Second Citizenship for Nigerians – A Lifetime of International Opportunities

In a fast-paced world with a diverse pool of emerging economies, the immigration landscape continues to present a myriad of pathways aimed at providing access to new global market opportunities for individuals and their families.

Dual Citizenship: A Luxury or a Strategic Solution?

Obtaining dual citizenship for Africans has evolved from a seemingly extravagant indulgence to a strategic wealth management solution, allowing applicants the liberty to enjoy unrestricted access to not only quality healthcare and lifestyle benefits, but in some cases, access to scholarship opportunities. In recent years, Citizenship by Investment programmes have undergone a variety of changes aimed at offering foreign investors increased growth opportunities for generations to come.

One of the leading and most cost-effective programmes in the Caribbean, the Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment programme, is a testament to the aforementioned, going beyond the procurement of a passport and also entitling one family member to a fully-paid tuition bursary to the prestigious University of West Indies. For USD 150,000, larger families have the ability to enjoy this benefit in addition to visa free access to the European Schengen area, United Kingdom and Singapore, to name a few.

In the Sub-Saharan region, the Antigua & Barbuda programme has become one of the most attractive options, particularly for Nigerian citizens travelling frequently to South Africa, as they would also have the flexibility of visa-free travel into the Republic, making it a viable solution for seamless travel with the added benefit of entry into the Schengen area. Antigua and Barbuda is also a member of the Commonwealth, which offers Antiguans an alternative route that allows one to stay up to six months (180 days) in the United Kingdom in a single year. Our Fragomen Africa team, in collaboration with Nigerian based Jackson, Etti & Edu, continue to provide bespoke services in this jurisdiction with a 100% success rate for applications filed to date.

Process for Obtaining Second Citizenship

With a fairly straightforward application process that takes approximately three to four months, there is notable flexibility under the Caribbean programme, opening doors for entire families, including dependant parents and siblings of the main applicant – allowing future generations to be added at a later stage.

It is noteworthy that the impact of travel bans and restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic was more pronounced for visa subject nationals, as we witnessed unprecedented delays in processing times affecting not only personal livelihoods but also business mobility. This, along with many additional factors, place global mobility at the centre of wealth preservation and diversification amidst a potential global recession and various political shifts.

Need to know more?

In addition to the Caribbean programme discussed above, there is an extensive list of other  permanent and temporary global mobility solutions across multiple jurisdictions available, and our service offerings are not limited in scope. Fragomen’s Private Clients team is on standby for further information and advice related to the topic of second citizenship in a myriad of jurisdictions. Please contact Senior Private Client Consultant Ziphozihle Ntlanganiso at [email protected] for questions.

This blog was published on 21 February 2023, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please visit our dedicated COVID-19 site, subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.