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How to Enhance Your Mobility Through RCBI in 2025
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RIF Trust on Why Becoming More Mobile Is Key
RIF Trust CEO Mimoun Assraoui understands the issues driving HNWIs to consider Residency by Investment and Citizenship by Investment, and mobility is paramount. “At RIF Trust, it’s all about the SMILE. That’s Security, Mobility, Insurance, Lifestyle, and Education,” he spells out.
“You can improve your mobility with most Residency and Citizenship programs, although some allow you to travel easier than others as you acquire stronger passports.”
Our CEO sums up: “In this article, we will define what it means to be mobile and reveal how a new residency or second citizenship can boost your mobility.”
What Is Mobility?
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines mobility as “the quality or state of being mobile or movable; ability or capacity to move.” Yet when HNWIs search for mobility, they’re not looking for scooters. Instead, they are focusing on business and leisure travel.
Applying for a visa to travel is a torturous process. You have to wait to hear if you’re application is successful. If it’s not, your travel plans could be left in limbo.
Residency by Investment is a solution in that it allows you to enjoy visa-free travel within a region. All the European Golden Visas allow you visa-free access to the European Union Schengen Area.
This EU zone contains 29 countries. You can travel everywhere from Austria to Switzerland, including France, Germany, and Italy.
There’s also the opportunity to naturalize as a citizen and enjoy the benefits open to those who invest in a new citizenship directly. Namely a more powerful passport.
The RIF Trust Passport Index is the most regularly updated collator of passport strength. There are 4 ratings. They are as follows:
- Visa-free
- Visa on arrival
- eVisa
- Visa required
Our passport rank combines the number of visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and eVisa countries. Bear in mind that we only include passports issued by countries in our index. That means we cover 199 passports, excluding travel documents handed out by territories such as the Cayman Islands.
Mobility-Focused Golden Visas
The €350,000-priced Spanish Golden Visa is a route to the world’s number 1 travel document, the Spanish passport. This has a passport rank of 183/199. You can travel to 126 visa-free destinations, 31 countries with a visa on arrival, and 26 through an eVisa.
It takes 10 years of residency to become eligible for Spanish nationality. However, you qualify after only 2 if you come from Latin America or the Philippines. To claim the world’s number 1 passport through this avenue, you’re going to have to apply by Wednesday, April 2, 2025 as the program will terminate the next day.
A Greek Golden Visa, available from €250,000, allows you to secure the 3rd most powerful travel document. The Greek passport has a passport rank of 181/199. It enables you to travel to 122 visa-free countries, 31 destinations through a visa on arrival, and 28 via an eVisa.
You can claim Greek citizenship following 7 years of residency. You will be tested on your proficiency in the Greek language. Authorities will also need you to demonstrate knowledge of Greek culture, government, and history.
The Portuguese Golden Visa, requiring a minimum investment of €325,000, is another way to obtain the world’s 3rd strongest travel document. The Portuguese passport also has a rank of 181/199. You can visit 124 destinations without a visa, 30 via a visa on arrival, and 27 through an eVisa.
There’s a subtle difference in naturalizing from residency in Portugal. In Greece or Spain, the process starts from the day you receive your residence permit. This is not the case in Portugal, where the naturalization begins from the day you apply for residency.
Other Residency by Investment Programs That Help You Move More Easily
Europe is not the only place where you can naturalize via residency, with the C$275,000 Canada Start-up Visa a North American option. This leads to a Canadian passport, the world’s 7th best passport with a rank of 177/199. You can enter 118 countries without a visa, 35 with a visa on arrival, and 24 courtesy of an eVisa.
It takes 5 years of residency before you become eligible for Canadian nationality. You have to score at least 75% on a 20-question test with multiple choice or true/false answers. This covers Canadian citizenship rights and responsibilities, along with the economy, geography, history, and law of Canada.
In joint sixth position on the RIF Trust Passport Index is the UK passport. This has a rank of 178/199. You can travel to 118 destinations without a visa, 35 with a visa on arrival, and 25 through an eVisa.
The UK Innovator Founder Visa is a £200,00 path to residency. After 5 years, you qualify to become a British national. This is contingent on you passing the Life in the UK test.
Also in sixth place is the US passport. Again, this travel document’s rank is 178/199. It allows you to access 116 countries without a visa, 36 via a visa on arrival, and 26 with an eVisa.
The US EB-5 Investor Visa is available from $800,000. This gives you a Green Card and US citizenship following 5 years of residency. From a list of 100 questions about US civics, a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officer will ask you 10 and you have to get 6 right to become an American national.
Mobile Citizenship by Investment Programs
The only European citizenship that is available by direct investment is Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN). It requires a minimum investment of €600,000. The application processing time takes between 16 and 18 months.
As the world’s 8th leading travel document, the Maltese passport has a rank of 176/199. You can visit 122 destinations without a visa, 29 with a visa on arrival, and 25 with an eVisa. That leaves 22 countries where you have to arrange a visit in advance of your journey there.
The next strongest passport available through Citizenship by Investment is the St Kitts and Nevis passport. With a rank of 166/199, it’s in 16th spot on the Index. It enables you to enter 102 countries without a visa, 28 with a visa on arrival, and 36 with an eVisa.
You qualify for this travel document via St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment. This program is available from $250,000. Expect to wait between 6 and 12 months to receive your citizenship.
How to Move Towards Mobility in 2025
Are you frustrated by the limitations of your passport? If so, investing in a second passport is well worth investigating. As you have seen, you can claim dual citizenship through both Residency and Citizenship by Investment.
Your next step is to consult an expert in new residency and second citizenship programs. RIF Trust is that specialist. So, contact us now, and we’ll show you how to gain the mobility you’re currently lacking.