What Are Dependents and Which RCBI Programs Accept Them?

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RIF Trust on Residency and Citizenship by Investment Dependents

RIF Trust’s Regional Director – India Binu Varghese is often asked the question: What are dependents in the context of Residency by Investment and Citizenship by Investment?

“In this article, we will give the definitive general and industry definition of what are dependents,” she reveals.

“However, the good news (spoiler alert) is that all new residency and second citizenship programs accept dependents.”

Our Regional Director – India sums up: “Read on to discover the exact dependent quotas for each and every RCBI program.”

What Are Dependents?

There are 2 main Dictionary.com definitions of dependent as a noun. The first is “a person who depends on or needs someone or something for aid, support, favor, etc.” In the context of Residency and Citizenship by Investment, the second is even more relevant. It’s a “child, spouse, parent, or certain other relative to whom one contributes all or a major amount of necessary financial support.”

To reiterate, all new residency and second citizenship programs allow you, the investor, to add dependents. The bare minimum is your spouse and children. However, there is usually an age restriction regarding child dependents.

There are more inclusive Residency and Citizenship by Investment programs, however. As you will find out, these permit the inclusion of extra family members such as parents and grandparents. Some even allow siblings, brothers in law, and sisters in law too.

Residency by Investment Programs and Dependents

When it comes to the question of what are dependents in terms of new residency programs, the answer is usually more restrictive than the same one asked of second citizenship programs, particularly Caribbean citizenship ones. So, Residency by Investment programs tend to allow you to add your spouse and children. But your child dependents typically are limited by age.

Canadian Residency by Investment

The dependents you can include on your Canada Start-up Visa application are as follows:

1. Your spouse
2. Any unmarried children up to the age of 21

Greek Residency by Investment

You can add the following dependents on your Greek Golden Visa application form:

1. A Third Country National (TCN) spouse
2. Non-EU citizen children (under 21) who remain in the program until they reach 24

Maltese Residency by Investment

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) admits the following dependents:

1. Your Non-EU citizen spouse or partner
2. Third Country National children under 18 living in the family home
3. TCN children over 18 who remain financially dependent on you
4. Third Country National parents
5. TCN grandparents

Portuguese Residency by Investment

With a Portuguese Golden Visa, you can include the following dependents on your application form:

1. A TCN spouse
2. Third Country National children living in the family home or studying at university
3. Non-EU citizen children wholly financially dependent on you
4. Parents over the age of 55 who are not European Union nationals

Spanish Residency by Investment

A Spanish Golden Visa accepts the following dependents on the program:

1. Your non-EU national spouse or partner
2. TCN children under 18 residing in the family home
3. Third Country National children over 18 who remain financially dependent on you
4. Non-EU citizen parents
5. Grandparents who aren’t EU nationals

UAE Residency by Investment

The UAE Golden Visa provides you with the opportunity to add the following dependents to your application:

1. A spouse
2. Unmarried sons under the age of 25
3. Unmarried daughters of any age
4. Physically or mentally challenged children of any age
5. Limited number of domestic staff

UK Residency by Investment

A UK Innovator Founder Visa provides the same path of residency as you the investor to:

1. Your spouse
2. Any children under 18 living in the family home

US Residency by Investment

With a US EB-5 Investor Visa, you can include the following dependents on your application form:

1. A spouse
2. Unmarried children under the age of 21

Citizenship by Investment Programs and Dependents

Second citizenship programs are available in the Caribbean region, Europe, and Oceania. As you already know, defining what are dependents depends on the individual program. However, the Caribbean Citizenship by Investment programs are the most generous in their definitions.

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment

The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment program allows you to add the following dependents:

1. Your spouse
2. Children and stepchildren under 30
3. Mentally or physically challenged children of any age
4. Parents and parents in law
5. Grandparents and grandparents in law
6. Unmarried siblings, brothers in law, and sisters in law
7. Future spouse of you or a dependent child
8. Future child

Dominica Citizenship by Investment

You can include the following dependents through the Dominica Citizenship by Investment program:

1. A spouse
2. Your children or stepchildren under 18
3. Children or stepchildren aged 18-30 enrolled in higher education
4. Unmarried daughter under 25
5. Physically or mentally challenged children over 18
6. Parents over the age of 65
7. Grandparents 65+

Grenada Citizenship by Investment

The Grenada Citizenship by Investment program permits the inclusion of the following family members:

1. Your spouse
2. Any children up to the age of 30
3. Parents over the age of 55
4. Childless and unmarried siblings

Maltese Citizenship by Investment

Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) admits dependents listed below:

1. A spouse
2. Unmarried children under 29
3. Parents over 55
4. Grandparents older than 55

St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment

The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment program accepts the following family members as dependents:

1. Your spouse
2. Children under 18 residing in the family home
3. Children aged 18-25 enrolled in full-time study
4. Mentally or physically children of any age
5. Parents and parents in law over the age of 55 who live in your family home

St Lucia Citizenship by Investment

With the St Lucia Citizenship by Investment program, you can include the following family members:

1. A spouse
2. Children or stepchildren up to the age of 30
3. Unmarried siblings under the age of 18
4. Parents and parents in law over 55
5. Mentally or physically challenged children, stepchildren, or parents of any age

Turkish Citizenship by Investment

The Turkish Citizenship by Investment program application process accepts the following dependents:

1. Your spouse
2. Any children up to the age of 18

Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment

You are free to add the following family members to your Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment program application form:

1. A spouse
2. Children
3. Parents
4. Grandparents

How to Invest in a New Residency or Second Citizenship in 2025

Now you know what are dependents in the world of Residency and Citizenship by Investment, you will want to include them in your application. Or you might be applying as a solo investor. Either way, you will need to go through a trusted intermediary like RIF Trust, so  contact us now, and we’ll show you how to begin the process of registering for a program.