Frequently Asked Questions

Selecting the ideal citizenship or residency program depends on your personal circumstances, long-term objectives, and specific requirements. At Orientheight, we recommend considering several key factors during your decision-making process:

Investment threshold is often the starting point, with programs ranging from $100,000 for Dominica or Antigua citizenship to €600,000 for Malta's citizenship pathway. Consider your investment capacity and preferred asset class, whether that's real estate, government funds, or business investment.

Processing timeframes vary significantly, from as little as 2-3 months for Vanuatu's citizenship program to 12-14 months for Malta. If time sensitivity is a factor, Caribbean programs typically offer faster processing than European options.

Visa-free travel benefits differ across programs, with Malta offering access to 186 countries including the USA and Canada, while Turkey provides visa-free travel to over 110 countries. Consider your typical travel destinations when evaluating program benefits.

Residency requirements also vary considerably. Some citizenship programs like Antigua require just 5 days of physical presence within the first 5 years, while European residency programs may require more substantial stays to maintain status.

Family inclusion policies differ between jurisdictions, with some programs offering favorable terms for including dependent children, parents, grandparents, or siblings.

During your consultation with Orientheight, our advisors will conduct a thorough assessment of these factors against your specific objectives to recommend the optimal program for your circumstances.

Orientheight offers access to a diverse range of investment pathways across our citizenship and residency programs:

Real Estate Investments remain the most popular option across multiple jurisdictions:

• Caribbean programs like Saint Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and Antigua offer qualifying properties starting from $200,000
• European Golden Visa programs require investments ranging from €250,000 in Greece to €500,000 in Spain
• Turkey's citizenship program requires a $400,000 real estate investment held for a minimum of 3 years

Government Contribution Funds provide straightforward, non-recoverable investment options:

• Dominica's Economic Diversification Fund starts at $100,000 for a single applicant
• Antigua's National Development Fund requires $100,000 (increasing to $230,000 from July 31, 2024)
• Saint Lucia's National Economic Fund contribution begins at $100,000
• Malta's citizenship pathway includes a €600,000 non-refundable contribution

Business Investments are available in select jurisdictions:

• Antigua offers a business investment option starting at $1.5 million
• Turkey accepts $500,000 investments in local businesses
• The UK's programs require substantial business investment starting at £2 million

Bank Deposits/Government Bonds provide alternative investment pathways in countries like Turkey, where a $500,000 bank deposit qualifies for citizenship consideration.

Each investment option comes with specific holding periods, return potential, and additional requirements. Our advisors provide comprehensive guidance on selecting the investment pathway that best aligns with your financial objectives and global mobility goals.

While each citizenship and residency program maintains unique requirements, most share several fundamental eligibility criteria that applicants must satisfy:

Financial Requirements: Beyond the minimum investment thresholds, applicants typically need to demonstrate sufficient legal source of funds and wealth. This requires comprehensive documentation of income sources, business activities, investments, and inheritance where applicable.

Character Requirements: All programs require applicants to demonstrate good character through clean criminal records. Comprehensive background checks are conducted, with most programs requiring police clearance certificates from countries of residence over the past 5-10 years.

Health Requirements: Many programs, particularly for residency, require medical examinations or health insurance coverage. This ensures applicants won't place undue burden on national healthcare systems.

Age Requirements: Primary applicants must typically be at least 18 years old. For dependent children, maximum age limits generally range between 18-30 years, often with additional requirements for financially dependent adult children.

Due Diligence Standards: Programs conduct extensive vetting including anti-money laundering checks, counter-terrorism financing screening, and verification of application statements.

Program-Specific Requirements:

• Antigua requires 5 days of physical presence within 5 years after citizenship approval
• Malta has a genuine link requirement including residential property leasing or purchase
• Some EU residency programs have minimum stay requirements to maintain status

Orientheight conducts preliminary eligibility assessments for all potential clients to identify the most suitable programs based on your specific circumstances and to highlight any potential challenges before beginning the application process.

Document requirements vary by program, but Orientheight will guide you through assembling a comprehensive application package typically including:

Identity Documentation:

• Valid passport copies for all applicants
• Birth certificates for all family members
• Marriage certificates or divorce decrees where applicable
• National ID cards where available
• Biometric data (photographs, fingerprints) for specific programs

Financial Documentation:

• Bank statements covering 6-12 months
• Investment portfolio statements
• Business ownership documentation
• Source of funds and wealth evidence
• Income verification (tax returns, employment letters)
• Professional reference letters

Background Documentation:

• Police clearance certificates from relevant jurisdictions
• Military service records where applicable
• Previous residency or citizenship documentation
• Professional and educational credentials

Supporting Documentation:

• Proof of residential address
• Health insurance coverage
• Medical examination results
• Professional certifications
• University degrees and educational records

All documents typically require English translations and appropriate legalization (Apostille or consular legalization) depending on the issuing country and program requirements.

Orientheight provides comprehensive document checklists tailored to your specific program and circumstances. Our experienced team manages the entire documentation process, including coordination with translation services and legalization authorities to ensure all submissions meet program standards.

Processing timeframes vary significantly across citizenship and residency programs, with several key stages impacting the overall timeline:

Caribbean Citizenship Programs offer some of the most efficient processing:

• Dominica: 4-6 months from submission to approval
• St. Kitts and Nevis: 4-6 months with standard processing
• Grenada: 4-6 months for comprehensive review
• Antigua and Barbuda: 4-6 months with 5-day residency requirement
• Saint Lucia: 4-6 months from complete submission

European Residency Programs typically require:

• Greece: 2-3 months for Golden Visa approval
• Portugal: 3-6 months for initial residency permit
• Spain: 2-3 months for application review
• Malta: 6-8 months for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme

European Citizenship Pathways:

• Malta: 12-14 months from application to citizenship grant
• Other EU countries: 5-10 years of legal residency before naturalization eligibility

Other Citizenship Programs:

• Turkey: 4-5 months for citizenship by investment
• Vanuatu: Expedited processing in 2-3 months

These timeframes represent standard processing under normal conditions. Factors that may extend timelines include complex financial backgrounds requiring additional due diligence, documentary deficiencies requiring supplementation, and government processing backlogs during peak application periods.

Orientheight maintains regular communication with processing authorities and provides clients with realistic timeline projections based on current conditions and your specific circumstances.

Citizenship and residency by investment programs provide numerous advantages for globally mobile individuals and families:

Enhanced Global Mobility is the primary benefit, with citizenship programs offering significant passport power:

• Malta citizenship provides visa-free access to 186 countries including the USA, Canada, UK, and the EU Schengen zone
• Caribbean passports offer visa-free travel to 150-166 countries, including the EU, UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong
• Turkey citizenship allows visa-free access to over 110 countries

Economic Opportunities expand significantly through:

• Access to sophisticated banking systems and financial markets
• Ability to conduct business across broader regions
• Investment diversification into stable jurisdictions
• Potential tax optimization based on residency planning

Family Security is enhanced through:

• Alternative residence options during political or economic instability
• Access to world-class healthcare and education systems
• Family reunification capabilities
• Inheritance planning advantages
• Legacy creation for future generations

Lifestyle Benefits include:

• The ability to live, work and study across the European Union (with EU residency/citizenship)
• Access to quality healthcare systems
• Educational opportunities at prestigious institutions with domestic student rates
• Cultural enrichment and quality of life improvements

Specific Program Advantages:

• E-2 Treaty Investor Visa eligibility with Grenada or Turkey citizenship
• Reduced tuition in UK universities with citizenship from Antigua and St. Kitts
• The ability to spend up to 6 months per year in the UK with citizenship from Grenada, St. Lucia, or Antigua
• Full EU rights with Malta citizenship

Orientheight takes the time to understand your specific objectives to recommend programs that deliver maximum benefit for your particular circumstances.

Investment migration program costs comprise several components beyond the core investment requirement. Understanding the complete fee structure ensures transparent decision-making:

Core Investment Requirements:

• Caribbean citizenship programs: $100,000-$250,000+ for government donations or $200,000-$300,000+ for real estate
• European residency programs: €250,000 (Greece) to €500,000 (Spain) for real estate investments
• European citizenship pathway (Malta): €600,000 government contribution plus property purchase/lease
• Turkey: $400,000 real estate investment or $500,000 bank deposit
• Vanuatu: $130,000 government contribution

Government Fees:

• Application fees for main applicant and each dependent
• Due diligence and background check fees
• Processing fees
• Naturalization certificate fees
• Passport issuance fees

Professional Service Fees:

• Orientheight's comprehensive advisory services
• Legal documentation preparation
• Application compilation and submission
• Government liaison services
• Post-approval support

Additional Expenses:

• Document translation and legalization
• Medical examinations
• Travel expenses for biometric submission or interviews
• Property purchase closing costs and taxes where applicable

For family applications, most programs charge additional government fees for each dependent, typically at reduced rates compared to the main applicant.

Orientheight provides a detailed cost breakdown during your consultation, accounting for all expenses associated with your chosen program and family composition. Our transparent fee structure ensures you understand the complete investment required to achieve your global mobility objectives.

Most citizenship and residency programs offer family inclusion options, though eligibility criteria vary by jurisdiction:

Spouse or Civil Partner inclusion is standard across all programs, requiring valid marriage certificates or civil partnership documentation.

Dependent Children eligibility typically extends to:

• Biological or legally adopted children under 18 across all programs
• Adult children aged 18-25 who are unmarried and financially dependent (varies by program)
• Full-time students in many Caribbean programs
• Children with physical or mental disabilities who cannot support themselves, regardless of age (in select programs)

Parents and Grandparents inclusion varies significantly:

• Caribbean programs often allow parents or grandparents over 55-65 who are financially dependent
• European programs have more restrictive criteria but may offer separate application pathways
• Malta's residency program allows dependent parents and grandparents
• Turkey's program recognizes dependent parents

Siblings inclusion is rare but possible in specific circumstances:

• St. Kitts and Nevis allows unmarried siblings of the main applicant or spouse, who are childless, under 30, and financially dependent

Future Family Members:

• Most citizenship programs grant citizenship by descent to future children
• Spouses married after citizenship acquisition typically require separate applications

Orientheight provides comprehensive guidance on optimizing family application structures to ensure all eligible family members receive status. We also assist with subsequent applications for family members who become eligible later or who are not included in the initial application.

Detailed documentation requirements vary for each dependent category, with particular attention to demonstrating financial dependency for adult dependents.

Residency requirements vary significantly between programs, offering options for different lifestyle preferences:

Caribbean Citizenship Programs have minimal physical presence requirements:

• Antigua and Barbuda requires just 5 days of physical presence within 5 years after citizenship approval
• St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Vanuatu have no residency requirements after citizenship is granted

European Residency Programs maintain varying stay requirements to maintain status:

• Greece requires visiting Greece just once every 5 years
• Portugal requires staying in Portugal at least 7 days in the first year and 14 days in the subsequent 2-year periods
• Spain requires visiting Spain at least once during the residency permit period
• Malta has no minimum stay requirement to maintain permanent residency

European Citizenship Pathways have more substantial requirements:

• Malta requires establishing genuine links to the country during the application process
• Other EU countries typically require 5-7 years of legal residency with significant physical presence before naturalization eligibility

Other Citizenship Programs:

• Turkey has no residency requirement for citizenship by investment
• Vanuatu has no residency requirement after citizenship is granted

It's important to note that while many programs don't require relocation, establishing tax residency in another jurisdiction may have significant implications for your global tax position. Orientheight works alongside tax advisors to ensure clients understand the interaction between citizenship, residency, and tax obligations in their specific circumstances.

For clients interested in eventually relocating, we provide comprehensive transition services including property acquisition, school placement, banking introductions, and cultural integration support.