Banned Nationalities from Citizenship by Investment Programs

Global Citizen Solutions does not provide advisory or application-support services to individuals who are current residents of, or currently located in, any restricted or sanctioned jurisdiction, including but not limited to Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Venezuela. This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer of services to nationals or residents of these jurisdictions. We do not accept payments, fees, or funds originating from these jurisdictions.

Many countries across the world offer residency and citizenship by investment (CBI) programs to qualifying investors and high-net-worth individuals with an aim to reel them into their economies. While these programs are aimed at non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss, and third-country nationals, the majority of them impose restrictions on countries and territories from which they would accept applications, rendering individuals eligible, ineligible, or partly eligible with an exception. In this article, we will walk you through the list of banned nationalities from the world’s most popular Citizenship by Investment programs.

Afghanistan

• Ineligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Malta, St. Kitts & Nevis, Grenada
• Eligible: Dominica, Saint Lucia, Turkey, Vanuatu

Armenia

• Ineligible: Turkey
• Eligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Malta, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Vanuatu

Belarus

• Ineligible: Dominica, Malta, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Grenada
• Eligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Turkey, Vanuatu

*Note: Global Citizen Solutions does not accept clients who are residents of, or who transact from, Belarus, in line with applicable EU, UK, and US sanctions regimes.

Cuba

• Ineligible: St. Kitts & Nevis, Turkey
• Eligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Malta, Saint Lucia, Vanuatu

DR Congo

• Ineligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Malta
• Eligible: Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Turkey, Vanuatu

Iran

• Ineligible: Malta, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Vanuatu, Grenada
• Eligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Turkey

Iraq

• Ineligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Vanuatu, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia
• Eligible: Grenada, Malta, Turkey

Nigeria

• Ineligible: Turkey
• Eligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Malta, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Vanuatu

North Korea

• Ineligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Malta, St. Kitts & Nevis, Turkey, Vanuatu, Saint Lucia, Grenada

Russia*

• Ineligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Malta, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Grenada
• Eligible: Turkey, Vanuatu

*Note: Global Citizen Solutions does not accept clients who are residents of, or who transact from, the Russian Federation, in line with applicable EU, UK, and US sanctions regimes.

Yemen

• Ineligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Malta, Vanuatu, Grenada, Dominica
• Eligible: Saint Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, Turkey

Venezuela

• Ineligible: Malta
• Eligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Turkey, Vanuatu, Grenada

Syria

• Ineligible: Dominica, Malta, Turkey
• Eligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Vanuatu

Sudan

• Ineligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Malta, Grenada
• Eligible: St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Turkey, Vanuatu

South Sudan

• Ineligible: Malta
• Eligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Turkey, Vanuatu

Somalia

• Ineligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Malta
• Eligible: Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Turkey, Vanuatu

Ukraine

• Ineligible: St Kitts & Nevis
• Eligible: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Malta, Saint Lucia, Turkey, Vanuatu

The Dominica citizenship by investment program is similar to that of Antigua and Barbuda, in that it grants qualifying individuals Caribbean citizenship rights in as little as five months in exchange for a minimum investment of $200,000. Individuals who hold a Dominica passport are capable of traveling visa-free to over 140 nations worldwide, including the Schengen Zone, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

As of March 2022, Dominica placed an outright ban on nationals from Russia and Belarus, and in May 2022, it extended that list to include Syria and Northern Iraq (Kurdistan). Yemen nationals are also ineligible to apply.

Aside from these nationalities, there are a few others that would be considered on a case-by-case basis, namely individuals born in Sao Tome Principe, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Chechnya, North Korea, Somalia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Applications from these “case-by-case” nationalities will only be considered if the main applicant has not lived in any of those restricted nations for at least ten years prior to their application, has no business ties to any restricted country, nor any valuable assets there.

Despite being one of the smaller Caribbean islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis has been attracting increased global interest through its investor immigration program. The Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment scheme grants qualifying investors citizenship status in exchange for an economic contribution worth at least $250,000 to the nation.

While the normal route to citizenship would take around five months, there is a fast-track option that grants you citizenship in just 60 days. This is excellent considering how the Saint Kitts and Nevis passport allows you visa-free access to over 140 countries, including the Schengen Area.

Although the program is aimed at attracting qualifying non-EU nationals, the dual-island nation has placed a short list of restricted countries. This includes Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, North Korea, Afghanistan, Cuba, Iraq, and Iran.

Similar to Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, the Saint Lucia citizenship by investment program grants qualifying foreign investors citizenship rights in the island nation in as little as five months in exchange for an economic contribution worth at least $240,000. Saint Lucia provides its passport holders and permanent residents with visa-free access to over 140 nations worldwide, including the Schengen Area.

While the nation does not have a formal list of restricted countries, the government does not process applications from Russia and Belarus, as those nations are unable to provide reliable due diligence services to verify the identities and backgrounds of applicants to the scheme.

One of the fastest routes to second citizenship is the Vanuatu citizenship by investment scheme, which grants qualifying foreign nationals citizenship rights in as little as 30 days in exchange for an economic contribution worth at least $130,000. Those who hold a Vanuatu passport can travel visa-free, with an eTA, or with a visa on arrival to 118 countries, including Hong Kong and Singapore.

While the nation does not impose any heavy sanctions, applicants who are born in Iraq, Iran, Yemen, or North Korea will need to have resided for a period of no less than five years outside of their home country, and show proof of their permanent residency in that other nation in order to be considered for the scheme.

Nationals of Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Belarus, Sudan, and Yemen are not eligible to apply. They may qualify, provided they have lived outside the country for more than ten years, have no ties to a restricted country, and have renounced their birth citizenship.

To have a true and complete citizenship by investment comparison, you’ll have to take a look at the European citizenship schemes, starting with the Malta citizenship by investment program – or more accurately referred to as the Maltese Citizenship Act Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations (CES).

Note: The Malta Citizenship by Investment Program was officially closed in 2025. Alternatives are the Malta Citizenship by Merit and the Malta Permanent Residence Program.

Those who hold a Maltese passport enjoy visa-free travel, visa-on-arrival, or eTA to 184 nations worldwide, and access to the entire European Union and Schengen Zone. As the program has some of the most stringent due diligence requirements among all others, Malta’s list of banned nationalities is quite extensive, and it includes Afghanistan, Belarus, DR Congo, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Yemen, Venezuela, Libya, Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia. Even non-nationals who reside in these countries, conduct business with them, or have significant ties and connections to them are considered permanently ineligible for the Maltese citizenship scheme without exception.

Turkey has been in talks about joining the European Union for some time now, which means that if you acquire Turkish citizenship, it may eventually turn into EU citizenship. This makes the Turkey citizenship by investment program particularly interesting among foreign investors seeking to migrate and establish residency in a nation that grants them the most benefits as a citizen.

By placing a minimum investment of $400,000 in the Turkish economy, applicants and their immediate family members are granted citizenship rights in as little as four months, rendering it one of the fastest routes to European citizenship.

Those who hold a Turkish passport can currently enjoy visa-free travel or a visa on arrival to over 130 destinations worldwide. Should Turkey become part of the EU, their freedom of mobility will further increase. While most nationalities are eligible to apply for the Turkish citizenship scheme, there are a few that are banned, namely the following countries: Syria, North Korea, Nigeria, Armenia, and Cuba.

For eligible investors — including nationals of the countries listed above who are legal residents of another country such as the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, or UAE, and who meet each program’s due diligence requirements — Global Citizen Solutions can advise on the most suitable program. We do not accept applicants who are resident in, or who derive funds from, sanctioned or high-risk jurisdictions. Depending on your personal needs, requirements, family situation, and eligibility, Global Citizen Solutions can advise you on the most suitable program.

Our specialists can help you:

• Minimize the visits you have to make to the designated country
• Have someone who works solely on your behalf
• Reduce the hassle associated with putting your application together
• Acquire insider knowledge from someone with years of experience in the market

Let’s get you moving forward in your quest to obtain a second nationality. Contact us by filling out the form below.