The Maltese passport is ranked 7th powerful passport in the world according the latest Henley Passport Index 2018 released last week. According the the survey, maltese passport has visa free travel to 182 countries in the world.
The Henley Passport Index is a ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access visa-free. The only ranking based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information, the Henley Passport Index is enhanced by extensive, ongoing research by the Henley & Partners academic team. The index is updated in real-time, as and when visa-policy changes come into effect.
Citizenship-by-investment
As the world economy has become increasingly globalized, the need for greater visa-free access has grown steadily. Across the economic spectrum, individuals want to transcend the constraints imposed on them by their country of origin and access business, financial, career, and lifestyle opportunities on a global scale.
Mr. Kalin said “Citizenship is much more flexible than many people realize. Citizenship-by-investment programs allow individuals to drastically improve the strength of their passport and, in turn, their global access.”
He further added “In participating in these programs,” Dr. Kälin adds, “individuals are also able to make an exceptional economic contribution to often smaller nations that require foreign direct investment in order to support their populations and remain competitive and sustainable in the long-term. It is a mutually beneficial exchange, and it is also very much the direction in which the world is heading, as globalization becomes an undeniable feature of modern life.”
Malta has the official citizenship by investment running in Europe for an investment of 1.2 million euros. IIP scheme also has an option to invest in Malta real estate. The official website for IIP is http://iip.gov.mt/.
Malta also ranks second among citizenship by investment programs in the 2018 Henley Passport index.
EU/EEA citizens also can apply for Maltese citizenship under the Individual Investor Programme.
According to Dr. Kälin, “Citizenship-by-investment programs allow financially independent individuals to make a substantial economic contribution to a particular country, in exchange for which they become a citizen of that country and receive a passport. The most credible programs in the industry are all linked to passports that consistently outperform on the Henley Passport Index. Malta, for example, now boasts visa-free access to 182 destinations, while Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean provides access to 149 destinations, including the entire Schengen Area.”
Wealthy individuals in particular are more cosmopolitan and transnational today than ever before, with roots, networks, assets, properties, and even citizenship spanning multiple countries. In many ways, global connectivity has become an indispensable feature of wealth creation and wealth preservation, and its value will only grow as regional volatility and instability increase.
The most successful citizenship-by-investment programs are all linked to passports that consistently outperform on the Henley Passport Index. Malta, for example, now boasts visa-free access to 182 destinations, while Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean provides access to 149 destinations, including the entire Schengen Area
The complexities and imbalances within contemporary international relations mean that citizens in many countries encounter onerous visa restrictions and barriers to entry when it comes to traveling abroad. Even individuals with strong passports need to obtain visas for certain countries or may be denied entry altogether because of trade sanctions or cultural or political tensions. In general, the process of applying for a visa is laborious and inconvenient.
Alternative citizenship represents the most direct route to global mobility, connectivity, and access. Individuals who have multiple passports benefit from each country’s best practices and are less vulnerable to its risks and shortcomings.
Source: henleypassportindex.com
