Breaking: Two New Citizenship By Investment Programs?

Summary

This video discusses two new citizenship by investment (CBI) programs: one in the Solomon Islands and another proposed by a Ghanaian presidential candidate. The Solomon Islands' program offers visa-free travel to over 100 countries, including Canada and the Schengen Area, with a focus on stringent due diligence. Ghana's proposed program targets people of African ancestry, offering citizenship for a $50,000 investment. Both programs could be cost-effective options for those seeking a second passport, with potential benefits for travel and investment in Africa.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Two new citizenship by investment (CBI) programs are being proposed, potentially offering some of the most affordable options in the market.
• 🏝️ The Solomon Islands is considering launching a CBI program, which would be one of the first new programs in recent times.
• 📈 The Solomon Islands' CBI program could offer visa-free travel to over 100 countries, including the Schengen area, UK, and Ireland, but its strength in South America is relatively weak.
• ⚠️ The visa-free access to Canada for the Solomon Islands might not last long due to previous instances of such access being revoked for other countries.
• 💼 The Caribbean countries have recently increased the price of their CBI programs, which might influence the pricing strategy of the Solomon Islands.
• 💼 The second proposed CBI program is by a presidential candidate in Ghana, aiming to attract people of African ancestry with a $50,000 investment for citizenship.
• 🗺️ Ghana's CBI program, if implemented, could offer visa-free travel within Africa, aligning with the African Union's efforts to create a more unified continent.
• 💼 The Ghanaian CBI proposal is speculative and might not materialize, but it highlights the potential for Africa to become an emerging market hub.
• 📉 The value of CBI programs tends to decrease over time as they become more expensive and stringent, making early adoption potentially more beneficial.
• 🛂 Nomad Capitalist offers holistic guidance for individuals interested in CBI programs, considering factors beyond just visa-free travel benefits.

Q & A

What are the two new citizenship by investment programs mentioned in the script?

The two new citizenship by investment programs mentioned are from the Solomon Islands and a proposal by a presidential candidate in Ghana.

What is the significance of the Solomon Islands' citizenship by investment program?

The Solomon Islands' program is significant because it could be one of the most affordable in the market and offers visa-free travel to over 100 countries, including the Schengen area, UK, and Ireland, which is unusual for a citizenship by investment program.

Why might the visa-free access to Canada for Solomon Islands' passport holders be temporary?

The visa-free access to Canada might be temporary because Canada has previously shown reluctance to such access for countries with citizenship by investment programs, citing concerns over security and background checks.

What is the potential drawback of the Solomon Islands' citizenship by investment program according to the script?

A potential drawback is that the program's visa-free travel benefits might not be as extensive in Latin America compared to Caribbean programs, and the visa-free access to Canada could be revoked in the future.

What is the proposed price for the Ghanaian citizenship by investment program?

The proposed price for the Ghanaian citizenship by investment program is $50,000, as suggested by a presidential candidate aiming to attract people of African ancestry.

Why might the Ghanaian program be of interest to potential investors?

The Ghanaian program might be of interest due to the potential for Africa to become a frontier market and an emerging market investment hub, and the possibility of expanded residence rights within the African Union.

What is the likelihood of the Ghanaian citizenship by investment program being implemented according to the script?

The script suggests that the likelihood of the Ghanaian program being implemented is relatively low, as such programs rarely get introduced and if they do, they may not last long.

How does the script suggest that citizenship by investment programs have been evolving?

The script suggests that citizenship by investment programs are becoming more expensive over time and the process is becoming more laborious with increased due diligence requirements.

What is the role of Nomad Capitalist in the context of these citizenship by investment programs?

Nomad Capitalist is presented as a resource for helping clients navigate the complexities of citizenship by investment programs, offering a holistic approach that considers residence, citizenship, taxes, and investments.

Why might the due diligence process be important for the success of a citizenship by investment program?

The due diligence process is important for ensuring the quality and security of the program, which can affect its reputation and the visa-free travel benefits it offers, as well as the long-term sustainability of the program.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 New Citizenship by Investment Programs on the Horizon

Two upcoming citizenship by investment (CBI) programs may be some of the most affordable on the market. The Solomon Islands is close to launching its own CBI, which has been under discussion since 2020. This could offer visa-free travel to key regions like Europe, Southeast Asia, and Canada (though that may be short-lived due to Canada's scrutiny of CBI programs). While not as strong as Caribbean CBI programs, the Solomon Islands could present a decent option for those seeking a secondary passport without needing to move or pay taxes in the issuing country.

05:01

🗺️ Visa-Free Travel and Passport Strength Comparison

The Solomon Islands’ CBI program offers relatively good visa-free travel access, but it lags behind Caribbean options in Latin America. It provides access to Europe’s Schengen area, the UK, and Southeast Asia, with visa-free access to Canada (likely temporary). The Solomon Islands passport is a 'tier B' option, not as robust as others but still useful for international travel. Potential applicants should consider their lifestyle, residence, and global travel needs. Companies like Nomad Capitalist provide holistic advisory services, focusing on a person's full financial and lifestyle picture.

10:02

💰 Pricing Trends in Citizenship by Investment Programs

The Solomon Islands program might offer a similar price point to Caribbean programs (around $100,000), though it's unclear if it will be as competitive. Caribbean countries have raised CBI prices under pressure from the European Union, even though they conduct thorough background checks. A comparison to Vanuatu shows the latter’s CBI has suffered from weak due diligence, losing visa-free access to key countries. The Solomon Islands program is expected to adopt stricter checks, potentially making it a more attractive option for those seeking a reliable secondary passport.

🌍 Ghana’s Proposed Citizenship by Investment Program

A presidential candidate in Ghana has proposed a $50,000 CBI program aimed at raising $50 billion by offering citizenship to people of African ancestry. This program would target the concept of reconnecting with one’s roots, although it's uncertain if it will materialize or succeed. Historically, such programs, like Armenia’s or Comoros’, have had limited appeal. Ghana's visa-free travel options are not particularly strong, but the program could offer opportunities within the African Union and be part of a broader push toward unifying African nations economically and politically.

💼 Potential for Africa’s CBI Program and Future Expansion

Ghana’s $50,000 CBI proposal targets diaspora communities and promises economic opportunities in Africa, where middle-class growth and business potential are on the rise. The concept of the 'United States of Africa' underpins the program, which could offer new residency and business opportunities across Africa if African Union integration continues. While the odds of the program’s implementation are low, it presents an interesting frontier market for investment. The Solomon Islands program remains the more promising option, though applicants should act quickly as CBI programs tend to become more costly and complex over time.

🌐 Final Thoughts on Citizenship by Investment and Visa-Free Travel

As CBI programs become more expensive and restrictive, those interested in second passports should act quickly. Nomad Capitalist emphasizes a holistic approach to global citizenship and investment, helping clients navigate the often-complex CBI process. With the right passport, individuals can enjoy visa-free access to key regions like Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, where Nomad Capitalist hosts its annual event. Staying informed and understanding the nuances of these programs can help people make strategic choices for their international mobility and financial freedom.

Keywords

💡Citizenship by Investment (CBI)

Citizenship by Investment (CBI) refers to a program where individuals can obtain citizenship in a country by making a significant investment or donation. In the video, CBI is central as it discusses new programs in the Solomon Islands and Ghana, which could offer affordable pathways to citizenship. The video explains how these programs allow individuals to gain passports and visa-free travel benefits in exchange for investments, exemplified by the Solomon Islands' potential program and Ghana's proposed $50,000 CBI initiative.

💡Visa-free travel

Visa-free travel is the ability to enter a foreign country without needing a visa. It is a key benefit of CBI programs discussed in the video. The script mentions how the Solomon Islands' program could offer visa-free access to over 100 countries, including the Schengen Area and the UK, which is significant for those seeking enhanced global mobility. However, the video also cautions that such benefits might not be permanent, as seen with changes in Canada's visa policies.

💡Due diligence

Due diligence in the context of CBI programs refers to the thorough background checks and verification processes conducted on applicants to ensure they are of good character and meet the program's requirements. The video suggests that the Solomon Islands may implement stringent due diligence, which is important for maintaining the integrity of the program and the country's international relations, as opposed to Vanuatu's past issues with weaker checks leading to visa-free access losses.

💡Nomad Capitalist

Nomad Capitalist is a company mentioned in the video that assists clients in navigating CBI programs and understanding the holistic implications of acquiring a second passport. The video implies that Nomad Capitalist provides services beyond just obtaining a passport, such as strategic advice on residence, taxes, and investments, which align with the individual's overall lifestyle and global mobility goals.

💡Second passport

A second passport refers to obtaining an additional citizenship and passport beyond one's birth country. The video discusses the strategic benefits of having a second passport, such as enhanced travel freedom and potential tax advantages. It positions the Solomon Islands and Ghana CBI programs as options for those seeking a second passport, emphasizing the importance of considering the overall utility and travel benefits of each program.

💡Investment migration

Investment migration is the process of acquiring residency or citizenship in a country through investment. The video uses the term to describe the broader category of which CBI programs are a part. It highlights how investment migration can be a pathway to global mobility and potentially better quality of life, as individuals can choose to live, work, or invest in countries that offer favorable conditions.

💡Residence rights

Residence rights refer to the legal permission to live in a country for an extended period. The video discusses how obtaining citizenship through CBI programs can lead to residence rights in other countries, especially within regional blocs like the African Union or the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This can be particularly appealing for those looking to diversify their residency options and take advantage of economic opportunities in growing markets.

💡Africa Union

The African Union (AU) is a continental organization consisting of 55 African countries. It aims to promote unity and solidarity among its members. The video mentions the AU in the context of potential visa harmonization and the 'United States of Africa' concept, suggesting that an African passport could become increasingly valuable as the AU strengthens intra-African travel and residency rights.

💡Global mobility

Global mobility refers to the ability to travel, live, and work across different countries with ease. The video underscores the importance of global mobility as a key benefit of CBI programs, as it allows individuals to access more countries without visas, respond to global opportunities, and potentially safeguard against geopolitical uncertainties in their home countries.

💡Holistic approach

A holistic approach in the context of the video means considering all aspects of an individual's situation, including citizenship, taxes, residence, and investments, when advising on CBI programs. The video suggests that a comprehensive understanding of how a second passport fits into one's overall lifestyle and financial strategy is crucial for maximizing its benefits and avoiding potential pitfalls.

Highlights

Two new citizenship by investment programs are being introduced, potentially being the most affordable in the market.

The Solomon Islands is considering a citizenship by investment program, which would be one of the first new programs in recent times.

Citizenship by investment allows individuals to obtain a passport by making a donation or qualifying investment within months without residing or paying taxes in the country.

The Solomon Islands' proposed program has been in discussion since 2020, and the country is now seeking final proposals to roll it out.

The Solomon Islands is located in the South Pacific, east of Papua New Guinea and northwest of Vanuatu.

Visa-free travel with a Solomon Islands passport is relatively weak in Latin America but includes standard access to the Schengen area, UK, and Ireland.

The Solomon Islands passport offers visa-free travel to over 100 countries, with a focus on Southeast Asia and Europe.

The Solomon Islands has visa-free access to Canada through the ETA program, a benefit that might not last if the citizenship by investment program is approved.

The Caribbean countries have recently increased the price of their citizenship by investment programs, possibly influencing the pricing of the Solomon Islands' program.

The due diligence process for the Solomon Islands' program is expected to be more stringent, ensuring quality applicants.

A presidential candidate in Ghana is proposing a $50,000 CBI program aimed at people of African ancestry, with a goal to raise $50 billion.

Ghana's CBI program, if implemented, could offer visa-free travel within Africa and potentially position Ghana as an Emerging Market investment hub.

The African Union is increasingly looking to bring countries in Africa together, which could benefit those with African passports in terms of residency rights.

The odds of Ghana's proposed CBI program being implemented are considered relatively low, but if it does, it might not last long.

Nomad Capitalist offers holistic guidance on citizenship by investment, considering residence, taxes, investments, and more.

For those interested in the Solomon Islands or Ghana CBI programs, Nomad Capitalist can provide assistance and keep clients updated with the latest news.

Transcripts

there are two new citizenship buy

investment programs coming and they

could be some of the most affordable in

the market today I'm going to share this

breaking news and tell you if you may be

a good fit for these two new

citizenships and it's been a while since

we've seen an actual new citizenship bu

investment program we were recently on

the ground in Cairo and we showed you

Egypt's newly expanded CBI program but

these two programs could be some of the

first new programs in a while

citizenship by investment is where you

make a donation or make some kind of

qualifying investment like approved real

estate or even any real estate in the

case of a country like turkey and an

exchange you get a passport in a matter

of months without having to move to the

country or pay taxes there you make an

investment they give you a passport and

so country number one is the Solomon

Islands they are now looking for final

proposals to roll out a citizenship by

investment program is is not final but

they've come out and said yes we want to

do this they've been talking about it

since 2020 and this is the closest that

we've got so the Solomon Islands is in

the South Pacific it is to the east of

Papa New Guinea it is a little bit

Northwest of vanatu which is the only

other country in that region and one of

about a dozen countries that has

citizenship my investment programs I'm

going to come back and make an important

comparison to vanatu in a minute what's

interesting though is if we look at the

Visa free travel if you're looking for

your first second passport you may want

to focus a bit more on Visa free travel

I think it's often overrated but let's

say you're an American and Mond day you

may not want to be an American or now

we're seeing French or Dutch or Germans

or Canadians saying I might not want to

be my nationality at some point you

might want to have a little bit stronger

second passport for the first one and

then you get to the second third fourth

you know plan CDE e FG that's when you

look at a weaker passport like uh an

Egypt for example and so the mon islands

has kind of a typical visa-free travel

plan for a lot of these citizenship buy

Investments it's pretty weak in Latin

America which is one area where the

Caribbean programs have gotten better I

got St Lucian citizenship many years ago

and because I had a couple other

citizenships at the time I basically

said hey St Lucia was the most

affordable and and reputationally good

program and all that that fit in with

what I already had but it wasn't as

strong in South America the Caribbean

programs have gotten better in kind of

LA America in general the silom allance

has not what the silom allance does have

is the relatively standard uh Visa free

access to the shenen area in Europe as

well as the UK and Ireland you can go

most but not all places in Europe so

you're missing Russia for example which

number of the Caribbean programs have

now belus you know some of the the

Balkan countries like Serbia that's one

of the tougher countries in Europe to

get into sometimes that's been a

consideration for clients of ours do you

want to look at this just the number of

visa-free countries doesn't make a big

difference difference Solomon Islands is

one of the several dozen you know best

passports in the world you get good

travel to Southeast Asia so Malaysia is

a pretty open country that's where we

host Nomad capitalist live you can come

and see our 4-day event with your syum

allowance passport and with most

passports it's a pretty open country you

know Europe and Southeast Asia are kind

of the stronger spots here's what the

Salomon islands has which I don't think

they'll have for long if this proposal

goes forward and that's visa-free travel

to Canada through what Canada has the

ETA program similar to the US esta and

so we've seen in the last decade St kit

in neas which has a citizenship program

at the Caribbean tax-free country and

then Antiga and Barbuda mostly tax-free

country when they really pushed

citizenship by investment you know

Canada came in and said yeah we don't

like that so Justin Trudeau the guy

everybody in Canada is trying to get

away from has said on the record hey

these programs you know we're not so

sure there's irregularities bottom line

is Justin TR doesn't like you living in

his country as a Canadian if you're

wealthy they certainly don't like

wealthy people who go through stringent

background checks as most of these

programs have coming in and visiting so

I would imagine if this goes through

Canada is going to suddenly have an

epiphany to the Solomon Islands so I

wouldn't take that Visa free Canada I'm

sure there'll be plenty of people in the

industry oh this is your path to Canada

you don't need to go out and get the

million dooll you know Malta me program

in 18 months you can just if you want to

go to Canada you can get through the

Solomon Islands it wasn't very long ago

that Canada canceled the somewhat new

Visa free access from Mexicans they said

hey we're doing this whole trade

partnership thing I wanted you guys just

come up and visit your country is

becoming wealthier you're not going to

overstay they canceled Mexico so do not

believe anybody in the industry who's

going to tell you that you're going to

be Visa free traveling uh to Canada as a

Solomon Islands National for long but

overall uh you've got Visa free access

to well over 100 countries again those

primarily the ones that I mentioned you

know to me when I'm looking at a second

passport like this this is kind of a day

regu tier B we call it citizenship by

investment passport not the best but not

the worst not a bad travel Document to

have you're not going to have to get a

ton of visas and if you want to go some

of these other places I mean you know

you might go to Morocco once if you're

just going on a holiday it won't be that

hard to get a Visa that's where you want

to have a plan you know where do you

live you know where are your home bases

this is the kind of thing that Nomad

capitalist helps our clients with it's

not just a matter of getting a passport

and looking at a Visa free travel score

lots of companies in the industry do

that we like to look a lot more

holistically at the whole person

everyone's using that word holistic

these days uh but you know I actually

believe in it you want to understand the

entire picture of your residence your

citizenship your taxes your Investments

everything and that's what you can do

with us at nomad.com apply now here's

why this may be interesting is the

Caribbean countries you had St Lucia you

had Dominique $100,000 passports well

they got together just very recently and

said well you know we're going to double

the price we're going to basically plate

the European Union even though we're

doing very stringent background checks I

I've been through it myself I can tell

you they really check stuff and you've

got to be generally speaking of good

character somebody might slip through

the cracks eventually or someone might

become a problem after they get the

citizenship which Who would know that in

any country whether it's naturalization

or by investment but they basically

raised the price will the Solomon

Islands come in with that 100,000 you

know 1 XXX price we have to see if they

do I imagine there will be interest now

the other question will be is next door

in vanatu they've had this really number

of different programs over the years I

was in Van too about seven years ago at

this point they asked my opinion I told

them it's confusing you got different

programs obviously since then we've seen

that the due diligence there was weak

and so vanatu lost Visa free access to

the UK uh and then it was the shenen

area and then I guess Ireland decided to

slip in under the radar and so you know

Vana watatu passport is good for living

in taxfree vanatu it's good for living

off the grid it's good for traveling to

countries that are not in Europe there's

a decent number of countries you can

travel to in the emerging world but it's

not what the average Westerner would

consider a great passport and that's

because those due diligence failures the

initial Vibe I'm getting from the

Solomon Islands is being more in the

camp of more stringent due diligence

proper due diligence having quality

people come on that's kind of what I've

always thought when I see them talking

about this over the last couple years

but that remains to be seen vanat 2 is

tightening things up they are requiring

in-person interviews now this process

always becomes more expensive it always

becomes more intrusive so if you want to

get your second passport that's when you

go to nomad.com apply and say I'm just

going to do this now and be ready that

is the situation in the Solomon Island

good passport not the best the price

will dictate it let's see how relations

with you know Europe go in order to keep

that quality passport are they going to

entirely follow the Caribbean model have

a $200,000 price floor if they do that I

don't see the value if they say hey

we're going to put an offering out there

at a similar price point to vanatu

someone in the low to mid 100,000s and

we're going to do more stringent due

diligence then I see that being

interesting as long as you stay away

from people who are going to going to

pitch the Canada part to you so that's

the first program the second program is

one being proposed by a presidential

candidate in West Africa Ghana he says

should raise $50 billion by selling a

$50,000

CBI program where people can get

citizenship and he's pitching this to

the USA not the United States that you

know but the United States of Africa

it's an interesting point I'm going to

come back to that in a minute whether

this program sees the light of day I'm

going to tell you why that could be

interesting and how you can use that in

a moment but an independent presidential

candidate in Ghana has said hey let's

let's bring in some cash and let's

target people of African ancestry that's

kind of hey come back to your home Land

by paying $50,000 and getting

citizenship now obviously we've helped

people get citizenship by descent that's

often in European countries sometimes in

Caribbean and Latin American countries

very very rarely in Asian countries but

it is possible in a handful of cases and

that's where you go back through your

family tree where did your ancestors

come from get that passport they don't

charge you a fee other than just the

general you know filing fees and anyone

like our help so the idea that someone's

going to pay $50,000 just to kind of

reconnect with their Roots I don't know

that that's going to work and all these

numbers they throw at $50 billion that's

crazy I mean they're not going to sell

that many passports okay believe me but

this presidential candidate known as

cheddar he's got a 12-point vision for

Africa and among that is bringing these

people in $50,000 so if we pulled up the

Visa free travel map for Ghana I can

tell you it's not great now we have seen

uh bad follow-through from these mid

five figure program six seven years ago

Armenia was pitched on having a $50,000

CBI before that I actually went through

the comos program was $45,000 and said

we'll probably never see a passport

program like that again because you have

we talked about Asia's citizenship by

investment Cambodia it's more expensive

than the Caribbean because of the

ability to own land and do business

there I'm not sure that we're going to

see a $50,000 CBI but that's probably a

reasonable price point for a passport

where you can basically travel to other

places in West Africa as well as in East

Africa so there's a handful of Caribbean

islands for example you've got NCO

aragua Bolivia even Malaysia uh ganes

citizens can't come that's one of the

most open countries in the world so if

you're ghanes and that's your only

passport you need a visa to come to

Nomad capitalist live now applying for

visas is not always the kiss of death

but this is not really going to be a

passport that you could rely on to say

hey at some point this could be my only

working passport what is interesting

though when he says the United States of

Africa is we've been talking for a

couple of years how the African Union is

increasingly looking to bring countries

of Africa together I saw one country

recently that's opened up their visa

policy to all African citizens and so if

you look at you know business

opportunities as Asia becomes more and

more and more middle class Africa is

more slowly becoming middle class and so

that could be a frontier Market an

Emerging Market investment Hub it could

also be a place that as you're seeing a

lot of the countries in Africa push back

on France push back on Western Rule

people who want an alternative people

who want to say place to go in times of

chaos there are some countries that are

very livable in Africa and if you have

an African passport and the African

Union expands over time that could open

up certain residence rights as we have

in you know the European Union or as you

have in kakom which the Caribbean

citizenship programs are part of you

have obviously West Africa the ecoas

region but then you have the greater

African Union and so I think that

there's more and more more talk about

let's get all of Africa to come together

and from an investment point of view and

from a contrarian place to be point of

view uh in times of Chaos in the Western

World I think both of those could be

reasons to look at this now is GH going

to actually follow through this program

I would put the odds of it relatively

low so let's see if a $50,000 program

comes out and you have any interest I

would just do it you want to understand

how does that impact your banking uh how

does it impact you know everything that

you do you want to have someone take

that holistic View at it um but I think

a program like that rarely gets

introduced and if it is introduced it's

not going to last for long what could be

potentially more interesting is the

Solomon Islands we'll look at the price

point in that but here's the bottom line

I mean these programs get more expensive

over time we've helped clients for years

get these programs it's becoming a

little bit more laborious process I

think we have the best approach of

helping people navigate the paperwork uh

avoid a lot of the pitfalls of these

programs if you want to learn what we do

to help people go to nomad.com apply

we'd be happy to help you and if you

want to stay up to date with the latest

news that's when you come to Nomad

capital so make sure you have a passport

you can use uh to get into Malaysia Visa

free and you can join us for our 4-day

event