Sunday, February 24, 2013

How to get a Secondary Citizenship

What is secondary citizenship ?
Are you tired of being a citizen of only one country? Do you feel you are unable to travel to other countries due to your current citizenship? Well, if you have got the right amount money, or a definite fixed source of income, you can simply become a citizen of another country and gain its passport. So, if you are living in a developing country in southern Asia, and feel access to the developed world is restricted to you, or if you feel the standard of living is low, you can become a citizen of another country, and experience a different life altogether.

What countries offer citizenship directly?
There are only a handful of countries that directly grant citizenship to you.
Commonwealth of Dominica - This is a small Caribbean nation that has a high standard of living, a relatively low population density and lush greenery. It has an Economic Citizenship programme, where you need to invest a sum of money, slightly higher than $75,000. You get dual citizenship with this programme, and the whole procedure is really quick.
St. Kitts & Nevis - This is another island nation, in the West Indies, that offers citizenship for investing close to $400,000 in the island's real estate. This sum might appear large, but it is a good investment, as the prices of land in these islands are steadily rising. This is a beautiful island, with a high HDI.
There are a few more countries in Europe, but the costs are prohibitive, and citizenship is not usually guaranteed.

So, your best bet would be the Commonwealth of Dominica. It is the cheapest and quickest way to obtain a new citizenship.

Other places where you can get permanent residence

Countries like Ecuador, Uruguay and Argentina offer permanent residence permit if you can show you have a fixed source of a minimum income per month. This is a small amount, and much lesser than the amount of money needed to lead the standard American lifestyle. So, if you have retired, or are a freelancer, and want to move to place with a high standard of living, but at a far lesser cost, you might want to consider moving to these places.

If you have lived long enough in these places, often around 5 years, you can apply for citizenship. If you have the patience, then these places are a much better choice than Dominica or St. Kitts and Nevis as they offer a much better lifestyle, and have rich cultures. Uruguay for instance, has a lot of residents who have descended from Europeans. Hence it is steeped in European culture and architecture. You also get to live in quaint, peaceful towns enjoying all the benefits of a modern lifestyle.

Conclusion
The world is a vast place, and to live in a small city or country all your life, should be considered a waste of life. One must travel all over the world, experiencing all the great things it has to offer, and finally decide to live in a place of one's choice. You must not be living in a country only because you were born in it.

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