Golden Passports Made Easy

NEWSLETTER

Family office insights this week:

• The world’s most accessible golden passports

• An innovative digital platform to acquire citizenship

• Billionaires on the move - why, where and how many

• One of the largest corporate frauds in history

• A Christmas movie alternative

Golden Passports Made Easy

The value of multiple citizenships has never been greater.

COVID triggered a wave of massive government spending, piling on top of already staggering national debt in many Western countries.

Now, the chickens are coming home to roost… the bills are coming due.

Governments are scrambling to raise revenue, and no one is safe. We're seeing everything from exit taxes to taxing unrealized capital gains. The trend is undeniable: they're coming for more of what you have.

For UHNW individuals, this is a wake-up call.

Family offices have always supported family members to attain tax residency in different locations. But the next step is to attain actual citizenship.

The value of multiple citizenships has never been more clear. As well as a layer of protection against overreach from increasingly invasive governments, they offer offer flexibility and access to new opportunities.

When prying eyes dig deeper into your affairs, having a second (or third) citizenship is more than a luxury—it's an asset.

Mr Family Office spoke with Alex Recouso, co-founder and CEO of Swiss-based digital citizenship platform, CitizenX, about the opportunities available.

Building a passport portfolio

What started as a means for small island states to gain income has grown into an industry, with countries worldwide offering “golden passport” programs.

Citizenship has transitioned from a simple legal status - granted at birth or through immigration processes - to something worth investing in and diversifying, especially for the wealthy.

“High-net-worth individuals and families are beginning to see citizenship as an asset, perhaps their most personal one,” says Recouso.

“The primary appeal lies in the flexibility of not relying on a single country. Additionally, aligning with countries that share their values, accessing alternative investments in different regions, enhancing travel freedom, and optimizing taxes are significant considerations for citizen investors.”

When Recouso and his partners realized there was no technology-driven solution that enabled citizenship investment in a secure and seamless way, they knew there was an opportunity.

“We combine Swiss engineering with 24/7 concierge service and put a strong focus on privacy, security, and transparency,” says Recouso. “We want to create a safe and seamless way for you to diversify your passport portfolio.”

Most of the golden passport programs are processed entirely online and can provide new citizenship within three months.

With the ongoing state of global uncertainty and escalating conflict in multiple regions, demand isn’t likely to slow down.

At the same time, certain countries are moving to either end their golden passport programs or make them less accessible.

With their innovative offering, Recouso is seeing steady growth in clients, mostly from the US, Canada and Europe.

“CitizenX is the only secure and private platform to acquire citizenship in countries welcoming investors, entrepreneurs, and their families.”

If you’d like to explore CitizenX services, Mr Family Office has arranged a unique introductory offer - get in touch to find out more.

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The World’s Most Accessible Golden Passports

Here are 14 of the most popular and accessible citizenship by investment programs.

Portugal

From $536,556.
A picturesque European nation on the Iberian Peninsula known for its sunny beaches and historic cities.

Increasingly popular among UHNW individuals for its Golden Visa program.

• 100% online process

• 189 visa-free destinations

• Presence: 15 days every 2 years

• 5 years

Malta

From $865,000.
A Mediterranean island nation renowned for its rich history, clear waters, and vibrant culture.

Famous for its Individual Investor Programme, attracting UHNW individuals, but faces EU scrutiny over tax residency.

• Physical presence required

• 187 visa-free destinations

• Residence: Minimum 1 year

• 12 months

Antigua and Barbuda

From $279,300.
A tropical Caribbean paradise of twin islands with pristine beaches and lush rainforests.

Popular among UHNW individuals seeking Caribbean passports; increasing interest due to its tax-friendly policies.

• 100% online process

• 153 visa-free destinations

• Presence: 5 days in 5 years

• 3 months

Click here to read the full list of 14 countries…

𝕏 highlights

For the eagle-eyed, you may have noticed a theme on Twitter this week. Global mobility and citizenship.

First up, millionaire migration.

And not to leave out our billionaire friends.

And for good measure, I asked people about second citizenship. Add your choice to the tweet!

 💼 where to work

Three notable family office job opportunities currently open…

Trust and Family Office Director - Bridge’s Trust (Multi-Family Office / Omaha)

Accounting Controller - Private Family Office (Single Family Office / New York)

Family Office Admin Assistant - Stonehage Fleming (Multi-Family Office / Philadelphia)

Expert family office career advice…

“Focus on being a solution provider to the three challenges all families face: capital, connections and counsel.” - Brian Adams, Mack International

📚 what to read

This week I recommended Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou to a friend and realized I hadn’t recommended it here. The book tells the scarcely believable story of Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos and one of the largest corporate frauds in history.

📻 what to listen to

As the name suggests. A Bit of Optimism is a refreshingly positive show where author and speaker Simon Sinek interviews guests about “life, leadership and interesting things”

📺 what to watch

This is the time of the year to be watching Christmas movies. But if Elf isn’t your thing, Blackberry may be. It dramatizes the wild story of the rise and fall of the iconic Blackberry smartphone. I’m old enough to still miss my Blackberry!

And finally…

There’s huge interest around family office jobs, but I want to know what Mr Family Office readers are planning for 2025:

(results next week)

Some spring cleaning... in winter. This week I closed the “X Community”. This was a private community within Twitter. It wasn’t working as I had hoped - I think the group was too large and people didn’t feel comfortable sharing.

I will experiment with other ways to connect family office people. Possibly private DM groups. These will be smaller groups with common interests. I will figure out how to approach this, but let me know if you have ideas. A project for 2025!

Only the “Community” was closed, Mr Family Office on X is still going strong!

🎉 This week we raced past a major milestone: 5,000 Newsletter subscribers. Open rates are 61.32% which my newsletter friends tell me is exceptional!

So thank you for tuning in… I appreciate the support. 2025 will bring you even more.

Family Office Buzz will be back on Monday (here’s the last edition if you missed it) with more of the best content on family offices and beyond. You can also still read December’s Dealfow newsletter.

Until next week, see you on 𝕏 or LinkedIn.

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