugal\u2019s Golden Residence Permit Program emerged as the world\u2019s best residence-by-investment program in 2015, followed by Austria and Belgium – for lighter tax burdens, cheaper overall cost, short processing time and quality of processing, and its excellent reputation.<\/p>\n Portugal\u2019s requirements to qualify for the programme have recently been adjusted \u2013 lowering the overall costs.<\/p>\n You can now invest in rural real estate to the value of EUR 350,000 (R5.3 million), or support an artistic production or a natural heritage investment for EUR 250,000 (R3.8 million), or invest in a small or medium-sized enterprise to the value of EUR 500,000 (R7.5 million).<\/p>\n The world\u2019s best citizenship by investment countries:<\/strong><\/p>\n When it comes to investment, Malta was the clear leader for compliance, the report found.<\/p>\n “The Malta Individual Investor Programme (IIP) is one of the more expensive options, but once you acquire citizenship in Malta, you have the option of choosing to live, work or study in any of the 28 European Union countries as you become a European citizen,” the group said.<\/p>\n The world\u2019s best and worst passports to own \u2013 including South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The most powerful passports in the world<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Visa regulations eased after tourism takes a knock<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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