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 eitherÂ
– eligible;Â
– ineligible;Â orÂ
– 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.
If you find we’ve made a mistake in compiling this list, please email the editor on cn@imidaily.com.
| Applicant Origin | Antigua & Barbuda | Dominica | Grenada | Malta | St Kitts & Nevis | Saint Lucia | Turkey | Vanuatu | Egypt | Jordan | Cambodia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Ineligible* | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Armenia | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Belarus | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Cuba | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Cyprus | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| DR Congo | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Iran | Ineligible* | Eligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Ineligible* | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Iraq | Eligible | Ineligible* | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible* | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| North Korea | Ineligible* | Ineligible* | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Ineligible* | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Russia | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Somalia | Ineligible* | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| South Sudan | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Sudan | Ineligible* | Ineligible* | Eligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Syria | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Venezuela | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
| Yemen | Ineligible* | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible | Ineligible* | Eligible | Eligible | Eligible |
Nationals of the following countries are banned from applying to the Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program:
– Afghanistan
– Iran
– North Korea
– Russia
– Somalia
– Sudan
– Yemen
Nationals of the countries listed are in principle ineligible to apply for citizenship by investment in Antigua and Barbuda but may become eligible if they meet certain criteria:
“Individuals born in these restricted countries but who migrated before the age of majority and/or have maintained permanent residence in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, for a period of not less than 10 years and maintain no economic ties to any restricted country.”
The following nationalities are banned outright from the Dominica Citizenship by investment program, without exceptions:
– Belarus
– (Northern*) Iraq
– Russia
The following nationalities are ineligible unless “the applicant has (1) not lived in these countries for at least ten years, (2) no substantial assets there, and (3) not performed any business or similar activity, in whole or in part, in or with the countries”:
– North Korea
– Sudan
Nationals of these partly eligible nationalities may be subject to enhanced due diligence, which comes at a significantly higher cost to the applicant.
Iranian nationals, while fully eligible, are subject to enhanced due diligence.Â
*Nationals from Northern Iraq, in this context, refers specifically to nationals from the cities of Erbil, Amedi, Dahuk, Kirkuk, Lalish, Raniya, Soran, Sulaymaniyah, and Zakho.
Grenada does not explicitly restrict citizens of any countries or territories but, as part of a non-binding regional agreement on CBI principles in 2023, Grenada has committed to not accept Russian or Belarusian applicants as of March 31st, 2023.Â
Moreover, while not explicitly banned, Grenada generally do not accept applications from Iranian or North Korean nationals.
Applicants who are nationals of or have close ties to the following countries are ineligible for naturalization in Malta under the MEIN Policy:
– Afghanistan
– Belarus
– DR Congo
– Iran
– North Korea
– Russia
– Somalia
– South Sudan
– Sudan
– Syria
– Venezuela
– Yemen
Nationals of the following countries are ineligible, without exceptions, for participation in the Saint Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program:
– Afghanistan
– Belarus
– Cuba
– Iran
– North Korea
– Russia
Nationals of the following countries are ineligible, without exceptions, for participation in the Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program:
– Belarus
– Iran
– Russia
Nationals of the following countries are ineligible for Turkey’s citizenship by Investment Program:
– Armenia
– Cuba
– Nigeria
– North Korea
– Syria
Citizens of the following countries are ineligible for citizenship by investment in Vanuatu unless they have resided outside their home countries for at least five years and can prove they are permanent residents of another country:
– Iran
– Iraq
– North Korea
– Yemen
Explore Programs
Citizenship by Investment Programs
Programs that offer citizenship within months in exchange for investments or donations, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
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
Australia BIIP Investor Streams
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
Barbados SERP Program
Bermuda Economic Investment CertificateÂ
Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER)
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
France Talent Passport Business Investor
Georgia Investor Visas
Greece Golden Visa
Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur ResidencyIreland Immigrant Investor ProgramItaly Investor Visa
Latvia Investor Visa
Luxembourg Investor Visa
Malaysia M2H Visa
Malta Permanent Residence Program
Mauritius Permanent Residency Program
Monaco Carte de SĂ©jour
Netherlands Investor Visa
New Zealand Investor Visa
Nicaragua Investor PR Program
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Paraguay Investor PR Program (SUACE)
Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit
Portugal Golden Visa
Russia Investor Visa
South Korea Investor Visa
Spain Golden Visa
Sri Lanka Investor Visas
Taiwan Golden Visa (APRC Plum Blossom Card)
Thailand Elite Residence Program
UAE Golden VisaUK Investor VisaUnited States EB-5
Uruguay 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.
Argentina Rentista and Pensionado Residency
Austria Independent Means Visa
Barbados Welcome Stamp
Brazil Retirement Visa
Chile Independent Means Visas
Colombia Independent Means Visas
Costa Rica Independent Means Visas
Dominican Rep. Independent Means Visas
Ecuador Independent Means Visas
France Financially Independent Person
Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence
Greece FIP Visa
Honduras Independent Means Visas
Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS)
Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0)
Italy Elective Residency Visa
Jersey High Value Residency
Mauritius Retirement Visa
Mexico Legal Residency Visa
Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas
Panama Rentista/Pensionado Visa
Paraguay Independent Means Visa
Peru Independent Means Visa (Rentista)
Philippines Retirement Visa (SRRV)
Portugal D7 Visa
South Africa Financial Independent Permit
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Sri Lanka Independent Means Visa
Uruguay Independent Means Visa
Venezuela Rentista Visa
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)
Canada Startup Visa
France Talent Passport – Startup and Business
Germany Self-Employment Visa
Hungary Active Investor Visa
Japan Active Investor Visa
Mauritius Active Investor Visas
Panama Business Investor Visa
Portugal HQA Visa
San Marino Residency for Economic Reasons
Singapore Entrepass
UK Startup/Innovator Visa
United States E2 Visa
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