CS Global Partners explains the Importance of Citizenship by Investment Program

Ms Micha-Rose Emmett, CEO & Founder of CS Global Partners

CS Global Partners is the world's leading government advisory and marketing firm, specialising in Residency and Citizenship by Investment solutions. We work closely with governments to increase their foreign direct investment and drive positive economics in their countries. We understand what successful business people seek when evaluating secondary citizenship and are able to assist governments in meeting these expectations.

With over 10 years of Citizen by Investment expertise and know-how, citizens from all corners of the world rely on our advice regarding the best citizenship and residency programmes for their clients. As a firm, we are committed to increasing a country's GDP through the programmes that we market, promote and protect, and the governments that we advise. We have identified the challenges faced by global citizens and the opportunities they require for future growth, family succession, and economic prosperity. In understanding these needs, we are able to guide the process of matching progressive and innovative countries with skilled and talented High Net Worth individuals.

The methodology of the report is unique. Could you explain the reasoning behind this?

The unique methodology of our World Citizen Report comes from experience gained through our unparalleled work in the Citizenship by Investment industry. Our team complied with comprehensive empirical research to evaluate 187 nations and we took a multi-tiered approach to conceive the World Citizenship Report so we could provide a more thorough data set.

The report is a combination of real experiences of global citizens we learned through interviews, resources from reliable authorities, and extensive knowledge of our trusted network of industry experts. We used a holistic approach to concentrate on the most important drivers that global citizens consider when deciding where to live, work and educate themselves and their families. Essentially, we wanted to know what motivates high-net-worth people when placing down secondary roots.

What are the underlying motivations and concerns experienced by international families and business people seeking to enhance their safety and security?

We started work on the World Citizenship Report (WCR) a couple of years before the pandemic hit. From then until now, we found that safety and security were the top motivators driving people when seeking alternative citizenship. But High Net worth Individuals consider a myriad of factors before deciding something as monumental as where to obtain second citizenship and build a second home. Ultimately, it's human nature to seek security regardless of how wealthy one is. While passport strength is, of course, an important component, it is also one that is subject to the greatest change as evidenced by pandemic related travel restrictions. When considering that citizenship is a lifetime investment, the choice can often hinge on an element as critical as safety and security.

Has CS Global Partners witnessed an increase in interest in CBI?

Citizenship by investment has always been an option for astute investors. However, there has been a sharp increase in interest from individuals who even before the pandemic, thought a Plan B was not essential. We are seeing individuals from so-called superpower nations inquire about second citizenship. We have also seen a large increase in the number of younger investors exploring second citizenship and looking to immigrate to greener pastures. In 2020 we saw a 42 per cent increase from previous years in terms of interest from the US, and the number one reason applicants cited was a better quality of life for their families and themselves.

How can those in the immigration investment industry use this report when consulting with a client interested in diversifying their portfolio with CBI?

This report will allow the clients to compare citizenships across the globe while considering aspects that may be important to them. It all depends on your client's needs, as everyone is different.

For example, a client who is a national of a country with a volatile economy and wants to grow their business on an international stage may place more importance on countries that are strong in the Financial Freedom motivator. This motivator measures a jurisdiction's ability to provide a favourable and stable regulatory climate for the performance of businesses, as well as the holding of personal and business assets. Investing in CBI is a way to hedge their investments while diversifying their portfolio.

A client with a family living in a country that lacks the rule of the law, political stability, and has a high crime rate, may be interested in a country's performance in the safety and security motivator. This measures the extent to which second citizenship can offer greater safety and security to the citizen.