Second Citizenship Programs

Second citizenship programs offer many possibilities and lower the number of countries to which you will require a visa to travel to.  Second citizenship programs enhance financial freedom, giving you a second home where you can hold a bank account, run a business and escape to for vacation.

Second citizenship programs are administered differently depending on country.  In some places, residency programs are established and require a person to be a resident for a minimum number of years and to be physically out of the country for a minimum period of time.  Provided that these and other requirements are met, second citizenship can be applied for.

Where children are concerned, parents are usually allowed to claim dual citizenship provided that the child was born in the country in question or that at least one of the parents is a citizen.  Many second citizenship programs that made citizenship automatic by birth have put in more requirements for passing on second citizenship to the child if the parents are not citizens.  Such policies serve to control immigrant numbers and deter the abuse of accommodating citizenship laws.

Other second citizenship programs are designed to facilitate foreign investors who wish to become citizens of a country.  Normally, a minimum investment amount would be set and the investor, once having shown to be honest and law abiding would be facilitated in applying for dual citizenship without having to necessarily meet major residency requirements.  Similar to this are the citizenship by investment or economic citizenship programs whereby foreign nationals are invited to make a financial contribution of a certain amount to government approved programs and in return qualify to apply for second citizenship.

These second citizenship programs do not have residency requirements and can be processed strictly by distance. At some point, an applicant may be asked to travel to the country for an interview before the decision is taken to grant second citizenship.  The islands of Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis are known for administering reputable second citizenship programs like these and have become popular places for acquiring second citizenship.

Besides providing a second passport, dual citizenship and more visa free travel options, a second citizenship program can be considered a tool for preserving personal and financial safety.  A second passport is invaluable if one were to find him or herself in a plane hijacking or terrorist attack situation and were to be victimized because of his citizenship.  Financially, as a citizen of another country, the opportunity is open to freely protect assets by opening a savings account or having wealth under the management of a trustee in that country.  Should an event that threatens a person’s livelihood occur, that second citizenship could very well be the only remedy.

Fiscal, medical, employment and education benefits are other reasons for applying to a second citizenship program.  Many third world countries are unable to provide basic health care and education needs to their people.  To escape poverty and access new opportunities for financial well being and a better future, many people find ways of accessing second citizenship programs for an answer.