How to find the perfect citizenship-by-investment programme for your family and budget

An in-depth look at your second citizenship options

Below we look at some of the best options for South Africans to attain a second citizenship or international residency. All of these options:

• Allow dependent children, some up to the age of 30 and even single siblings
• Have no language requirements and are predominantly English-speaking territories
• Have no problem with dual nationality
• Take 6-22 months to be processed

Attaining citizenship in the USA

The USA’s EB-5 programme has been running for over 30 years and is considered the most successful residency programme in the world. It enables you and your family to immigrate to the USA with green cards and gain full, naturalised citizenship after five years. 

The USA is a popular option for citizenship thanks to its large economy, high standard of living and access to some of the best educational institutions and medical facilities. There are no specific investor requirements regarding age, training, skills, education, language or medical checks.  

Is the EB-5 route right for your family? 

This is the best option if your family wishes to make the USA their new home as relocation is a requirement of the programme. 

It includes children up to the age of 21 and, once a family has obtained citizenship, the main applicant and spouse can also sponsor their parents to live in the USA and get green cards.

The application process takes 22 months. 

Investment amount: USD 900,000 – 1,800,000.

Programmes that provide visa-free travel throughout the EU and the US

Settling in one of the below countries grants you a travel document that gives you full access to Europe (including the UK). In addition, these countries have an E2 Treaty Agreement with the USA, which means that, if the requirements are met, your family may also eventually settle in the United States.  

These are popular options for international businesspeople and yachties/sailors as they allow you to travel visa-free around the Mediterranean and EU. 

Grenada –  A Caribbean citizenship option

Grenada is a lush, tropical island country in the heart of the Caribbean. We can assist with five different Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programmes; however, we often recommend Grenada as the choice option because of the strength of the passport and the access it offers to the USA. 

This is a great route for someone with a large family as, in addition to a spouse, the application can include children up to the age of 30 (without the need to study full time), dependant parents over the age of 55 and even unmarried siblings without children.

Applicants may retain their current citizenship as Grenada does not impose restrictions on holding dual citizenship. 

Get in touch with us if you’d like to find out more about the other Caribbean options.

Investment amount: USD 220,000 plus a government contribution of USD 50,000 for the main applicant and up to three dependants. Additional dependants after that are USD 25,000 each. 

Montenegro – A great Schengen citizenship option

Montenegro is a small European country with a rugged landscape and quaint medieval towns. It has applied to join the EU in 2025 and is currently at the top of the admissions list. This means there is the potential for a substantial return on investment on any property purchased today. In addition, should Montenegro join the EU, this route would mean full EU citizenship for you and your family.

Montenegro citizenship allows visa-free travel to more than 120 countries, including the Schengen area, and can be granted in as little as six months from the date of application. 

The application can include a spouse and unmarried children who are financially dependent on the main applicant. 

Investment amount: EUR 250,000 or EUR 450,000, plus a government contribution of EUR 100,000.

Settle your family anywhere in Europe

These programmes grant you a fast-track route to EU citizenship and are ideal should your family wish to make a move to Europe. 

Malta Individual Investor Programme

The Maltese passport is highly sought after as it allows visa-free travel to over 180 countries, including the USA. This citizenship-by-investment option provides full naturalised European citizenship for your family that can be passed down to future generations. 

The main applicant may include a spouse, children under the age of 18, children between 18 and 26 who are studying full time, and proven dependant parents over the age of 55.

This option might be better suited for someone with substantial available funds as the greatest part of the capital layout is a government contribution. Applicants need to pass very strict government due diligence checks and be in good health.

The two-step application process means your residence permit can be issued within just three months and your citizenship after 12 months of legal residence. 

Investment amount*: EUR 150,000 (in government-approved investment vehicles that benefit the country) and a choice between a real estate purchase of EUR 350,000 or a commitment of EUR 18,000 per annum rental, plus a contribution to the National Development and Social Fund in the amount of EUR 650,000 for the main applicant. An additional contribution of EUR 25,000 per dependant (spouse and children under 18) and EUR 50,000 for each dependant over 18, including parents over the age of 55, has to be made.

An EUR 10,000 philanthropic donation is recommended to prove genuine links to Malta.

The investment amount is currently under review and will be changing to: A choice between a real estate purchase of EUR 350,000 or a commitment of EUR 18,000 per annum rental, plus a contribution to the National Development and Social Fund in the amount of EUR 750,000 for the main applicant. An additional contribution of EUR 25,000 per dependant (spouse and children under 18) and EUR 50,000 for each dependant over 18, including parents over the age of 55, must be made. A EUR 10,000 philanthropic donation is required to prove genuine links to Malta.

Cypriot Investment Scheme

If you’re interested in a real estate investment and want full European citizenship for your family, while retaining your current citizenship, Cyprus is a great option. 

The Cypriot Investment Scheme is a quick route to EU citizenship as it only takes about six months from application. 

The investment may be in real estate that can be rented out immediately, so you can start seeing a return on your investment quickly. You’re also permitted to sell the largest share of your property after five years. 

The main applicant may include a spouse, children under the age of 18, children between 18 and 27 who are studying full time, and parents provided they purchase a residential property with a minimum value of EUR 500,000.

The passport will grant you visa-free access to over 170 countries and full EU citizenship that can be passed down to future generations. 

Investment amount: EUR 2 million minimum, plus a government contribution of EUR 150,000.

European residence programmes that don’t require immigration

If you’d like to keep your options open for the future, these residency programmes in the Schengen area allow you to obtain EU residency without necessarily moving there right away or having to spend any minimum days in the country where residency is held.

Germany (Solingen)

The municipality of Solingen, located in northwest Germany, near Düsseldorf and Cologne, offers the opportunity to gain residency in Germany through the purchase of real estate and an entrepreneurial investment into a regional development fund. 

The applicant’s spouse and children under the age of 18 may be included on the residency application. 

This route can lead to German citizenship after eight years if you choose to live in Germany, however a German language test is required for citizenship. 

Investment amount: EUR 350,000.

Malta Residence and Visa Programme

Malta offers a safe home in a stable economy, meaning that many seek to either live in the country even if they cannot obtain citizenship straight away, or have it as a plan B. The Malta Residence and Visa Programme grants indefinite residency to individuals and their families within a year and offers visa-free travel throughout the Schengen area. 

This is a good option if your family would like to travel visa free through the Schengen area and is in possession of assets to a minimum value of EUR 500,000 or an annual income arising outside of Malta of EUR 100,000.

The main applicant can include a spouse, children under 18, non-married and non-economically active adult children over 18 as well as parents and grandparents who are primarily dependent on the main applicant.

This route can eventually lead to citizenship if you spend enough time in Malta. The other benefit of this particular programme is that it can be financed, making it the most affordable residency-by-investment programme. 

Investment amount: From EUR 250,000.

It’s never too early to start planning for your family’s future. Whether you’d like to immigrate or are simply looking for a plan B, we can help. Contact us on +27 (0) 21 657 1584 or email our team on im@sableinternational.com.