Unfortunately, this state of affairs, the anonymity of the Internet, as well as people's reluctance to report fraud to law enforcement agencies, contributes to the fact that dubious elements unworthy of trust have leaked into the program of assistance in obtaining a second passport. There are many cases where people sent money by telegraph, check, or cash, and immediately after that the passport seller disappeared. Therefore, I would like to advise people wishing to acquire second citizenship to follow two golden rules.
First, without sparing time, engage in studying available materials (articles, books, reports, etc.) about second citizenship. They will enrich your knowledge and allow you, as the Bible says, to separate the wheat from the chaff. I do not advise making hasty decisions. The time and money spent on familiarizing yourself with these materials are not comparable to the investments you are about to make. And the acquired knowledge will help you follow the second golden rule - to correctly choose a consultant or lawyer to assist in the accelerated acquisition of second citizenship. This recommendation means that you should select consultants with a good reputation and extensive work experience.
Today, some immigration companies and law firms offer programs for the rapid acquisition of citizenship in a number of states. In this regard, we receive many questions about the legality of the mechanism for accelerating the procedure. Acquiring a passport (if we are not talking about fake documents) does not at all mean that you or your hired lawyer give money to an official, and he, in turn, issues the document bypassing the usual procedure.
In many countries there are special programs for granting so-called economic citizenship to foreigners. In accordance with them, a foreign citizen makes direct investments in the country's economy by purchasing government shares. The benefit is obvious both for the budget of a country with a poorly developed economy and for the foreigner and his family, who receive second citizenship. In exchange for citizenship, the state acquires additional funds for its budget and economic growth. These are countries such as the Dominican Republic, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Bahamas, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu.
Similar schemes for granting citizenship are practiced by rich states, but they have large appetites. In countries with highly developed economies - Canada, Australia, Austria, etc., where through capital investments it is also possible to obtain a residence permit and subsequently citizenship - the required amount of investment is quite impressive: from $500,000.
Prices for citizenship of less developed states range from $10,000 to $100,000. Moreover, if in developed countries citizenship can be obtained after a fairly long period - from three to ten years (depending on the country), then in poor countries - practically in two or three months. Many states that grant second citizenship are members of the British Commonwealth. But do not think that having obtained it, you automatically acquire the right to reside in Great Britain or Canada.
Practicing specialists know that passports of many British Commonwealth countries are the subject of all sorts of machinations: they are forged, blank forms are stolen, etc. I will not say that the border service of the United Kingdom is biased against holders of passports obtained as a reward for investments in the country's economy; it simply carefully assesses their identities.
There are many questions about the accelerated acquisition of Spanish citizenship. This is understandable: Spain is a prosperous EU country, and the visa-free possibilities of the Spanish passport are very great. Suffice it to mention that a Spanish citizen can stay in the United States without a visa for three months - a country that requires visas from citizens of most states. In Spain there really is an investment program for obtaining citizenship, but, as practice shows, in reality it does not work.
So, let us draw conclusions. Second citizenship obtained through proper means and methods can give an incomparable feeling of freedom. You will have the opportunity to travel and do business without belonging to one state. However, obtaining second citizenship is becoming more and more difficult every year. It somewhat resembles an insurance policy - you need to worry about acquiring it in advance, because this process is far from quick.
Oleg Lemeshko,
international lawyer, representative of the Association of Immigration Lawyers, partner of the Golfstream association.