The Twin Federation of St Kitts and Nevis pioneered the idea of economic citizenship in 1984 and since then as many as 15 countries officially in 2018 have active CIPs running.
In 18th century, a special citizenship-by-investment program prevailed in Scotland, a century before St Kitts started the idea, which continued long after the Union with England in the 18th century: an investment of GBP 83 in the Royal Bank of Scotland allowed a foreign citizen to become a citizen of Scotland and, by extension, the UK.
The economic citizenship programs existed in several countries before 2000, but after 9/11 these programs were shutdown
- Belize closed its $50,000 economic passport program in March 2002
- Ireland, closed in 2001
- Grenada, closed in 2001 but reopened in 2014
- Montenegro, suspended in 2010
From just two CIPs in 1990’s, proliferated to 15 countries implementing it and the concept of citizenship by investment is being widely embraced globally, despite criticisms on due diligence.
It is estimated that CBI-citizenship by investment industry is $3 billion industry and by 2020, the industry is predicted to become $5 billion and more countries expected to offer citizenship through economic investment.
| Country | Inception | Minimum Investor | Residency Requirements | Citizenship time | |
| 1 | St Kitts and Nevis | 1984 | $150,000 | – | 3-6 months |
| 2 | Commonwealth of Dominica | 1993 | $100,000 | – | 4-6 months |
| 3 | Cambodia | 1996 | $250,000 | – | 3-6 months |
| 4 | Bulgaria | 2009 | €1 m | 1 year | 15 months |
| 5 | Cyprus | 2011 | €2 m | 6 months | 8 months |
| 6 | Grenada | 2013 | $150,000 | – | 3-5 months |
| 7 | Antigua and Barbuda | 2014 | $100,000 | – | 4-6 months |
| 8 | Malta | 2014 | €1.15 m | 1 year | 15 months |
| 9 | Saint Lucia | 2015 | $100,000 | – | 5-7 months |
| 10 | Samoa | 2016 | $1.65m | 3 years | 3 months |
| 11 | Turkey | 2017 | $1m | unknown | 3 months |
| 12 | Vanuatu | 2017 | $150,000 | – | 3-4 months |
| 13 | Jordan | 2018 | $1.5m | – | 3 months |
| 14 | Moldova | 2018 | €100,000 | – | 3 months |
| 15 | Montenegro | 2018 | €350,000 | – | 3 months |
In 2018, Egypt and Mauritius announced opening of economic citizenship program in the future.
- Egypt ($390,000)
- Mauritius ($500,000)
Official Government Sources
- St Kitts & Nevis – http://www.ciu.gov.kn
- Antigua and Barbuda – http://www.cip.gov.ag
- Dominica – http://cbi.gov.dm
- St Lucia – https://www.cipsaintlucia.com/
- Grenada – http://www.cbi.gov.gd/
- Malta – http://iip.gov.mt
- Cyprus – http://cipregistry.mof.gov.cy
- Vanuatu – https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/index.php/news-and-updates
- Samoa – https://www.mcil.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/FINALinvestment.pdf
- Turkey – http://www.invest.gov.tr/en-US/infocenter/news/Pages/amendments-ease-access-to-turkish-citizenship-for-foreign-investors.aspx
- Cambodia – http://www.cambodiainvestment.gov.kh/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/LAW-96-Nationality-E.pdf
- Moldova – https://mei.gov.md/ro/content/chiril-gaburici-semnam-contractul-de-implementare-programului-de-dobandire-cetateniei-prin
- Montenegro – http://www.gov.me/en/News/189589/Press-release-from-87th-Cabinet-session.html
- Jordan – http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/gov%E2%80%99t-sets-conditions-grant-nationality-permanent-residency-investors
- Bulgaria – http://www.loc.gov/law/help/investor-visas/bulgaria.php
