Bhutan

Bhutan operates no residency or citizenship by investment program, and the country maintains tight controls on foreign investment and tourism. Citizenship is largely restricted to individuals of Bhutanese descent, with stringent naturalisation requirements. For Bhutanese nationals, the practical question is which programs abroad accept their applications, and one constraint matters before all others.

Bhutan Citizenship By Investment

Bhutan has no official citizenship by investment program. Naturalisation is the only route to Bhutanese citizenship, subject to strict requirements and a lengthy process.

Bhutan does not permit dual citizenship, and a Bhutanese national who acquires a foreign nationality loses Bhutanese citizenship. Given how difficult Bhutanese nationality is to obtain in the first place, anyone considering a second passport should take advice on this position before proceeding.

For those who do, none of the Caribbean programs list Bhutan among their restricted nationalities. Grenada’s CBI program is among the most popular alternatives and holds an E-2 treaty with the United States allowing citizens to apply for a US investor visa. Antigua And Barbuda, St Lucia, Dominica and St Kitts And Nevis offer comparable routes, with processing typically running four to eight months.

Bhutan Residency By Investment

Bhutan provides no residency by investment options. Because residence permits do not affect nationality, these are the more straightforward route for anyone wanting to retain their Bhutanese passport.

Canada’s Start-Up Visa program grants entrepreneurial investors permanent residency through business investment backed by a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group or business incubator.

The Dubai golden visa offers long-term UAE residency through property or business investment. The Portugal Golden Visa takes a passive approach, requiring a qualifying fund investment from €500,000 and asking for only seven days a year in the country, with permanent residence available after five years.

Bhutan Passport Strength and Ranking

Bhutan ranks 168th of 199 on the La Vida Passport Value Index. The Bhutanese passport reaches 69 of the world’s 227 destinations without a prior visa, representing 10.5% of world GDP and 17.2% of global travel measured by international visitor arrivals.

Both weighted measures sit well down the table, and the destination count of 69 is among the lower ones recorded. The passport opens very little of the world where international banking, business and investment take place, and Bhutanese nationals require advance visas for the United States, the United Kingdom, the Schengen Area, China and Japan.

Established programs deliver considerably more. Grenada ranks 63rd on the Index, reaching 179 destinations, 59.6% of world GDP and 79.4% of global travel. Antigua and Barbuda sits 65th with 186 destinations, 58.8% of world GDP and 80.1% of global travel.

Citizenship and Residency by Investment Programs

See below a selection of countries offering residency and citizenship investment programs.

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