Permanent Residency vs Citizenship

Ever since St Kitts and Nevis issued their Citizenship by Investment Programme, the Caribbean countries have become synonymous with second passports. There is no doubt that in the realm of travel documents, the Caribbean programmes provide great value in the form of second passports.  

If the ultimate intention is to travel to more countries, several programmes can fulfil this need:  

• Dominica Citizenship by Investment  
• Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment  
• St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment  

Notably, this Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programmes only grant the right to visit. Essentially, you cannot stay indefinitely in any country. While, in theory, one is free to live in an exotic Caribbean country permanently, very few people are likely to do so.

If you need to stay in one of the 26 Schengen Area countries for more than 90 days within any six-month period, a Schengen visa alone will not suffice. This restriction applies across the entire Schengen Area, meaning you cannot simply travel between borderless countries like Germany, France, Italy, and Malta without eventually leaving the Schengen Zone.

This limitation highlights a key difference between established Permanent Residency Programmes and entry-level Citizenship by Investment Programmes. Permanent residency offers a more enduring solution, allowing for longer stays and greater flexibility compared to the short-term access provided by a Schengen visa.