A BBC Radio “File on 4” documentary from 5th June reports on ‘citizenship-by-investment’, a global industry worth billion – and completely legal. The idea is simple – invest huge sums of money and in return acquire residency rights or citizenship, even visa-free access to all European member states. The UK offers residency in exchange for an investment of £2 million – or for £10 million, the possibility of British citizenship within 2 years. Across the world, countries are vying to attract the super-rich through these schemes. MEPs have launched an investigation into a ‘Golden Passports’ programmes across Europe – including the UK – amid concerns that they pose a corruption risk. The programme examines the trade in passports and visas for the wealthy and asks whether they deliver any real value for the countries that sell them and assesses the evidence that they are being used by criminals.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b50kxp
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