Covered in this Briefing Note:

Described by some as “the new alternative investment”, citizenship and residency by investment - often referred to as “golden passports” and “golden visas” - have gained even more traction over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet with the European Commission announcing infringement procedures against Cyprus and Malta for their golden passport and visa programmes last October, global concerns over the misuse and abuse of these schemes is growing, particularly as regards the evasion of sanctions or other criminal proceedings, the enabling of money laundering and political corruption. We explore these themes in our latest briefing note, which reveals how some ‘golden’ documents glitter for all the wrong reasons.