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 either 

– eligible; 
– 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.

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
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 Ineligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible* Eligible Eligible Eligible
Israel Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible 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* Ineligible 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
– Belarus

– 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
– Yemen

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. 

*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. 

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
– Iran
– Iraq

– 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
– North Korea

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.

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