Читать книгу Global Residence & Citizenship Handbook - Christian H. Kälin - Страница 44

Due to political or economic circumstances, citizens of many countries find it difficult to travel abroad and are confronted with strict visa requirements each time they want to enter a foreign country.¹⁹

But also, nationals whose passports usually allow them easy access to most countries can find it impossible to obtain visas due to temporary travel restrictions during trade sanctions and other geopolitical disturbances, or due to their nationality may be overly exposed to terrorist threats and other hostility.²⁰

Moreover, even though the necessary visa may be granted to you, getting a visa is always a very tiresome procedure during which your passport on which you get the visa is not available – and can be a significant factor of delay for your travels.

Visa-free travel can also be obtained via a residence permit. For example, residence in any of the Schengen countries will offer visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area of Europe. However, only the acquisition of a second citizenship and a second passport can guarantee the desired long-term visa-free travel.

If you cannot acquire or renew your passport in your home country, for example due to political instability, civil war, revolution or change of government, having another passport can be very useful, even critical. Even if you simply lose your passport, it may take some time until you can get a replacement.

There is a growing tendency in many countries to follow the lead of the United States in taxing even non-resident citizens.²¹ Citizenship also plays a role in some countries to determine whether you may still be deemed tax resident or domiciled (including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, and others), and citizenship is one of the tie-breaker rules in most double-tax treaties. Alternative citizenship is therefore also increasingly important as an effective tool for international tax planning.

If you wish to have the possibility to retire in a safe haven in the future you can only fully secure this option if you acquire either permanent residence or citizenship of that country. However, even a “permanent” residence permit does not mean full security as it may still be subject to renewal, revocation, or new conditions.²² Becoming a citizen is the only way to secure a life-long status and guarantees a secure and truly permanent alternative place to go to.

Generally as a citizen of two or more different states more planning options are available and you also enjoy more privacy in banking and investment.

Most importantly citizenship and a passport from a small, peaceful country can save your life when travelling in times of political unrest, civil war, terrorism, and other difficult situations. Many international businesspeople and important people who are active worldwide actually consider an alternative passport as the best life insurance money can buy.

In an unsettled, ever-changing world, acquiring a second citizenship is a wise decision and an investment for the future. When you acquire citizenship, your spouse and children, and sometimes parents,²³ may be included. Citizenship is for life and can be passed on to future generations.²⁴ Depending on the other country or countries of which you are a citizen, there is often no need to give up your present citizenship while you enjoy the benefits of a second citizenship and passport.