There were news about proposals to allow granting the Egyptian citizenship against a sum of money that starts with US$250,000. But officials denied such proposals were even considered, especially that they have triggered adverse reactions.
The idea of selling a citizenship is not new to the world. Europe, Australia and North America have several “immigrant investor programs” for that purpose. And the United States has a “lottery” that is supervised by the government and that is offered for relatively little money.
The British citizenship:
The “UK Entrepreneur Program” requires that applicants pass an advanced English exam before they are granted a visa (husband / wife and children) for three years and four months renewable for two more years and then five years, after which a person becomes eligible for a permanent residence in the United Kingdom and for the British citizenship a year later.
However, this is contingent upon investing 200,000 pounds sterling (LE2.5 million) in some project that provides jobs for two British subjects. Also, investors must prove that they are running the project full time, that they are paying all taxes and that they are paying salaries for a period of five years.
Another option that does not require exams, personal interviews or work is to invest in government bonds with a minimum of 750,000 pounds sterling (LE9 million) and another 250,000 pounds sterling (LE3 million) in any other project. Add to this a deposit of two million pounds sterling (LE24 million) in a bank. This grants you permanent residence in the United Kingdom after five years and the citizenship a year later.
Also, investing five million pounds sterling (LE60 million) allows a person to obtain residency after three years and citizenship after four, while investing ten million pounds sterling (LE120 million) limits the duration to two years for residency and three for citizenship.
The American citizenship:
The United States requires for residency an investment of at least US$500,000 (LE3.5 million) in a project in a remote area that provides jobs for at least ten people.
As to the big cities, the investment is at least US$1 million (LE7 million) and a person would get the citizenship after five years of residence.
The Cypriot citizenship:
Cyprus is a European Union country. Its passport enters some 120 countries without visa, including the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Having suffered a deep economic crisis, Cyprus offered its citizenship for three million euros (LE28 million) in investments in real estate or in bank deposits to get it within three to four months without having to be there.
The Maltese citizenship:
Also a member of the European Union, Malta gives you the citizenship in one year if you donate 650,000 euros (LE6 million) to the Social Fund for National Development, buy property for not less than 350,000 euros (LE3.25 million) without selling it for five years, rent property for not less than 16,000 euros a month (LE150,000) for five years, or buy government bonds for not less than 150,000 euros (LE1.5 million) pounds). These offers expire once 1800 cases are accepted.
The Australian citizenship:
Not complicated. All it takes is an investment of five million Australian dollars (LE33 million) for four years for you and your family to get a temporary residence and later a permanent one, with the citizenship a year later.
The Canadian citizenship:
Needs 1.6 million Canadian dollars (LE10.5 million) in a bank, two years of experience in agriculture, industry or advertising in government or international organizations, or an investment of 800,000Canadian dollars (LE5.25 million) for five years without profits. The amount would be refunded to you after that period.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
