Authorities, official agents, agents, sub-agents, marketing agents, introducers, these are the main roles of the citizenship investment industry.
Applicants of citizenship by investment programs (CIP) may meet some or any of these immigration experts during the process. Let’s take a look at these levels to understand better the most cost-effective and efficient ways of obtaining second citizenship through investment. These categories are based on the official marketing guidelines of the jurisdictions with CIPs.
Introducers
Introducers represent the most comprehensive category because literally, anybody can become an introducer in the citizenship industry. The applicants of the immigration schemes must somehow contact the authorities, and somebody helps them to do so. They can directly contact the official agents or the embassies, etc. But, in most cases, High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) ask their wealth manager, lawyer, financial advisor or friends. And these introducers know someone in the industry who can help the client through the process. Introducers can efficiently manage the whole process as well if the citizenship by investment program doesn’t have official agent system. If an introducer channels a client to an agent, then the agent will pay commission to the introducer. According to my experiences, this commission is minimum 5% and maximum 50% of the agency fees.
Marketing Agents and Sub-agents
Marketing agents is a new category in the immigration system. Official agents cannot reach all target locations, and they need to cooperate with local agents to reach the clients. In these cases, local advocacies, immigration agencies, etc can join as a marketing agent. The “official” title is essential when the marketing rules of the citizenship through investment program let only official agents market the scheme. This way the marketing agents can present their status to the clients. Sub-agents can play the same rules as the marketing agents, but sub-agents are almost always immigration agencies. Interestingly, until now only two countries with CIPs issued marketing guidelines for their programmes: Grenada and then Malta (Click here to see the marketing guidelines of the Maltese Individual Investor Program). The marketing guidelines are stringent in both legislation, but one closer look at the Internet and it will be clear, that nobody respects these crucial standards.
Do you know the difference between a CIP and a fast-track citizenship program? Or which are the residency by investment without investment programs? You can read here all info on the Products of the Immigration Industry!
Official agents
Official agents are the top players of the citizenship through investment market. Not all jurisdictions created rules for official agents; mostly anybody can assist applicants without skills or necessary knowledge. In case of citizenship schemes through real estate investment, of course, developers cannot be immigration agents, and immigration agents don’t know too much about investments with honourable exceptions. Because these are different professions. There are some programs, where applicants can apply only through official agents. Citizenships of Malta, Grenada, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and St Kitts can be sold exclusively through official agents. In case of residency by investment programs Hungary joins, as I know (Please add countries, I need your help to be always updated).
Authorities
There are residency and citizenship through investment solutions where applicants can start the process directly with the help of the local authorities. The digital due diligence processes are developing so fast, that Estonia has a very successful e-residency program. Applicants can participate without agents help, and the cost is only 50 euros. If digital bureaucracy keeps on developing together with the e-governmental solutions, then in maximum ten years applicants will pass the whole immigration process online from home and alone.
How will you know that your contact is an authorised agent of the citizenship program?
Now, this is the most crucial question. Check it. Look it up on the official Citizenship by Investment Units’ official agents’ list. Someone offers you a Maltese citizenship or residency product? Great, let’s go to the official agent list of Identity Malta. If your agent is on that list, then it means official and legal treatment.
I created here a list of ALL Residency by Investment Programs!
Do you have a question about citizenship or residency by investment programs? Ask me.
Copyright by Bence Zákonyi
Bence, let me ask you the obvious question here: what’s Your role in the citizenship through investment market?
Hi Tamás,
Tricky question :D
I am researching this market, and I market some schemes. In the same time, I don’t offer core immigration services, just channel applicants for my partners. So, I am out of the scope, and I prefer writing to help during the ordinary immigration process’ administration tasks. My job is officially PR advisor for some, and ghostwriter for others in this industry. But during the last ten years, I served clients and contractors in all possible roles, from fixer to official agent.