Source: The National, by Deepthi Nair from October 22, 2025
A rising number of U.S. and U.K. citizens are seeking to escape high taxes and political, social, and economic uncertainty in their home countries, according to an article published by The National. Citizenship Invest, represented by Deputy Chief Executive Wissam Keyrouz, has observed a significant increase in applications for citizenship-by-investment (CBI) and residency-by-investment (RBI) programs.
Deputy Chief Executive Wissam Keyrouz from Citizenship Invest
“We have seen a higher momentum of applications from the U.S. and the U.K., driven by clients reporting a decline in quality of life as high taxation takes hold,” said Wissam Keyrouz in the The National article. Citizenship Invest continues to guide clients seeking flexible solutions to secure their lifestyle and family legacy.
The article highlights that the U.S. recently fell out of the top 10 rankings for the most powerful passports for the first time in 20 years. Ranked first in 2014, the U.S. is now tied for 12th place with Malaysia according to the Henley Passport Index. This decline, alongside political polarization and social unrest, has driven affluent Americans to explore alternative citizenship and residency options.
According to Mr. Keyrouz, Portugal remains a popular choice, even after the removal of the real estate route. Other European programs, including Latvia and Italy, are gaining traction. Newly launched or revamped programs in Costa Rica and New Zealand are also attracting strong interest.
Caribbean programs continue to be a cornerstone of the CBI market, offering efficient processes, strong reputations, and visa-free access. North American families are particularly drawn to these programs for legacy planning.
In the Middle East, the UAE continues to grow as a hub for residency pathways such as the Golden Visa, freelance visa, and virtual work programs.
In March 2024, five Caribbean governments (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia) agreed to raise the minimum investment requirement for their CBI programs to a standardized $200,000, effective July 1, 2024.
As stated by Wissam Keyrouz of Citizenship Invest, the Caribbean CBI market had been experiencing peak demand prior to this change, but the increase in the investment threshold has since led to a noticeable decline in both application volumes and overall demand.
According to the National, on June 14, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memorandum requiring 36 countries, including several offering CBI programs, to comply with strict vetting and information-sharing standards within 60 days, or risk facing visa restrictions.
At the same time, the European Union urged countries such as Malta and Cyprus to end investor citizenship schemes, citing “inherent” security risks, including potential money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption.
In response to these regulatory shifts, Spain ended its Golden Visa program in April, while Malta discontinued its CBI scheme in July and introduced a new citizenship-by-merit pathway. Immigration specialists have also reported rising costs for residency-by-investment programs in Portugal, Greece, and Hungary.
The increase in applications is influenced by several factors: risk mitigation for wealth and lifestyle, political and security concerns, and access to top-tier educational institutions for children. Hybrid strategies, such as securing residency now while planning for future citizenship, are becoming more popular, according to Mr. Keyrouz.
“The cost of a new passport depends on the family size and the program. Donations to government-approved funds start at around $230,000 per application, while real estate or business investments can exceed $300,000,” Mr. Keyrouz explained to The National.
“The bigger the family, the higher the cost. These are prices in general but each programme has a different pricing structure,” he says.
Applicants must provide documentation for:
Mr. Keyrouz points out that regulatory changes and increased due diligence are influencing demand. For example, Caribbean governments increased the minimum CBI investment to a standard $200,000 in 2024, which temporarily slowed applications. The EU has also called for tighter scrutiny of investor citizenship schemes, while Spain and Malta have revised their golden visa and CBI programs.
Wissam Keyrouz emphasizes the growing interest in both CBI and RBI programs and notes that Citizenship Invest continues to guide clients through these increasingly complex pathways. Hybrid strategies, flexible residency options, and European and Caribbean programs remain key drivers of global mobility and family legacy planning.
