Citizenship by Investment: Banned Nationalities

Many of the world’s citizenship by investment programs (CIPs) impose restrictions on the countries and territories from which they accept applications. We’ve compiled an overview of which nationals are barred from applying for each of the major citizenship by investment programs.

Citizens of a particular country are

– eligible; or
– ineligible; or
– ineligible with exceptions

to apply for a citizenship by investment program: While some programs impose blanket restrictions on certain nationalities under any circumstance, others impose partial restrictions that allow more room for individual considerations. Others yet impose no restrictions at all but treat applications from risk-prone regions with extra care.

Nationality	Antigua & Barbuda	Cambodia	Dominica	Egypt	El Salvador	Grenada	Jordan	Nauru	St Kitts & Nevis	Saint Lucia	São Tomé and Príncipe	Turkey	Vanuatu
🇦🇫 Afghanistan	Ineligible*	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible*	Eligible	Ineligible*	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇦🇲 Armenia	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible
🇧🇾 Belarus	Ineligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Ineligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇨🇩 DR Congo	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇨🇺 Cuba	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇨🇾 Cyprus	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible
🇮🇱 Israel	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇮🇶 Iraq	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible*	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible*
🇮🇷 Iran	Ineligible*	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Ineligible*	Eligible	Ineligible	Ineligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible*
🇰🇵 North Korea	Ineligible*	Eligible	Ineligible*	Eligible	Ineligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Ineligible	Ineligible*
🇲🇲 Myanmar	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible*	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇷🇺 Russia	Ineligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Ineligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇸🇩 Sudan	Ineligible*	Eligible	Ineligible*	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible*	Eligible	Ineligible*	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇸🇴 Somalia	Ineligible*	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇸🇸 South Sudan	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇸🇾 Syria	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible*
🇻🇪 Venezuela	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
🇾🇪 Yemen	Ineligible*	Eligible	Ineligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible*	Eligible	Ineligible*	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Ineligible*

Explore Programs

Citizenship by Investment Programs

Programs that offer citizenship within months in exchange for investments or donations, with minor/no physical presence requirements.

Antigua & Barbuda CIP
Cambodia CIP
Dominica CIP
Egypt CIP
El Salvador CIP
Grenada CIP
Jordan CIP
~~Malta MEIN Policy~~
~~Montenegro CIP~~
~~North Macedonia CIP~~
Nauru ECRCP
Pakistan Commonwealth CIP
Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP
Saint Lucia CIP
Samoa CIP
Sierra Leone CIP
São Tomé and Príncipe CIP
Turkey CIP
Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP

Residence by Investment Programs

Programs that offer residence permits within months in exchange for passive investments, with limited physical presence requirements. AKA Golden Visas.

Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity
Anguilla Permanent Residency Program
Armenia Permanent Residency Program
~~Australia BIIP Investor Streams~~
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
Bahrain Golden Residence
Barbados SERP Program
Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate
Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER)
Bulgaria Investor Visa
Cabo Verde Investor Visa
Cambodia My 2nd Home
Cayman Islands Investor Visa
Chile Investor Visa
Colombia Investor Visas M and R
Costa Rica Investor Visa
Curaçao Investor Permit Program
Cyprus Golden Visa
Dominican Republic Investor Visa
Ecuador Investor Visa
Fiji Investor Visa
France Talent Passport Business Investor
Georgia Investor Visas
Greece Golden Visa
Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency
Honduras Investor Visa
Hong Kong CIES
Hungary Guest Investor Program
Indonesia Golden Visa
~~Ireland Immigrant Investor Program~~
Italy Investor Visa
Latvia Investor Visa
Luxembourg Investor Visa
Malaysia M2H Visa
Malaysia PViP
Malta Permanent Residence Program
Mauritius Permanent Residency Program
Monaco Carte de Séjour
Montserrat Economic Residence
Namibia Golden Visa
Netherlands Investor Visa
New Zealand Investor Visa
Nicaragua Investor PR Program
Panama Friendly Nations Visa
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Paraguay Investor PR Program (SUACE)
Philippines FIV
Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit
Portugal Golden Visa
Qatar Golden Visa
Quebec IIP
Russia Investor Visa
Sabah MM2H
Sarawak MM2H
Saudi Premium Residency Investor
Serbia Investor Visa
Seychelles Investor PR
Sierra Leone Permanent Residency Program
Singapore Global Investor Program
South Korea Investor Visa
Spain Golden Visa
Sri Lanka Investor Visas
Taiwan Golden Visa (APRC Plum Blossom Card)
Thailand Elite Residence Program
Thailand Long Term Resident Visas (LTR)
Turks & Caicos Investor Visa
UAE Golden Visa
~~UK Investor Visa~~
United States EB-5
Uruguay Investor Visa
Uzbekistan Investor Visa
Venezuela Investor Visa

Independent Means Visas

Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who can demonstrate sufficient income from abroad or personal wealth above a certain level.

Active Investor Visas

Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who relocate to start and/or run a business. Startup and entrepreneur visas are in this category.

Argentina Active Investor Visa (Inversionista)
Austria Start-up Founder Residence Permit
Canada Startup Visa
France Talent Passport – Startup and Business
Germany Self-Employment Visa
Hungary Active Investor Visa
Israel B-5 Investor Visa
Italy Representative Office Visa
Japan Active Investor Visa
Kenya Class G Investor Visa
Malta Startup Visa
Mauritius Active Investor Visas
New Zealand Entrepreneur Work Visa Program
Panama Business Investor Visa
Portugal HQA Visa
San Marino Residency for Economic Reasons
Singapore Entrepass
Taiwan Entrepreneur Visa
UK Startup/Innovator Visa
United States E2 Visa
Vietnam Investor Visas