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Green Apple Consultants
Pagua Bay on the east coast of Dominica, with forested headlands meeting the sea
Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 3.0

Citizenship

Citizenship by Investment

Advice on programmes that confer full legal nationality in return for a qualifying investment — including which are genuinely open to you.

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Who it is for

This service suits individuals and families who want a second nationality as a long-term position rather than a short-term convenience — typically because they are planning across more than one country for business, education, succession or security reasons.

It is a poor fit if you are looking for a quick travel document, if your objective depends on an outcome no advisor can promise, or if your source of funds cannot withstand independent scrutiny. We will say so at the first conversation rather than at the invoice.

What it covers

Citizenship by investment is the grant of full nationality by a sovereign state in return for a qualifying economic contribution. It is not a visa, a residence permit, or a membership scheme. The state decides, under its own law, and that law changes.

Our work begins before any programme is named. We establish what you are actually trying to achieve, then test that objective against the published criteria of each candidate jurisdiction — nationality restrictions, source of funds expectations, family composition rules, disclosure obligations and the practical consequences of holding that nationality.

Only then does programme selection make sense. A jurisdiction that suits one family can be unsuitable or entirely closed to another, and the difference is rarely the headline investment amount.

What a second nationality does and does not change

A second citizenship can change which passport you travel on, where you have an unconditional right to live and work, and what your family inherits. It does not, by itself, change your tax residence, release you from obligations to your existing state of nationality, or exempt you from immigration control anywhere. Several states restrict or prohibit dual nationality; some require disclosure. These consequences should be settled with qualified advisers in the relevant jurisdictions before an application is lodged, not after.

What is included

  • Objectives and suitability assessment

    A structured review of what you are trying to achieve and whether any programme actually delivers it.

  • Eligibility screening against published criteria

    Including nationality restrictions, age limits, residence expectations and character requirements.

  • Reasoned jurisdiction shortlist

    A comparison of genuinely available options, with trade-offs stated rather than glossed over.

  • Source of funds preparation

    Identifying what will need evidencing and in what form, before submission.

  • Document pack preparation and quality control

    Including apostille, legalisation and certified translation requirements.

  • Coordination with the authorised local agent

    Many programmes may only be submitted by a licensed agent in that jurisdiction.

  • Progress monitoring and response to official queries

    Through the government review period.

  • Post-approval formalities support

    Oath, registration and passport issuance, where contracted.

How it works

  1. Objectives conversation. What you want the nationality to do, who it needs to cover, and over what horizon.
  2. Eligibility screening. Your circumstances tested against the published criteria of each candidate programme, including any nationality-based restrictions.
  3. Jurisdiction shortlist. A reasoned comparison of the options that are genuinely available to you, with the trade-offs stated plainly.
  4. Pre-screening. Identification of anything in your background or source of funds likely to attract scrutiny, addressed before cost is incurred.
  5. Documentation. Preparation and quality control of the complete file, including apostille and translation requirements.
  6. Lodgement. Submission through the authorised agent or channel for that jurisdiction, which in many programmes may only be a licensed local agent.
  7. Review period. We monitor progress, respond to requests for further information, and keep you informed.
  8. Post-approval. Where contracted, assistance with oath or registration formalities and passport issuance.

Timelines differ by programme and by the authority reviewing the file. We do not publish indicative durations we cannot source.

Scope and limits

Not included in this service

  • Any guarantee of approval or timeline The decision and its timing belong to the government, not to us.
  • Legal, tax or financial advice We will tell you when you need a qualified specialist and work alongside them.
  • Introduction to the investment itself as a financial product We advise on programme qualification, not on the merits of a security or property as an investment.
  • We are advisors. We do not grant citizenship and we have no role in the decision, which rests solely with the competent authority.
  • No advisor can guarantee approval, a processing time, or that a programme will remain open on its current terms.
  • We do not assist with applications designed to avoid due diligence, sanctions screening or source-of-funds scrutiny.
  • We do not provide legal or tax advice. Where your circumstances require it we will tell you to instruct a qualified specialist in the relevant jurisdiction.
  • Programmes close, change and are suspended, sometimes with little notice.

Questions

Can you guarantee my application will be approved?

No, and you should treat any advisor who says otherwise with caution. Every application is decided by the competent government authority under its own law. What we can do is assess your eligibility honestly before you commit, prepare a file that withstands scrutiny, and tell you early if we think an application is unlikely to succeed.

How long does the process take?

It varies by programme and by the authority reviewing the file, and published timelines are indicative rather than binding. We will tell you what the relevant authority currently states, and where we have no verified figure we will say so rather than estimate.

Will a second citizenship change my tax position?

Not by itself. Tax residence and nationality are different things in most systems. Your position depends on where you are resident, where your assets and income sit, and the rules of each state involved. This needs a qualified tax adviser in the relevant jurisdictions, and we will work alongside one.

Do I have to give up my current nationality?

That depends entirely on the law of your current state of nationality, not on the programme. Some states permit dual nationality freely, some restrict it, some prohibit it, and some require disclosure. We will raise this at the outset because it can rule out an otherwise suitable plan.

Do I need to live in the country?

Most citizenship by investment programmes have limited or no physical presence requirement, but this is programme-specific and does change. Residency programmes are different and often do carry presence obligations. We will confirm the current position for the specific programme.

What happens if the programme closes while I am applying?

Governments do close, suspend and amend programmes, sometimes with transitional arrangements for applications already lodged and sometimes without. This is a real risk and we will discuss how it applies to your shortlist before you commit.

This page describes an advisory service. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice, and nothing here is an offer or a guarantee of any outcome. Green Apple Consultants is not a government body and does not grant citizenship, residence or any immigration status — every application is decided solely by the competent government authority.

Related

Services that often run alongside this

Residency by Investment

Advice on programmes granting a right of residence — a distinct legal status from citizenship, with its own obligations.