High net-worth individuals (HNWIs) often have a great deal of income at their disposal but are not able to put it to effective use within their home country. As a participant in a citizenship by investment Program, a HNWI is afforded a significant amount of freedom and flexibility -- attractive advantages for you and your family if you currently reside in a country that has a volatile economic or political landscape.
While each individual's situation can vary widely, there are three general types of HNWIs that tend to look for a citizenship by investment program.
1. HNWI who needs to travel visa-free to many countries
Whether it's for work or pleasure, many HNWIs cite a need to travel throughout the world without having to navigate the delays and hassles that obtaining visas for each one entails as a primary reason for considering a second citizenship using a Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP).
For example, the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program is a pioneering opportunity that paves the way for HNWIs to hold a passport from Antigua and Barbuda. This gives you the ability to travel to about 130 countries worldwide without the need for a separate entrance visa. Some of the countries that can be visited visa-free by holders of an Antigua and Barbuda passport include the Schengen area countries such as Greece, Italy, Finland, Sweden, France and Germany, as well as Hong Kong, Singapore, and the UK.
2. HNWI who looks for an easier way out of their home country if needed
The sad fact of life in the global world of today is that political unrest, civil strife and economic uncertainty are widespread throughout many countries. These unfortunate events can threaten both your monetary investments and even the lives of you and your family.
While you have deep ties and an abiding love for your home country, it is imperative that you maintain a quick and safe exit plan that allows you to get out of your home country using the best passport options should the circumstances require you to do so. You should not view your use of this option as a form of disloyalty against your home country. Instead, it is a method of keeping those you love safe that also might provide you with the opportunity to help others left behind from the protection and distance of another country.
3. HNWI who wants to diversify their assets geographically while obtaining the advantages of a new passport
In many cases, a citizenship by investment program (CIP) allows applicants to invest in luxurious real estate as a form of geographical diversification in order to obtain their dual citizenship.
This provides you with the opportunity to diversify your assets in a way that is not limited to only your home country -- or even to one country at all. You can easily divert a portion of your investments to another country -- or countries -- that offer a more stable and economically feasible environment.
Not only does doing so provide you with the ability to care for your loved ones now, it also offers you peace of mind when planning for their future needs as well. You will be free of the restrictions that are often imposed by the governments of those countries that are undergoing turmoil that seek to stop money from leaving its coffers.
By acting proactively, you can enjoy greater freedom to maintain your economic activities and your family's future as you see fit without being concerned that access to your funds will be unexpectedly frozen.
