I've done some research on and off on these residence and citizenship purchase programs. My student Alexander Robinson got interested in the topic and put together a table last year; below are some of the basic numbers, more detail available on file. All the programs listed here are for residency unless citizenship is indicated. One important recent development that is missing in the table involves Puerto Rico, which I suggested a long time ago was poised to be the last, best tax haven for US citizens (while the U.S. will remain the world's last, best tax haven for everyone else in the world, but that is a different story). Janet Novack ran a story on PR yesterday, Puerto Rico Expands Tax Haven Deal For Americans To Its Own Emigrants. It seems policymakers understand PR's unique position in the world vis à vis US citizens, but so far it is having a limited luring effect.
| Country | Type of Program | Cost |
| Antigua &Barbuda | National Development Fund (non-refundable) | USD 675,000.00 |
| Real-Estate | USD 1,080,000.00 | |
| Business Investment (Sole Investor) | USD 4,000,000.00 | |
| Business Investment (Two or more Investors) | USD 13,500,000.00 | |
| Australia | Significant Investor Program | AUD 5,000,000 |
| Bulgaria | Investor (Full Investment) | BGN 1,000,000 |
| Investor (Financed Investment | BGN 180,000 | |
| Investor (Fast Track Option) | BGN 2,000,000 | |
| Canada | Investment | CAD 800,000.00 |
| Investment - Quebec Investment | CAD 800,000.00 | |
| Self-Employed Worker Program (Quebec) | ||
| Quebec Entrepreneur Program | ||
| Canadian Entrepreneur Program - (CDN Venture Fund) | CAD 200,000.00 | |
| Canadian Self-Employed Program (Start Up - CDN Angel Investor) | CAD 750,000.00 | |
| China | Investor (1) | $2,000,000.00 |
| Investor (2) | $1,000,000.00 | |
| Investor (3) | $500,000.00 | |
| Investor (4) | $500,000.00 | |
| Cyprus | Direct Citizenship by Investment Program | EUR 200,000.00 |
| Dominica | Package A: Single Applicant (Non-Refundable) | USD 100,000.00 |
| Package B: Family Application (Spouse, Non-Refundable) | USD 175,000.00 | |
| Package C: Family Application 2 (Spouse, 2 children, Non-Refundable | USD 200,000.00 | |
| Package D: Family Application Three | USD 250,000.00 | |
| Greece | Residency - Strategic Investments | EUR 250,000.00 |
| Residency - Property Purchase | EUR 250,000.00 | |
| Grenada | Approved Real Estate Project | USD 500,000.00 |
| Non-Refundable Donation | USD 200,000.00 | |
| Hong Kong | Capital Investment Program - Applications After 14 Oct 2010 | HKD 10,000,000.00 |
| Capital Investment Program - Applications Before 14 Oct 2010 | HKD 6,500,000.00 | |
| Ireland 5 Regimes |
Investor - Government Bonds | EUR 2,000,000.00 |
| Investor - Job Producing Irish Companies | EUR 1,000,000.00 | |
| Investor - Irish Publicly traded companies | ||
| Investor - Government Bonds | EUR 2,000,000.00 | |
| Investor - Venture Capital | EUR 1,000,000.00 | |
| Investor - Blend (50% Property & 50% Securities) | EUR 1,000,000.00 | |
| Investor - Endowment Funds | EUR 500,000.00 | |
| Start-Up Entrepreneur Program | EUR 75,000.00 | |
| Latvia 4 Regimes |
Investor - Equity Capital Investment | LVL 25,000.00 |
| Investor - Real Estate - (Regia area) | LVL 100,000.00 | |
| Investor - Real Estate - (Other) | LVL 50,000.00 | |
| Investor - Credit Institution | LVL 200,000.00 | |
| Malta | Investor | EUR 650,000.00 |
| New Zealand | Investor Plus | NZD 10,000,000.00 |
| Investor | NZD 1,500,000.00 | |
| Panama | Macro Company Investment | USD 160,000.00 |
| (Residency and Second Passport) | Mixed Fixed Deposit/Real-Estate | USD 300,000.00 |
| Economic Investment in Real Estate | USD 300,000.00 | |
| Forest Investor | USD 80,000.00 | |
| Fixed Term Deposit Real Estate | USD 300,000.00 | |
| Portugal | Property Investment | USD 500,000.00 |
| Financial Investment | 1,000,000.00 € | |
| Creation of 10 Permanent Jobs | ||
| Saint-Kitts and Nevis | Citizenship by Investment | Real Estate Option |
| SIDF Contribution | USD 250,000.00 | |
| Singapore | Global Investors Program - Option A | SGD 2,500,000.00 |
| Global Investors Program - Option B | SGD 2,500,000.00 | |
| Spain | Investment in Spanish Companies | EUR 1,000,000.00 |
| Deposit with Spanish Financial Entities | EUR 1,000,000.00 | |
| Real-Estate Investment | EUR 500,000.00 | |
| Business Project | Undefined | |
| Entrepreneur | Undefined | |
| Highly Qualified Professionals | Undefined Investment | |
| Other Category | Employees transferred to Spain within the same group of companies | |
| Switzerland | Swiss Lump Sum Taxation | CHF 150,000.00 |
| United States | Investor Visa (1) - EB 5 | USD 1,000,000.00 |
| Investor Visa (2) - EB 5 | USD 500,000.00 | |
| United Kingdom | Investor (type A) | £1,000,000.00 |
| Investor (type B) | net asset value of £2,000,000 plus loan £1,000,000 from a British Institution | |
| Exceptional Talent | ||
| Entrepreneur | £ 50,000 of venture capital money |
I noticed that neither France or Germany are on the list. However, I think France does have some type of residency for cash program. I believe Victoria Ferauge of Franco American Flophouse did a write up on it a while back. I have heard the US EB 5 program is called the "Yacht People" instead of boat people program.
ReplyDeletethanks, I'll see if I can find that and update accordingly
ReplyDeletehttp://thefranco-americanflophouse.blogspot.com/2012/09/citizenship-name-your-price.html
ReplyDeleteCarte résident - contribution économique exceptionnelle
Le critère de délivrance de la carte de séjour pour les investisseurs étrangers en France est explicitement lié à la contribution économique qu'ils apportent au pays. Ce nouveau dispositif vise à faciliter et à encourager le séjour des ressortissants étrangers qui s’engagent à effectuer sur le territoire français un investissement d’au moins 10 millions d’euros et à créer ou sauvegarder au moins 50 emplois en France. Ils reçoivent en contrepartie une carte de séjour d’une durée de 10 ans.
(The criteria for delivery of a residency permit for foreign investors in France is explicitly linked to the economic contribution that they bring to the country. This new program is meant to facilitate and encourage the residency of foreign citizens who agree to invest 10 million Euros and to create or save at least 50 jobs in France. They receive in exchange a 10 year residency permit.)
Commonwealth Magazine in Massachusetts just did a big expose on the EB-5 program. Especially interesting to me was the absolute unquestioning support from all sides of the political spectrum.
ReplyDeleteNote: most members of Congress really didn't want to discuss the details of EB-5 or why they support it other than saying they wholeheartedly support it.
http://commonwealthmagazine.org/economy/sketchy-federal-program-sells-citizenship/