ECONOMIC CITIZENSHIP OVER MINISTRY OF FORREIGN AFAIRS VS CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Several countries have adopted provisions that allow the acquisition of citizenship on the basis of an investment and/or a direct contribution to the state as a means of development of the country. For Example In Serbia, Art. 19 of the Serbian Citizenship Act states that the government can reward foreign persons with citizenship in the event of extraordinary merit. This may take various forms, including economic ones, and can include capital contribution or other economic benefit brought to Serbia. However, citizenship is not granted on the basis of capital contribution alone. The foreign investor must make an extraordinary contribution alongside his investment, such as bringing new technologies to the country or creating a substantial number of new jobs.

Countries that have the comparable paragraphs, such as Albania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Slovenia, Ukraine and others, offer this opportunity for special, selected persons, which GCI, among other things, seeks worldwide and presents to the government. The same applies to the search for economic diplomats, which we seek by mandate for different countries.

The classic Citizenship by Investment Program, which offers individual countries, is for ALL people who fulfils these requirements of the respective country. Here can you also get from the individual embassy in the country, information. Whereas many embassy’s, know nothing about the individual laws of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For graduates, highly skilled workers, athletes, entrepreneurs and artists, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Armenia, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Albania and Ukraine offers a relatively easy path to resident status and eventually acquiring citizenship. Thanks to its international treaties and naturalisation options, these countries are the only in Europe where you become eligible to apply for citizenship by being a foreigner of interest, bypassing the minimum years of mandatory residency.

We need to signal that second citizenship and passport scams can incur, and would like to add our comments on the new commercial line products within this market – EU citizenship and passport from such countries as Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland or others. Even if they are too good to be real, this kind of tricks are common and misleading the customer from the right ones. There are some certain facts which might help you in recognising the fakes right away.

An increasing number of people from less fortunate or unstable countries are dreaming in obtaining another citizenship which can lead them to a better image and life, visa-free travels and opportunity expansions. Together with this fact, there is several numbers of websites which are promising to offer a second citizenship for an European country

Only Malta are among European countries where you can obtain citizenship through economic citizenship programs. Austria on the other hand is giving you the chance to invest in the country welfare and obtain Austrian citizenship and passport without permanent residence requirements, but you have to make the investment before you apply for naturalization and still there is no guarantee you will be granted with their citizenship. Considering that there is no clear statutory requirement for the investment amount, still the recommended one is around 2-3 millions Euro. These will not be considered as passive investments in governmental bonds or personal real estate and should only bring real innovations to the country. Another very important matter is that dual citizenship is not allowed and the program is not encouraged or promoted by the government. Considering this, it can be really surprising to discover that you can get a Swiss or Belgian passport for a little over than EUR 30,000 with processing time of no more than 2-3 months. That is very clear a scam and you should stay away from such offers.

Citizenship by repatriation

However, the repatriation (citizenship by descent) is one of the quickest method to gain passport currently. This path is based on elements of the Slovenia, Bulgaria and for example Romania citizenship laws, making the process quicker and more transparent for those eligible.

The foreigner must provide evidence that either his direct relative (one of the parents, grandparents or great-grandparents) is (or was) of nationality from the Country, or the applicant has been adopted by a citizen under the conditions of full adoption. No language requirements, no obligation to relinquish one’s current nationality.

As a dedicated team of immigration lawyers, we guarantee the confidentiality and protection of personal data, as well as assisting you with:

• Consultation on the relevant requirements;

• Obtaining documentation proving your Country origin;

• Collection, clarifying, and assembling of necessary paperwork;

• Requests for the archive research on your behalf;

• Applying for citizenship by investment;