Cambodia is a country located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand and Vietnam. It is a tourist destination with many natural and scenic attractions that draw visitors from all over the world.
Cambodia has a tropical climate and is a popular tourist destination known for its natural beauty and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is one of the most famous destinations for tourists from Europe and the United States.
Currently, Cambodia is opening its doors to those interested in obtaining Cambodian citizenship through the announcement of a citizenship-by-investment program. This allows foreign families to acquire Cambodian citizenship and a passport in exchange for certain investments.
This article is dedicated to covering the key points about obtaining a Cambodian passport, the advantages of acquiring one, and whether there are better options. So, keep reading if you are interested in acquiring another citizenship.
Obtaining Citizenship Through Investment
The citizenship-by-investment program is a global initiative that has been established for many years. It involves foreign nationals contributing specific amounts of money to certain countries in the form of either investments or donations, depending on the policies of the program in each country. In return for these amounts, the investor or donor and their family members are granted citizenship in that country.
The rules of this program vary from one country to another, and so do the amounts required for acquiring citizenship.
However, in general, the citizenship-by-investment program is considered by many as a solution that offers:
- The possibility of obtaining another citizenship and an additional passport that may provide new privileges such as visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more countries.
- The opportunity to reside in other countries, whether in the country where they obtained citizenship or in major countries such as those in the European Union or the United States, depending on the country chosen.
- Some of the available options in this program have a relatively low cost compared to the benefits the investor gains.
- The possibility of obtaining a new citizenship in a relatively short time, usually no more than six months, while retaining the original citizenship.
- The potential to recover the investment funds within a specific period, generally within five years, in many countries that apply this program.
Among the countries that allow the citizenship-by-investment system is Cambodia, a tourist destination in Southeast Asia. So, what are the key points regarding obtaining a Cambodian passport through investment?
Can You Obtain a Cambodian Passport Through Investment?
Yes, any investor can obtain a Cambodian passport in exchange for donating at least $245,000 USD or making an investment of at least $305,000 USD in approved projects. By doing so, the investor can obtain a Cambodian passport within just 3-4 months.
The public is not well aware of the Cambodian citizenship-by-investment initiative, and it is not widely promoted internationally. This is considered one of the least clear investment programs in terms of speed and the total investment amount, including fees.
This might be one of the reasons why obtaining Cambodian citizenship through investment is not very popular.
This program was launched in Cambodia in 1994 and grants foreign nationals who make investments the right to obtain a Cambodian passport and become Cambodian citizens.
How Can You Obtain a Cambodian Passport Through Investment?
The citizenship-by-investment program in Cambodia offers several investment options that have been announced to allow you to obtain a Cambodian passport. These are:
- Financial Donation
- Financial Investment
Financial Donation to Obtain a Cambodian Passport
The first option to obtain a Cambodian passport through investment is by making a financial donation to the country, with a minimum donation of $245,000 USD.
Investment to Obtain a Cambodian Passport
A foreign investor can become a Cambodian citizen by investing approximately $312,500 USD. This does not require a residency period of 7 years to obtain the Cambodian passport, but other requirements such as language proficiency may apply.
Thus, any foreigner who executes a tangible project after receiving an investment authorization letter from the Cambodian Development Council, or any foreigner who does not have an investment authorization letter but holds a legal investment license from the government, must have their business project approved by the government in order to obtain a Cambodian passport through investment.
The investments announced for obtaining citizenship are:
- An investment of $305,000 USD in an approved project after government approval.
- An investment of $305,000 USD in an actual project after receiving approval from the Cambodian Development Council.
Additional Costs for Obtaining a Cambodian Passport Through Investment
There are additional administrative costs that can reach approximately $100,000 USD, which include:
- A deposit of $5,000 USD into a Cambodian bank account.
- $25,000 USD before submitting the application.
- $40,000 USD after government approval of the application.
- $15,000 USD when the Cambodian passport is available for collection.
Once the primary applicant obtains citizenship, dependents, spouses, and any minor children can apply for citizenship by paying a fee of $5,000 USD. The process will take approximately 3 to 6 months to complete.
What is the required time to complete the process of obtaining a Cambodian passport through investment?
It is said that the application process takes 3 to 4 months, with an additional 3 to 6 months required to complete the process of adding family members to the citizenship.
After submitting the application and making the required investment in an approved project by the Cambodian Development Council or the Royal Government, the applicant will receive Cambodian citizenship within 3 to 6 months.
The most difficult part is that the applicant must pass the Khmer culture test held by the Ministry of the Interior, which is one of the major hurdles for approval.
After meeting the final financial conditions and if the application is accepted, the candidate must travel to Cambodia to obtain their citizenship and passport. The investor must have a valid visitor visa or be permitted to enter Cambodia without a visa.
After taking the oath of allegiance, the applicant will receive a Cambodian passport with the option to retain their original citizenship.
Advantages of Obtaining a Cambodian Passport
The Cambodian passport is not considered a great opportunity for investors looking for a new market or benefits such as the chance to visit more countries without a visa, as it only allows visits to 53 countries without a visa, and none of those countries are in Europe or North America.
However, the Cambodian citizenship by investment program is primarily of interest to those with a special interest in Cambodia who want to have the same property ownership rights and settlement opportunities as local citizens.
If you're interested in obtaining Cambodian citizenship and passport, keep in mind that wealthy foreign investors are attracted to it, as investments made in the country help boost the economy, create job opportunities, and provide the government with funds for its people.
Each country that offers citizenship by investment also has suitable policies and processes to implement it. It requires making a business investment of no less than $320,000 to obtain a Cambodian passport.
There are other specific conditions for obtaining Cambodian citizenship by investment, such as preparing and documenting papers, and passing a history test. At each step of the application process, clear instructions are provided before determining the entity that will grant the citizenship.
Some of the key advantages of obtaining a Cambodian passport include:
- The required investment for obtaining Cambodian citizenship and passport by investment is relatively low compared to many other options.
- Dual citizenship: The Cambodian government does not require foreign investors wishing to obtain Cambodian citizenship to renounce their original citizenship.
- The tax rates on business investments in Cambodia are lower than many other options.
- Cambodia is known for its low cost of living and accommodation, due to the low value of the Cambodian currency compared to the US dollar.
- High levels of security and safety in Cambodia.
- Cambodia’s warm climate and beautiful mild weather.
- Speed of completing the application review process for obtaining a Cambodian passport by investment.
Disadvantages of Applying for a Cambodian Passport
Obtaining a Cambodian passport is not favored by many people who seek foreign citizenship by investment because the Cambodian citizenship by investment program is very unclear, and there are no full details about the application steps.
Additionally, there are no full details about the actual cost of the application and obtaining a Cambodian passport. Sometimes you may also need a middleman to obtain a recommendation or letter from the Cambodian Development Council to allow you to invest and obtain Cambodian citizenship.
There is a major level of uncertainty about whether the payment and investment are being conducted formally or if there are some suspicions surrounding the payment method.
Due to these drawbacks, it is advised to look for other alternatives to obtain a Cambodian passport by investment that are more secure, with higher safety and transparency.
How to Purchase a European or Foreign Passport
Due to the known disadvantages and lack of clarity about the Cambodian citizenship by investment program, we recommend several other options to obtain a European passport. Among the European Union countries that offer citizenship by investment are:
- Malta
- Montenegro
Obtaining a European passport is indeed a great opportunity due to the significant benefits it offers. However, we advise considering other alternatives to the Cambodian passport by investment program. These alternatives are cheaper and allow holders to access many countries without a visa, including EU countries, the UK, and Schengen countries.
Obtaining Grenadian Citizenship as the Best Alternative to Cambodian Citizenship
Grenada is the most preferred option among investors seeking citizenship by investment. This is because it is the only country under the citizenship by investment program that has an agreement with the United States, allowing holders of Grenadian citizenship to:
- Obtain a non-immigrant visa. Grenadian citizens may be eligible for an E-2 visa for the US, allowing them to live and work there.
- Set up or buy a business in the US.
- Obtain a B-1/B-2 tourist visa for the US, granting them the right to travel within the United States for up to 180 days annually.
A Grenadian passport allows visa-free travel to 146 countries, including EU countries, the UK, and Hong Kong. Therefore, compared to the Cambodian passport, it is much better.
Additionally, the required investment for obtaining Grenadian citizenship is lower, as it requires either a donation of $150,000 to Grenada's National Transformation Fund or the purchase of property in an approved government project with a minimum value of $220,000.
Dominica Passport
Dominica’s citizenship is also one of the notable options for obtaining another citizenship. Some of its key benefits include:
- The opportunity to travel to 15 countries worldwide without requiring a visa.
- It allows family members to obtain citizenship as well.
- Citizenship is passed down through generations.
- The ability to retain original citizenship.
For obtaining Dominica citizenship, the required investment options are:
- A non-refundable donation of $100,000 to the Economic Development Fund.
- A real estate investment of $200,000, approved by the government for obtaining citizenship by the investment program.
Antigua and Barbuda Passport
Another great option among the available alternatives for obtaining citizenship through investment is Antigua and Barbuda, which launched its program in 2012. There are many different options for those seeking to obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship through investment, including:
- Acquiring property valued at no less than $200,000 from an approved real estate project. Candidates can make a joint investment, with each applicant contributing no less than $200,000, and the property cannot be sold for five years.
- A direct investment in a qualified business for at least $1.5 million or a joint investment contributing no less than $400,000 each, totaling at least $5 million.
- A non-refundable contribution of at least $100,000 to the National Development Fund.
- A non-refundable gift of at least $150,000 to the University of the West Indies.
Some of the many advantages of obtaining citizenship from Antigua and Barbuda include:
- The ability to access 138 countries without a visa or with a visa on arrival, including EU countries, the UK, and Ireland.
- The cheapest citizenship by investment programs in the Caribbean, available for only $100,000, compared to the Cambodian passport which costs over $400,000 and does not offer the same benefits as Antigua and Barbuda’s passport.
In addition, there are other alternatives to the Cambodian passport such as Saint Lucia and Saint Kitts citizenship, which were the first countries to apply this program, along with many other options.
What is the easiest way to obtain a Cambodian passport?
What is the best way to obtain a European passport through investment?
Given that obtaining a Cambodian passport is difficult and there are many options for obtaining a passport from a European Union country or other foreign countries not affiliated with the European Union, it is best to try to identify the most suitable program that aligns with your capabilities, requirements, and budget.
To learn about the most important citizenship-by-investment programs available and to understand the requirements for each program based on your investment goals, you can now chat with legal representatives from the company to learn about all aspects of the immigration and citizenship by investment program.
To start the conversation and connect with a specialized legal representative, click here now.
Since the most important citizenship-by-investment programs require you to have a legally approved agent from the country you are applying for citizenship with, you can now request the service through the Zajlapp to get a legal agent, and you can also download the app to learn more about our best services.
Obtaining another citizenship through investment is an easy process, but it only requires assistance in financial and legal matters. However, it comes with many advantages, so if you have the financial capabilities to take this step, don’t hesitate.
Other options provided by Zajlfor obtaining a second global passport.
FAQ
Can foreigners obtain another citizenship through investment?
Yes, the citizenship-by-investment program is a global program that has been established for many years. It relies on foreign citizens providing specific amounts to certain countries in various forms, either through investment or donation, depending on the country's policy for implementing this program. In return for these amounts, the investor or donor and their family members are granted citizenship in that country. The rules for this program differ between countries, as do the required amounts to purchase citizenship.
What are the benefits of buying another citizenship through investment?
- Allows obtaining another citizenship and an additional passport, which may offer new privileges, such as visiting more countries without a visa or with a visa on arrival.
- Provides the opportunity to live in other countries, whether in the country where you obtained citizenship or in major countries such as those in the European Union or even the United States, depending on the country you choose.
- Some of the available options in this program have lower costs compared to the benefits they offer the investor.
- The possibility of obtaining new citizenship in a short time, usually not exceeding 6 months, with the ability to retain the original citizenship.
- The possibility of recovering the money invested within a certain period, usually not exceeding 5 years, in many countries that implement this program.
What are the benefits of obtaining a Cambodian passport through investment?
- The required investment for obtaining Cambodian citizenship and a passport is relatively low compared to many other options.
- Dual citizenship: The Cambodian government does not require foreign investors who wish to obtain a Cambodian passport to renounce their original citizenship.
- The tax rates imposed on commercial investments in Cambodia are lower than many other options.
- Cambodia is known for its low cost of living and residency due to the lower value of the Cambodian currency compared to the US dollar.
- High security and safety rates in Cambodia.
- Cambodia is characterized by its warm weather and beautiful, moderate climate.
- The quick completion of the review process for citizenship applications through investment.
What are the drawbacks of obtaining a Cambodian passport through investment?
- Obtaining a Cambodian passport is not preferred by many people trying to acquire foreign citizenship through investment because the program for obtaining Cambodian citizenship through investment is quite opaque, and there are no fully clear details about the application steps.
- Additionally, there are no full details about the actual costs of the application process and obtaining a Cambodian passport, and sometimes you may need connections to get a recommendation or letter from the Cambodian Development Board to allow you to invest and obtain Cambodian citizenship.
- There is significant doubt regarding whether the payment and investment process is official or if there are some suspicions surrounding the payment method.
What are the best options for obtaining a European passport through investment?
Some of the European Union countries that allow obtaining a passport through investment include:
- Malta
- Montenegro
These alternatives are lower in cost and allow holders to enter many countries around the world without a visa, including European Union countries, the United Kingdom, and Schengen Area countries, such as:
- Grenada Citizenship
- Dominica Citizenship
- Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship
- Saint Lucia Citizenship
- Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizenship