How to Legally “Purchase” a Passport from Any Country

For high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and globally mobile families, the idea of “purchasing a passport” usually means using legal citizenship by investment (CBI) or residency by investment (RBI / Golden Visa) programs to obtain a second nationality. In practice, you are not buying a passport document itself; you are making a qualifying investment that leads to citizenship and then a passport, under that country’s laws.

This guide from Global Passport Services explains how to legally acquire a passport through investment programs, what is and isn’t possible “in any country,” which jurisdictions are most popular, and how to avoid scams and illegal offers. Contact us for a better solution for an affordable price. 

Why You Cannot Literally Buy a Passport (And What You Can Do Instead)

A passport is a government-issued travel and identity document. In almost all countries, it is only issued after you become a citizen, and it is never legally sold as a standalone product.

When people talk about “buying a passport,” they usually mean one of two legal pathways:

• Citizenship by Investment (CBI):
  You make a government-approved investment (often a donation, real estate purchase, or business investment) and, after due diligence, are granted citizenship directly, then a passport.

• Residency by Investment (RBI / Golden Visa):
  You invest to obtain residency first (a residence permit), then after several years of holding residence and meeting criteria, you can apply for citizenship and a passport via naturalization.

Both paths are regulated by law, include strict background checks, and require you to document the legal origin of your funds. Contact us for a better solution for an fordable price. 

Anything that offers:

• A passport with no background checks
• A passport that is not linked to citizenship
• A passport obtained through bribes, forged documents, or back-door payments

is illegal and can lead to passport cancellation, criminal charges, and travel bans. Contact us for a better solution for an afordable price. 

Understanding Legal Investment Migration: Core Concepts

Citizenship by Investment (CBI)

CBI programs are offered by a small group of countries where citizenship is granted in exchange for a qualifying investment and successful due diligence.

Typical features:

• Direct route to citizenship:
  You become a citizen in a few months once the investment and checks are complete.
• No or minimal residency requirement:
  Many Caribbean programs do not require you to live in or even visit the country to get citizenship.
• Investment options:
  • Non-refundable donations to public funds
  • Government-approved real estate
  • Business investments or government bonds. Contact us for a better solution for an fordable price. 

Residency by Investment (RBI / Golden Visa)

Residency by investment programs grant a residence permit in return for an investment, with the possibility of citizenship after a number of years.

Key points:

• You become a resident, not a citizen, initially.
• After 5–10+ years (depending on the country) of lawful residence and meeting criteria (e.g., language, integration), you may apply for naturalization and eventually a passport.
• Common in the EU (Portugal, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, etc.), as well as US (EB–5), Canada, etc.

Can You Legally Purchase a Passport from Any Country?

Short answer: No. You cannot legally buy a passport from any country of your choice.

You can:

• Directly obtain citizenship by investment in a limited list of countries that have explicit legal provisions (mostly Caribbean, a few in Europe, the Middle East, and Pacific).
• Indirectly obtain a passport from many more countries by:
  • Residency by investment (Golden Visa)
  • Standard naturalization (living, working, studying, or having family ties)

You cannot:

• Legally buy, for example, a US, UK, German, or Japanese passport simply by paying a fee. These countries do not operate CBI schemes. Their citizenship paths require birth, descent, long-term residence, or marriage/naturalization under strict rules.

Therefore, a realistic strategy is:

1. Choose from countries that legally offer CBI if you want a direct second passport.
2. Use residency by investment plus naturalization if you want, for example, an EU or North American passport over the medium to long term. 

Popular Countries Where You Can Legally Obtain a Passport via Investment

Programs change regularly, but as of recent data, here are examples of jurisdictions that legally offer direct or highly accelerated routes to citizenship for investors.

Figures below are indicative minimums and exclude government, due diligence, and professional fees. Always verify current law.

Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programs

These are among the fastest and most established CBI routes, often processed in 3–9 months.

Common benefits:

• Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 140+ destinations (varies by country).
• No or minimal residency requirement.
• Often no global income tax if non-resident (check local law and tax advice).

Typical examples (not exhaustive):

• Antigua and Barbuda

  • Approximate entry level: around USD 230,000 via donation or real estate (for a family in some structures).
  • Processing time: about 3–9 months.

• St. Kitts and Nevis

  • Minimum around USD 250,000 to a designated fund; higher for real estate.
  • Timeframe: typically 4–6 months.

• Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia

  • Donations and real estate options typically starting in the USD 200,000–250,000 range for main applicants or families.

• Vanuatu (Pacific, not Caribbean but similar model)

  • Known for one of the fastest CBI timelines, sometimes as short as 2–3 months after approval, via a donation starting around USD 130,000 for a single applicant.

European Programs and “Quasi-CBI”

Within Europe, full CBI is limited and often politically sensitive, but some countries offer exceptional naturalization by investment or residency programs leading to citizenship.

Examples:

• Malta – Exceptional Services by Direct Investment

  • Allows naturalization for “exceptional services by direct investment.”
  • Requires significant investment (from around €690,000–700,000+ plus property and donation elements) and a residence period of 12–36 months before naturalization.
  • Strict due diligence and limited annual quotas.

• Turkey – Citizenship by Investment

  • Investment from around USD 400,000 in real estate or alternative options can lead to citizenship under current rules.
  • Processing can be relatively quick (often 3–6 months) with no long residence required.

• Portugal, Greece, Spain – Golden Visas (Residency by Investment)

  • Portugal: Investment from €250,000 in certain cultural/research projects under revised rules; leads to residency and possible citizenship after 5 years, subject to language and other criteria.
  • Greece: Real estate or other investments (generally from €250,000, higher in some prime regions from 2025), with eligibility to apply for citizenship after 7 years of residence.
  • Spain: Investments (e.g., real estate from €500,000) historically led to residency; typical naturalization only after 10 years of legal residence, with some changes and phase-out dates for certain schemes.

North America and Other Destinations (Residency First)

For countries like the USA, Canada, and other high-demand destinations, the route is almost always:

1. Investment → residence permit
2. Residence → permanent residence → citizenship

Examples:

• United States – EB–5 Investor Visa

  • Minimum investment USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area (more for other areas).
  • Leads first to a green card, then after years of residence you can apply for US citizenship.

• Canada – Start-Up Visa and Provincial Investor Programs

  • Focus on funding or creating innovative businesses with approval from designated organizations, leading to permanent residence and later citizenship.

In all of these, you are not buying a Canadian or US passport outright; you are investing to obtain immigration status, then following standard residency and naturalization rules.

Step-by-Step: How to Legally Acquire a Passport via Investment

Regardless of country, most legal CBI/RBI routes follow a similar multi-stage process.

1. Define Your Goals and Constraints

Before choosing a program, clarify:

• Primary objectives:

  • Visa-free access to certain regions (e.g., Schengen Area, UK, Asia, Americas)
  • Asset protection and diversification
  • Tax planning (always coordinate with a qualified tax advisor)
  • Education or relocation options for family

• Constraints:

  • Budget (investment plus fees)
  • Timeline (do you need a second passport within months or can you wait years?)
  • Risk appetite (real estate vs non-refundable donation vs business) 

2. Select a Jurisdiction and Program

Factors to compare across programs include:

• Investment types and minimums
• Total cost, including:
  • Government fees
  • Due-diligence fees
  • Professional/legal fees
• Processing time
• Residency requirements (days per year, physical presence)
• Family inclusion (spouse, children, parents, siblings)
• Visa-free access and international reputation of the passport
• Long-term policy stability (programs can be suspended or tightened)

Because rules change often and fine print matters, most investors work with specialized advisors who monitor regulatory updates and structure applications compliantly.

Contact us for a better solution for an affordable price. 

3. Pre-Screening and Eligibility Check

Most reputable firms and governments will check early whether you are likely to pass due diligence, which typically requires:

• Being over 18 years old
• Clean criminal record, certified by police from each country where you have lived
• Legal source of funds, supported by:
  • Bank statements
  • Tax returns
  • Contracts, sale agreements, etc.
• No listing on sanctions lists, Interpol alerts, or major adverse media
• Good health (medical reports, in some programs including HIV tests)

If you fail these checks, no legitimate program will approve you, regardless of how much you offer. Contact us for a better solution for an affordable price. 

4. Document Collection and Application Preparation

Many programs require a detailed document package.

Common items:

• Certified copies of current passports for all applicants
• Birth certificates and, if applicable, marriage/divorce certificates
• No-criminal-record certificates from relevant countries
• Medical reports and health insurance (where required)
• Proof of address and civil-status documents
• Evidence of source of funds and wealth:
  • Bank statements
  • Company documents
  • Property sale contracts
  • Audited financial statements

These documents often must be translated, notarized, and sometimes apostilled.

5. Due Diligence and Initial Approval

Governments contract specialized agencies to conduct multi-layer due diligence, which can include:

• Cross-checking criminal records and sanctions lists
• Verifying media and reputational issues
• Reviewing corporate ownership and banking records
• Confirming that funds are not linked to corruption, fraud, or other crimes

You will pay due-diligence fees, often several thousand dollars per adult applicant.

If you pass, you receive pre-approval in principle.

6. Make the Qualifying Investment

After pre-approval, you must complete the investment within a specified timeline.

Examples:

• Transfer donation amount to a designated government fund
• Purchase approved real estate and provide:
  • Purchase agreement
  • Valuation report
  • Proof of payment
• Invest in government bonds or a qualifying business

Proof of investment is then submitted to the authorities.

7. Citizenship Grant and Passport Issuance

Once investment and all checks are satisfied:

• You receive a certificate of naturalization or citizenship.
• You can then apply for a passport as a citizen, following that country’s standard passport application process (photos, biometrics, passport fees, etc.).

In some programs, you may be required to:

• Travel to the country to take an oath
• Provide biometric data in person

The final step is the issuance of your passport booklet, which can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after approval, depending on the country. Contact us for a better solution for an fordable price. 

Essential Legal and Ethical Considerations

Always Stay Within the Law

Governments and international organizations are increasingly scrutinizing investment migration and passport misuse. To stay safe:

• Never use false identities, fake documents, or unreported criminal histories.
• Avoid any “service” promising:
  • A Schengen, US, or major EU passport in weeks with no checks
  • Diplomatic passports via unofficial channels
  • “Back-door” deals through corrupt officials

These are red flags and can result in:

• Passport cancellation
• Loss of citizenship
• Criminal prosecution in multiple countries

Tax and Reporting Obligations

A second citizenship and passport can impact your:

• Tax residence
• Worldwide income reporting
• Automatic exchange of financial information (e.g., CRS)

Many jurisdictions share financial account information based on tax residence, not just citizenship. Always coordinate with a qualified international tax advisor before restructuring assets or changing residence. Contact us for a better solution for an fordable price. 

Impact on Existing Citizenship(s)

Some countries:

• Allow dual or multiple citizenships freely.
• Restrict or prohibit dual citizenship, requiring you to renounce your original passport on acquiring a new one.
• Have special rules for public officials, military personnel, or sensitive sectors.

You must check both:

1. The law of the country whose passport you want; and
2. The law of the country whose passport(s) you already hold.

How to Spot and Avoid Passport Scams

In online forums and social media, you’ll see offers like “EU passport in 30 days, no background checks” or “blank passports for sale.” These are illegal and often outright scams.

Warning signs:

• Promises of major-country passports (US, UK, EU Schengen states) without residence, descent, or formal process.
• Requests for cash payments to personal accounts.
• Refusal to provide clear program names, legal references, or government links.
• Claims that “connections” or “donations” can add you to a genuine citizen registry off-the-books.

Working with a transparent, specialized advisory firm that only uses lawful government programs radically reduces these risks and helps ensure compliance, due diligence preparedness, and correct filings.

Choosing the Right Path for Your Global Mobility Goals

Legally speaking, you cannot just buy any passport you want, but you can use well-regulated citizenship and residency by investment frameworks to build a portfolio of passports and residencies that supports:

• Visa-free travel and reduced administrative burdens
• Lifestyle flexibility (live, study, work, retire abroad)
• Asset protection and diversification
• Family security and mobility across generations

The optimal mix might combine:

• One fast CBI passport (for immediate mobility), plus
• One or more Golden Visas or long-term residencies that can mature into tier-1 passports (e.g., an EU or North American passport) through naturalization.

Because regulations, minimums, and geopolitical risks change frequently, treating this as a long-term, professionally planned strategy – rather than a quick purchase – offers far better security and value over time. Contact us for a better solution for an affordable price.