Forget “Powerful” Passports—Go for These 3 Instead

Forget “Powerful” Passports—Go for These 3 Instead
Forget elite passports—Uruguay, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic offer realistic paths to a Plan B.|©iStock/narvikk

It seems like every time I do my morning troll of web news on global migration issues, somebody has released yet another index of “passport power.” News sites then pick it up and dutifully report which passports have the most heft.

To which I say: Whoopty Doo! Who cares?

With very few exceptions (such as my own Passport Qualifier Index, available to subscribers of my Global Citizen service), these lists measure only one thing: the number of countries that will let holders of a country’s passport visit without a visa.

I understand the importance of visa-free travel. If I didn’t have an American passport as well as my South African one, I’d have to go through a godawful rigmarole every time I wanted to visit Europe or the US. My friends are constantly having to drive or fly halfway across the country to appointments at various consulates to get the passport stamp that will let them visit Grandma over a long weekend in Scotland or wherever.

But the focus on “visa waivers” reflects the nature of the global migration industry, dominated as it is by firms catering to ultra-rich residents of “naughty” countries like Russia and China. What their clients want is a travel document that will let them go to lots of places without foreign governments poking into their affairs.

For many, if not most, of these people, everything else about the country that issues that second passport is irrelevant. Who cares about the weather or food if you’re never planning to visit the place anyway?

This becomes apparent when you explore these lists. The top three passports on one recent list are from Singapore, South Korea, and Japan—countries that only grant citizenship in rare cases. Amongst those tied for fourth are Switzerland and Luxembourg, also tough places to get into.

Of what use is this information to an ordinary person looking for a second citizenship passport?

Not much really. What people really need to know is what countries are a) likely to grant a “normal” person a passport, and b), whether those countries would be nice places to live in a pinch.

Ordinary people can earn citizenship in these countries simply by living there a few years.
Ordinary people can earn citizenship in these countries simply by living there a few years.|©iStock/jwanma

Obviously, the second issue is subjective. But knowing which countries will give ordinary people citizenship helps narrow down the list considerably.

With that in mind, here is my list of the top three countries Americans or Canadians should consider when thinking about getting a second citizenship and passport.

1. Uruguay

The “Switzerland of Latin America” is unique. Its constitution guarantees that anyone who qualifies can become a citizen. It’s a legacy of its early days as a breakaway from neighbouring Argentina, when it grew its population by bringing in Europeans by the boatload. A married couple can become citizens after just 3 years. Getting permission to live there simply requires having enough money to support yourself in a place to live. And you can apply for residency on arrival and stay in the country until it’s processed.

2. Costa Rica

This ever-popular tropical paradise will naturalize you as a citizen after five years of legal residency. When it comes time to apply for citizenship, you don’t need to worry about speaking Spanish unless you plan to run for office. Getting the residency required to accumulate those five years is easy, either by proving you get $1,000 a month in guaranteed passive income, or by buying a property and becoming a rentista permanent resident.

3. Dominican Republic

You can become a citizen of the eastern half of the island of Hispaniola by living there for two years as a permanent resident. Getting permanent residency is as easy as buying a property and showing you can support yourself. Although there are language and integration requirements on paper, they’re treated pretty casually.

Those are three achievable, practical options for ordinary folks. Of course, you don’t get visa-free access to as many countries on their passports, but if you keep your American citizenship, that’s not a problem. The key thing is what it would be like to live there If an “plan B” situation arose.

Now, if your dream second home is someplace with snow-capped mountains soaring over alpine meadows dotted with old country villages and tinkling cowbells, you may not think much of my choices. To that, I would respond: if you can get such a place to give you a passport without becoming a gazillionaire first, go for it.

For everyone else, on the other hand, these three countries belong at the top of any pragmatic list of passports… And all it will cost you is a little time in-country.

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