The Pakistan Citizenship by Investment (CIP) program offers Commonwealth Citizens exclusively the opportunity to obtain Pakistani citizenship by transferring RS5 million (~US$18,000) to the State Bank of Pakistan.
Key benefits include a low threshold, a straightforward application process, and access to Pakistan’s growing economy.
Anecdotal evidence from local service providers indicate the application process is more complex in practice. Proceed with caution.
To qualify for the Pakistan CIP for Common Wealth Citizens program, applicants must be citizens of one of the 54 commonwealth nations which include Australia, Canada, South Africa, and Malaysia.
Applicant must also fulfill the following conditions:
Investment Requirement
Transferring Rs.5 million (approximately US$18,000) to Pakistan through regular banking channels.
Supporting Documents:
Visa Issuance: After State Bank confirms the Rs.5 million transfer, an immigrant visa will be issued.
Arrival & Citizenship: Citizenship certificates will be issued upon arrival in Pakistan, after security clearance and formalities.
Commonwealth citizens can expect to obtain Pakistani citizenship in person in Islamabad within 2-3 months after transferring the required amount and submitting their application.
Browse 195 countries’ paths to citizenship in the hyper-detailed IMI Citizenship Catalog.
Applications for this program may be directed to Directorate General Immigration & Passports. Applications must be submitted through Pakistan’s diplomatic missions or consular posts abroad.
Legislation upon which this program is based is Section 20 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 and Rule 20 of the Pakistan Citizenship Rules, 1952.
Pakistan’s Federal Tax Ombudsman has issued a warning and set a deadline for local tax authorities as it ramps up efforts to tax Pakistanis with overseas assets.
“What also truly surprised me was the overwhelming response from American and British citizens choosing Portugal as their second home”
The Board of Investments, which raised the proposal, specifically hopes to garner investment interest from HNWIs in neighboring Afghanistan.
See more statistics on this program and others in the IMI Data Center.