Nowadays, it is not easy for an investor to navigate the offers on the market by obtaining second passport for investments. Such programs are becoming fewer and fewer, and at the same time, there are more and more unscrupulous companies that are ready to satisfy demand with the help of corruption schemes. In fact, trying to use fake documents to obtain a second passport for his client under the naturalization program in the absence of real grounds. We’ll talk about some of the famous examples of fraud on the market and how to choose a legitimate program.
Defunct Mexican Citizenship Program
For example, many firms now actively offer participation in the “Mexican Citizenship by Investment Program” via the Mexican Immigration Department. The proposed program, according to some offers costs $60,000 per applicant and leads to Mexican citizenship in 2-4 weeks. We look at the laws of Mexico and see that you need to live in the country for at least 5 years legally in order to qualify for citizenship. There is no investment citizenship program in Mexico.
“Can’t say how many times we have been offered these programs and how many times we have had to talk clients out of paying for these programs!” – says Nuri Katz, Founder and President of Apex Capital Partners.
European citizenship scheme – Romania. Truth or false?
And in Europe, such an example is the repatriation program in Romania. Which became widely known due to corruption scandals. Romanian citizenship can generally be obtained in two ways. Moreover, none of them provides for the possibility of naturalization through investment.
So, let’s look at two articles of the Law on Romanian Citizenship. Article 8 provides for the acquisition of Romanian citizenship in the usual way. This is long-term legal residence in the country, marriage with a Romanian citizen, as well as exams in Romanian culture and language.
However, attention should be paid to Article 11, which provides for naturalization. It concerns persons whose ancestors lost Romanian citizenship due to geopolitical circumstances. Namely, due to the occupation of Romanian territories in various wars and border disputes over the years.
Thus, it is more correct to call this option “restoration” of citizenship.
This legal path is open to those who can prove that their ancestors (up to the third generation) were deprived of Romanian citizenship against their will. The law mainly applies to those whose Romanian parents, grandparents and great-grandparents lived in the former Romanian territories.
Many companies are trying to sell a service for “searching for Romanian grandmothers,” which in fact is a forgery of documents.
Thus, citizenship “for a bribe” of $5-15,000 is offered to be issued to any candidate wishing to obtain permanent status in Europe.
“If someone received a second passport in Romania (or any other citizenship) using forged documents, and such a story is revealed, then this will not go unnoticed. Such cases happened in Israel, where, as is known, citizenship can be obtained by proving one’s Jewishness. There were also stories in Canada of falsification of documents that ended in cancellation. In Hungary, too, authorities scrutinized documents related to disputed bids when stories of corruption came to light. It is important to weigh all these risks for yourself in advance. Are you willing to put your reputation on the line to try to save money by getting involved in something like this?
I can say that we are approached with a large number of requests for obtaining Romanian citizenship. Not just now, but all the time. However, about 20% of clients ultimately decide to apply for Caribbean citizenship or Vanuatu citizenship” – says Nuri Katz, Founder and President of Apex Capital Partners.
Legality of second passport
If you find a program for obtaining citizenship from a company, these conditions must be presented in the constitution of the country that founded the program. You can also find information, for example, on the website of the immigration department of this country or another special institution that oversees the program.There may also be lists of licensed program agents who you can contact for preliminary consultation and request all applicable conditions. Make sure that the company you contact works directly with the authorities of the program’s parent country.
The risk of “cheap” second citizenship by investment
The state that launches a CIP program wants to replenish the budget through external private investment. Therefore, there cannot be offers with a loan for such an investment, or a mortgage for the purchase of real estate under citizenship. The candidate invests in the country and, after a detailed review of his history and biography, becomes a new citizen. It is not possible to obtain citizenship by investment by spending less than $100,000 USD on an investment. Any citizenship, including Romanian citizenship, or residence permit obtained on the basis of false information can be revoked at any time. Moreover, it is unlikely that after such a story you will be able to even get a Schengen visa, let alone citizenship under a legal existing program. Because after establishing the fact of providing false documents, such a candidate will be added to a special list of citizens whose entry into the EU is undesirable. It will be a ban.
With APEX, you can obtain a second passport through one of our proven, legal citizenship by investment programs for you and your family. Without unnecessary intermediaries, the risk of confidentiality, and the risk of losing the opportunity to travel to certain countries due to an unsuccessful attempt to submit documents to the immigration department.
