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. They also cite political, social, and economic uncertainty at home. That is according to an article published byThe National. Citizenship Invest, represented by Deputy Chief Executive Wissam Keyrouz, has observed a significant increase in applications. Demand is rising 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. The goal is to secure their lifestyle and family legacy.
The article highlights a passport ranking shift. The U.S. recently fell out of the top 10 for the most powerful passports. It is the first time in 20 years. Ranked first in 2014, the U.S. is now tied for 12th place with Malaysia. That ranking comes from the Henley Passport Index. This decline, alongside political polarization and social unrest, has driven affluent Americans to explore alternatives. Many now look at other 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 are also gaining traction. Latvia and Italy are examples. 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. They offer efficient processes and strong reputations. They also offer 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. Options include the Golden Visa, freelance visa, and virtual work programs.
In March 2024, five Caribbean governments agreed to raise the minimum investment. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia took part. They set a standardized $200,000 minimum for their CBI programs. The change took effect on July 1, 2024.
As stated by Wissam Keyrouz of Citizenship Invest, Caribbean CBI demand had been peaking before this change. The higher investment threshold then led to a noticeable decline. Application volumes fell. Overall demand fell too.
According to the National, on June 14, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memorandum. It required 36 countries, including several offering CBI programs, to comply with strict vetting and information-sharing standards within 60 days. Countries that fail risk facing visa restrictions.
At the same time, the European Union urged countries such as Malta and Cyprus to end investor citizenship schemes. It cited “inherent” security risks. Those risks include potential money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption.
In response to these regulatory shifts, Spain ended its Golden Visa program in April. Malta discontinued its CBI scheme in July. Malta then 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:
Hybrid strategies are becoming more popular, according to Mr. Keyrouz. Many clients secure residency now while planning for future citizenship.
“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. Caribbean governments raised the minimum CBI investment to a standard $200,000 in 2024. That temporarily slowed applications. The EU has also called for tighter scrutiny of investor citizenship schemes. Spain and Malta have revised their golden visa and CBI programs.
Wissam Keyrouz emphasizes the growing interest in both CBI and RBI programs. He notes that Citizenship Invest continues to guide clients through these increasingly complex pathways. Hybrid strategies remain important. Flexible residency options remain important too. European and Caribbean programs remain key drivers of global mobility and family legacy planning.
