Malta SELLING EU Citizenship

The_Minister

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/malta-to-sell-citizenship-for-650000-29748873.html

For €650,000.

I think this sets a bad precedent, but what's more worrying is how little control we have over our borders in the EU; whereas I think most of us agree with free travel within the EU, I don't think another EU state should be able to lower its citizenship requirements past a certain level, if we are expected to recognise that citizenship.

What if another country decides to take the 'LIDL' option and sell citizenship for €3,000? People regularly pay traffickers more to be brought over borders.

okedoke

Ireland also did this

Shenshen

Meh, Ireland is charging just under €1000 plus lawyer's fees.

The_Minister

Shenshen wrote: »

Meh, Ireland is charging just under €1000 plus lawyer's fees.

Do we not have minimum standards of residency though?

EDIT: We do: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/irish_citizenship/who_can_become_an_irish_citizen.html

The_Minister

okedoke wrote: »

Ireland also did this

Just looked this up (had heard about it, but couldn't remember the details).

From a quick scan: We did it about 20 years ago, we did it for a million a pop (in old money) and we were wrong to do it.

Sunglasses Ron

The_Minister wrote: »

Just looked this up (had heard about it, but couldn't remember the details).

From a quick scan: We did it about 20 years ago, we did it for a million a pop (in old money) and we were wrong to do it.

Didn't one of Bin Laden's brothers in law who turned out to have more current contact than most of the family who claim to have disowned him buy one of these?

RoyalMarine

You can buy Thai citizenship for 1 million baht.
Roughly €20,000. Great place to run off to if your after doing something bad.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

Sounds like you have to be here for a minimum of 5 years to begin the process of receiving an Irish passport. If you are an asylum seeker that could mean a process of up to 10 years of living here before being entitled to a passport.


I am Indian, and have been living and working in Wexford on a series of work permits for the last 4 years. When I will be eligible to apply for naturalisation?

When you have lived in the State for a total of 5 out of the last 9 years, including the last full year before the date of application, you will be eligible to apply for naturalisation.

antondalli

The_Minister wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/malta-to-sell-citizenship-for-650000-29748873.html

For €650,000.

I think this sets a bad precedent, but what's more worrying is how little control we have over our borders in the EU; whereas I think most of us agree with free travel within the EU, I don't think another EU state should be able to lower its citizenship requirements past a certain level, if we are expected to recognise that citizenship.

What if another country decides to take the 'LIDL' option and sell citizenship for €3,000? People regularly pay traffickers more to be brought over borders.

Hi , Maltese person here.
Have a read of this as well..

http://www.economist.com/news/international/21586843-hard-up-countries-flog-passports-papers-please

AJD

swimming in a sea

nearly every country does this in one form or another I think you only need invest 100k to get a business visa in USA and after a few years you can apply for citizenship, thats I think what David Drumm and Sean Dunne did.

I think places like Saudi Arabia and the UAE don't ever give out citizenship not greatest of examples of democracy's either.

corkgsxr

In fairness you wont have many asylum seekers paying 650k. I dont see the problem.

There has to be some filters which would stop terrorists and criminals.

bnt

A quick search found an article about this on the CNN website. For example, a $100,000 investment, plus costs, will get you in to the Dominican Republic.

MadsL

Ireland actually already has put a price on it. You can buy Immigrant Investor Bonds at a minimum investment of €2,000,000 in the immigrant investor bond issued by Ireland acting through the National Treasury Management Agency. The immigrant investor bond has a term of 5 years and an annual interest rate of 1%
per annum.

That gets you residency and a path to citizenship based on residency.

And who the feck puts €2m into a bond returning just 1%?

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Guidelines%20for%20Immigrant%20Investor%20Programme.pdf/Files/Guidelines%20for%20Immigrant%20Investor%20Programme.pdf

cena

I'm 1/4 maltise. So I'm ok

cena

MadsL wrote: »

Ireland actually already has put a price on it. You can buy Immigrant Investor Bonds at a minimum investment of €2,000,000 in the immigrant investor bond issued by Ireland acting through the National Treasury Management Agency. The immigrant investor bond has a term of 5 years and an annual interest rate of 1%
per annum.

That gets you residency and a path to citizenship based on residency.

And who the feck puts €2m into a bond returning just 1%?

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Guidelines%20for%20Immigrant%20Investor%20Programme.pdf/Files/Guidelines%20for%20Immigrant%20Investor%20Programme.pdf

the states is 500 thousand investment.

Holsten

€650k for Malta, €372k for the US.... €2 million for Ireland.. haha!

Cuddlesworth

The_Minister wrote: »

What if another country decides to take the 'LIDL' option and sell citizenship for €3,000? People regularly pay traffickers more to be brought over borders.

Last time I heard, its about 5k to get a Romanian passport in the unofficial sense. So it already happens.

Standman

If you have any Italian ancestors at all, as long as they were alive after 1861, it can entitle you to Italian citizenship.

It's a very bureaucratic process but I've been told it will cost you a total of around €6000 by the time you get it.

Lots of South Americans are doing this.