**VANCOUVER, British Columbia—**In a time of expanding digital surveillance, economic instability, and increasing geopolitical pressure, more individuals are using citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programs to establish offshore identities. These programs, offered legally by multiple sovereign nations, allow vetted individuals to acquire a second nationality—often with a new passport, national identification number, and tax residency. For those seeking lawful privacy, safety from reputational harm, or expanded mobility, offshore identity strategies through CBI offer powerful and internationally protected tools.
CBI programs serve not only as immigration vehicles but also as privacy-enhancing solutions that enable high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and politically exposed persons to reset the narrative of their lives. These new identities are not aliases—they are fully recognized legal personas issued by sovereign governments, protected under international law, and respected across borders.
This report by Amicus International Consulting outlines the legal, financial, and strategic dimensions of using citizenship-by-investment as a means of building a secure offshore identity in 2025.
The Legal Basis for Citizenship-by-Investment Programs
CBI programs are based on a simple principle of sovereign law: a country has the absolute right to determine its nationality laws. Article 1 of the Hague Convention of 1930 affirms this:
“It is for each State to determine under its law who are its nationals.”
This legal right enables countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Malta, and Vanuatu to offer citizenship in exchange for qualifying contributions to national development funds, real estate purchases, or other approved investments. Once granted, these citizenships carry all the legal attributes of birthright citizenship—including passports, ID cards, and the ability to change one’s legal name or address.
Why High-Net-Worth Individuals Turn to CBI for Offshore Identity
CBI offers far more than visa-free travel. When structured correctly, it enables:
- A new legal identity protected by sovereignty
- Internationally valid documentation disconnected from previous data trails
- Tax residency optimization in jurisdictions with no capital gains or inheritance taxes
- Asset structuring under a new national framework
- Secure relocation away from unstable or hostile home countries
Many clients come to Amicus International Consulting not because they are hiding, but because they are rebuilding—often after reputational damage, political targeting, or strategic life changes.
Case Study: American Tech Investor Builds New Identity via Grenada CBI
An American entrepreneur, under intense scrutiny following a failed public merger, opted for CBI in Grenada through a $150,000 donation to the National Transformation Fund. With his new Grenadian passport and identity number, he registered a new holding company in the UAE, opened a fresh bank account in Singapore, and legally changed his name through the Grenadian authorities. Today, he lives and works under this identity in Southeast Asia, maintaining tax compliance while avoiding the spotlight of U.S. public records.
Strategic Advantages of CBI for Privacy and Reputational Recovery
Offshore identities created through CBI are instrumental in cases involving:
- Reputation Management: Online defamation and media exposure are difficult to erase in one’s birth country. A new identity resets the digital narrative.
- Political Safety: Individuals from politically unstable regions or autocratic regimes often need new passports to escape danger.
- Business Anonymity: Offshore identities allow executives to distance themselves from prior company affiliations or shareholder disputes.
- Compliance Reset: For those previously denied banking access or contracts due to KYC issues, a new nationality allows a clean slate.
Case Study: Eastern European Investor Escapes Political Fallout
A Ukrainian businessman once aligned with the wrong faction in the post-2022 conflict found his assets frozen and international travel restricted. By securing citizenship through Vanuatu’s CBI program—approved in under 45 days—he reestablished legal identity in a country unburdened by sanctions. He now controls assets in Dubai and Switzerland under his new identity and is fully compliant with Vanuatu tax laws.
Popular Jurisdictions for Citizenship-by-Investment in 2025
- Dominica – $100,000 donation; 3-month processing; no residency required
- Antigua and Barbuda – $130,000 donation for families; 5-day residency requirement
- Saint Lucia – $100,000 donation; robust due diligence process
- Grenada – Unique access to U.S. E-2 Investor Visa; Investment starts at $150,000
- Malta – Highly respected EU citizenship; requires both residency and contribution, typically over $900,000
- Vanuatu – Fastest processing in the world; typically under 2 months
Each of these countries respects international norms for identity issuance and document authentication under the Hague Apostille Convention, making their identity documents globally recognized.
The Process: Building an Offshore Identity Through CBI
- Due Diligence and Pre-Vetting: Clients undergo a KYC and background check to ensure eligibility.
- Application Filing: Amicus handles legal representation, documentation, and communications with the issuing country.
- Investment Transfer: Funds are transferred securely to the national fund or escrow for property purchase.
- Citizenship Approval: Within 60–180 days, applicants receive certificates of Naturalization.
- Passport and ID Issuance: Legal identity documents are couriered to the applicant.
- Structuring Identity Use: Clients are guided in opening bank accounts, changing names, establishing businesses, and managing taxes.
Case Study: Digital Nomad Creates Borderless Life With Saint Lucia Passport
A U.K.-born freelance data analyst, tired of visa restrictions and overregulation, acquired Saint Lucia citizenship through a $100,000 contribution. With a new name, ID, and passport, she relocated to Thailand, opened a business in Estonia under e-residency, and now lives tax-efficiently across Asia. Her offshore identity allows her to live without a fixed location and without tying her professional activity to her birth identity.
Dual Nationality and Legal Considerations
Many countries allow dual nationality, meaning an offshore identity through CBI can coexist with an original citizenship. However, some nations (e.g., China, India, parts of the Middle East) prohibit dual citizenship. In such cases, Amicus guides renunciation procedures or legal use of secondary residencies without citizenship to achieve similar privacy results.
Managing Tax Obligations and Financial Compliance
CBI does not erase tax responsibilities. Clients must comply with the tax laws of their new citizenship or residency country. However, many jurisdictions offering CBI programs have territorial tax systems or zero taxation on foreign income, capital gains, or inheritance—creating strong incentives for strategic relocation.
Amicus ensures that each identity transformation includes professional tax advisory to avoid accidental non-compliance with the original home country’s rules (especially for U.S. citizens, who are taxed globally until formal expatriation).
Case Study: Expat Family Uses CBI to Simplify Multi-Country Life
A Canadian family with business operations in the U.K., Dubai, and Malaysia secured Antigua citizenship to streamline global travel, banking, and estate planning. With new passports, they opened offshore trusts in Belize, secured health insurance in Europe, and now use their Antigua status as a unified base for global operations. Their original Canadian citizenship remains intact, but their offshore identities provide privacy and structural efficiency.
Risks and Myths: What CBI Is Not
- Not a loophole for crime: All CBI programs conduct robust due diligence, including Interpol screening.
- Not anonymous: Identities are private, but legal—subject to lawful disclosure when required.
- Not a tax evasion tool: CBI allows strategic tax relocation, not the avoidance of lawful dues.
- Not instant: While faster than traditional immigration, timelines range from 2 to 6 months, with careful documentation required.
Ethical Use of CBI in 2025
At Amicus, we advocate only legal, transparent, and compliant identity strategies. CBI is used to enhance protection, enable freedom, and support reinvention—not to hide from law enforcement, creditors, or court orders. Every application is reviewed for integrity, transparency, and alignment with international human rights law.
Case Study: Corporate Executive Avoids Media Scandal Fallout
A CFO of a public company resigned after being falsely implicated in a shareholder scandal. Though no charges were filed, the reputational damage was severe. He obtained citizenship in Malta through a structured Investment and legally changed his name. He is now the CEO of a fintech company based in Dubai, managing significant capital while shielding his identity from search engine exposure. His past remains public—but disconnected from his current legal persona.
Conclusion: Citizenship-by-Investment Is a Legal Pathway to Personal Sovereignty
In a world where privacy is scarce and reputational threats are high, CBI offers something invaluable: legal reinvention. Offshore identities built through CBI are legitimate, compliant, and internationally protected. They empower individuals to start over, safeguard wealth, raise families safely, and do business globally—on their terms.
Amicus International Consulting specializes in these transitions. From application through structuring, we guide clients step by step toward security, freedom, and discretion.
Contact Information
Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402
Email: info@amicusint.ca
Website: www.amicusint.ca