CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT REDOMICILIATION SERVICES

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Griselda Rose
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1 CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT REDOMICILIATION SERVICES

2 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT DOMINICA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ST KITTS AND NEVIS CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT UK TIER 1 INVESTOR AND ENTREPRENEUR VISA UK TIER 1 ENTREPRENEUR VISA CYPRUS 12 MALTA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PANAMA PASSPORT AND RESIDENCY ST LUCIA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT NEXT STEPS 20 OUR OFFICES 21 WEALTH WARNING & DISCLAIMER 22

3 INTRODUCTION Citizenship by Investment programs afford you and your family the opportunity to legally acquire a new nationality and an alternative or second passport quickly and efficiently, without causing any disruption to your day to day life. We assist clients and investors with immigration, citizenship, residency and second passports obtained through Citizenship by Investment Programs (CIP) and Immigrant Investor Programs (IIP) in Europe, North America and the Caribbean. If you and your family are considering obtaining a second citizenship, then we'd be delighted to introduce you to our efficient and highly professional service. We have helped clients, from all around the world, realise their dreams of obtaining a second citizenship for themselves and their families. Our citizenship advisers, with their extensive and specialist knowledge will guide you through the whole process. Taking care of you every step of the way. It all starts with an initial conversation. We will take the time to understand your needs, aspirations and goals. From there, we will inform you of the programs most suited to your requirements. Once you are ready to begin your application, you will be safe in the knowledge that your adviser and their team will take care of everything for you. The thought of obtaining a second citizenship or residency can be a daunting and intimidating task. Understanding what programs, countries and investments are most appropriate to you and your circumstances can be a complex and confusing process. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS 3

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5 ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT The Citizenship by Investment Program for Antigua and Barbuda was established in 2013 and is regulated under the laws contained in the Citizenship by Investment Act. The donation and real estate investment options tend to be the most popular route to acquire citizenship. The country is famous for boasting 365 beaches on the island and is relatively a small country with a population of 81,000. Visa free travel to 134 countries including Schengen region, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada. 5-day residency requirement over 5 years. No interview requirements. No language requirements. Ability to work and reside in Antigua and Barbuda. Limited taxation: no wealth, gift, foreign income or capital gains tax. Completely private application process. No education or work experience requirements. INVESTMENT OPTIONS The Citizenship by Investment Programme for Antigua and Barbuda was established in 2013 and is regulated under the laws contained in the Citizenship by Investment Act An applicant must invest in one of the three options below in order to apply for citizenship: Donation into the government fund Investment in real estate Business Investment Antigua and Barbuda is a former British colony and a member of the Commonwealth Realm. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS 5

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7 DOMINICA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT The Commonwealth of Dominica has been offering its Citizenship By Investment program since 1993, making it one of the oldest citizenship programs around. The island is located 1400 miles south of the coast of Miami and is renowned for its rainforests and mountainous terrain, criss crossed by clear, blue scenic rivers. Investors may qualify for citizenship through a donation to the government fund or an investment in real estate. The CBIU is the government authority overlooking the day to day operations of the citizenship program and is set out in the regulations published pursuant to Section 101 of the Constitution and Sections 8 and 20 (1) of the Citizenship Act. Visa free travel to over 120 countries including Schengen region, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore. INVESTMENT OPTIONS An applicant must invest in one of the two options below in order to apply for citizenship: Donation into the Government Fund Investment into authorised real estate No residency requirements. No interview requirements. No language requirements. Citizens are allowed to work and reside in Dominica. Limited taxation: no wealth, gift, foreign income or capital gains tax. Completely private application process. No education or work experience requirements. Dual citizenship is allowed. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS 7

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9 ST KITTS AND NEVIS CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program was established under the guidelines of the 1984 Saint Christopher and Nevis Citizenship Act. It is known to be the most established program in the industry. The Government of St Kitts and Nevis overlooks and regulates the Citizenship by Investment program. In order to apply, applicants are required to make a donation or investment into real estate. The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis is a two island country located in the Eastern Caribbean region, 1200 miles away from Miami. St Kitts and Nevis is recognised for its wellknown offshore banking sector and is a favourite hotspot for tourists. Visa free travel to over 120 countries including Schengen region, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore. No residency requirements. INVESTMENT OPTIONS An applicant must invest in one of the two options below in order to apply for citizenship: Donation into the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) Investment into real estate No interview requirements. No language requirements. Citizens are allowed to work and reside in St Kitts and Nevis. Limited taxation: no wealth, gift, foreign income or capital gains tax. Completely private application process. No education or work experience requirements. Dual citizenship is allowed. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS 9

UK TIER 1 INVESTOR AND ENTREPRENEUR VISA The UK TIER 1 Investor and Entrepreneur Visas are designed to attract non-european wealthy investors and entrepreneurs.

10 UK TIER 1 INVESTOR AND ENTREPRENEUR VISA The UK TIER 1 Investor and Entrepreneur Visas are designed to attract non-european wealthy investors and entrepreneurs. For an investment of GBP 200,000 into the UK economy subject to additional requirements, an applicant is granted permission to live and work in the UK and after 5 years the applicant and his dependants may be entitled to indefinite right to remain and subsequently British Citizenship. In recent years, following the success of both of these programs, the UK Government has introduced a fast track route to a settlement in the UK. In return for an increased investment or significant business success, foreign investors may apply for permanent residency after three years. For GBP 10,000,000 and more, an Investor applicant may achieve settlement in the UK after just two years. 10 CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS

UK TIER 1 ENTREPRENEUR VISA If you wish to set up or invest in a business in the UK and have access to 200,000, you may qualify to live and work in the UK as a Tier 1 Entrepreneur.

11 UK TIER 1 ENTREPRENEUR VISA If you wish to set up or invest in a business in the UK and have access to 200,000, you may qualify to live and work in the UK as a Tier 1 Entrepreneur. You and your dependants (spouse and any children up to the age of 18) can spend up to 180 days outside the UK in every 12-month period, without affecting your visa status or future permanent residency. Your dependants may also take paid employment without restrictions. We will ensure that you receive a very personal and professional service throughout your application process. Your adviser will ensure they understand your requirements in detail and assist at every stage, from initial consultation until visa delivery. Should it be required, you can also arrange to receive ongoing specialist support, right up until you have obtained your goal of British Citizenship. Through our expertise, we aim to turn your dream of setting up a business in the UK into a reality. We work in partnership with a number of specialist advisers who can also advise you on how to go about this. WHO CAN APPLY? Any non EEA or Swiss national An entrepreneur looking to establish a business in the UK and you meet the other eligibility requirements WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PROSPECTS? You and your family able to apply for settlement, (known as 'indefinite leave to remain'), in the UK after five years once you been in the UK for that period of time. There is the possibility of obtaining fast track permanent residency after three years if your business qualifies for this under the immigration rules If you would like to know more, please contact us. British Citizenship may be granted for the main applicant and all dependants after six years. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS 11

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13 CYPRUS To attract foreign trade, the Ministry of Interior of the Cypriot Government has created opportunities for foreign buyers to acquire citizenship rights through a number of investment options. In return for such investments a non-european investor will gain irrevocable citizenship for himself and his dependants in Cyprus and, by default of Cyprus being EU member state, will also gain the right to reside, work and study in all 28 EU Member states and visa free travel to 125+ Schengen countries. HIGHLIGHTS Obtain European Citizenship and Passport in 3 months. The program is geared towards High Net Worth Individuals with a required investment real estate, Cypriot businesses or Alternative Investment Funds investing into financial assets of Cypriot businesses of EUR 2,000,000 (Two Million Euros). The property investment has to be kept for 3 years and if it is sold a property worth EUR 500,000 has to be kept indefinitely. Open to all nationalities. Dual citizenship is allowed, no need to give up your current passport. No need to reside in Cyprus at any point in time in order to obtain or keep the citizenship. Main applicant, wife and dependant children below the age of 28 obtain citizenship. Grandchildren also inherit the citizenship via naturalization. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS 13

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15 MALTA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT Introduced at the beginning of 2014, the Malta Individual Investor Programme (IIP) offers high and ultra-high net worth individuals and families worldwide citizenship in a highly respected EU Member Country. Malta has been a member of the European Union since 2004, enjoys a stable political climate, bi-partisan political scene, growing economy, and has a rapidly growing and sophisticated financial services industry. The Malta IIP is the first investment citizenship program of its kind to be recognized by the European Commission, and the executive body of the European Union has formally acknowledged the legality of the program paving the way for its success. The Malta citizenship by investment application process is extremely efficient, and the government of Malta is committed to the highest standard of due diligence and vetting of investor applicants ensuring only persons of impeccable standing and repute will be admitted. Successful candidates will be granted citizenship in Malta by a Certificate of Naturalization, which can also be extended to include their families. Once a candidate is awarded Malta citizenship, which includes EU citizenship, they have the right of establishment in all 28 EU countries and Switzerland. They also have the ability to set up business in Malta, and can get a Malta passport enabling them to enjoy visa-free travel to more than 160 countries across the world including the United States. REAL ESTATE PURCHASE OR RENTAL Applicants must commit to retaining an immovable residence in Malta for a minimum time period of five years. This can be done by either buying a property in Malta for at least 350,000 and maintaining ownership for 5+ years, or by leasing a property for five years or more with a minimum annual rent of 16,000. Applicants must provide evidence of owning or leasing a property on the islands within four months of receiving a citizenship Malta Letter of Approval in Principle. RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT Upon purchasing real estate or entering a property lease in Malta, investor citizenship candidates are issued a Malta identity document called an eresidence card. This signifies the commencement of their residency in Malta and also demonstrates the candidate's genuine link with the country. 12 months after an applicant has established residency in Malta, applicants who have maintained residence in the country will be granted citizenship. You do not need to spend all 365 days in Malta before citizenship is granted, Maltese law defines residence as "an intention to reside in Malta for any fiscal year, usually evidenced by a stay of a minimum of 183 days or by the purchase/rental of property together with a visit to Malta." Consequently, upon purchasing or leasing an apartment or villa in the Mediterranean island nation and procuring a Malta residence card, applicants are not required to spend any time in Europe. Candidates who have been a resident of the country for at least one year prior to I.I.P. approval already satisfy this residency requirement and can subsequently become a citizen of Malta much faster. MALTA CITIZENSHIP SCHEME APPLICATION TIMELINE Malta Residency: Potential candidates who are not already resident in the country are strongly advised to begin the Malta residency process immediately since the Individual Investor Programme has a 12-month residency requirement. To be granted citizenship in Malta as fast as possible, it is very important that the clock is ticking on an applicant's residency requirement while they progress through the Malta citizenship application process. Upon initiation of a nominee's residency in Malta, a small deposit of 5,000 for the primary applicant and 1,000 for each family member is due on account of the National Development and Social Fund contribution. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS 15

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17 PANAMA PASSPORT AND RESIDENCY The Panamanian government has created several laws which enable foreigners to obtain legal Panama passports and residency. Most of these laws have been created to promote foreign investment in the country which benefits the local environment or local economy of the Republic of Panama. Below we have listed several immigration programs which offer permanent residency leading to passports, as well as several that are designed as work visas only. There are also two different alternative opportunities for an immediate passport. PANAMA PASSPORT / RESIDENCY BENEFITS Obtaining a second passport in Panama is useful for those who wish to: Expatriate from their country and give up their current passport because of onerous tax requirements that cannot be escaped from even by relocating abroad (i.e. USA citizens). Have a passport that provides for visa-free travel to over 80 countries. Have a passport from a small neutral country that does not have any enemies and therefore unlikely to be perceived individually as one in any type of potential hostile international situation. Desire to escape an increasingly authoritarian political climate in their home state. Have a second home overseas in a tropical country where they can live at or visit where natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, violent earthquakes and serious droughts are rare or unheard of. Have a "safe haven" to escape to, in the event of war or any type of civil unrest that may threaten their family or their assets. Live and retire in Panama with its excellent health facilities and diverse tropical city, mountain or beach lifestyle options. Relocate to a country that is almost entirely agriculturally self-sufficient with benign and ideal growing conditions for a very wide variety of fruits, vegetables etc.and unlikely to ever face food shortages. Relocate to a more "tax friendly" country where foreign earned income, capital gains, and interest income is not taxed. Relocate to a country where frivolous lawsuits are not recognized by courts, and assets can be truly protected through a corporate shield, without the risks of "piercing the corporate veil". Relocate to a country where one can begin business operations economically, and without heavy restrictions, regulations, or taxes that hinder the growth of the business. Relocate to a country where the economy is booming and many business opportunities exist for entrepreneurs. Relocate to a country where real estate is still affordable for purchasing homes in the city or land at the beaches, mountains, lakes, etc. Wish to purchase a yacht in Panama and have Panama be the base for the yacht while otherwise living aboard and sailing the yacht to wherever they desire. The purchase of the yacht in most instances would be sufficient to qualify for residency leading to citizenship. Relocate to a tropical, stable, safe country where it is very economical to live in comparison with most other developed countries such as the US, Canada, Europe, etc. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS 17

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19 ST LUCIA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT Saint Lucia is a Caribbean island located north of Trinidad and Tobago. The country has been an independent state since 1979 and is a member of the Commonwealth Realm. The CIP overlooks and regulates the citizenship by investment program in Saint Lucia. An investor may qualify for citizenship by making a donation or real estate investment. BENEFITS No residency requirements. Visa free travel to over 110 countries including UK, Schengen region, Singapore and Hong Kong. No interview requirements. No language requirements. Ability to work and reside in St Lucia. Limited taxation: no wealth, gift, foreign income or capital gains tax. Completely private application process. FACTS INVESTMENT OPTIONS Applicants may choose one of the following investments: Investment into the Saint Lucia National Economic Fund Investment in real estate Investment in an approved enterprise, or in Government bonds SINGLE APPLICANT Required Investment: $300,000 Due Diligence: $7,500 Processing Fees: $2,000 Government Fees: $50,000 St Lucia has an approximate population of 163,000. The capital of St Lucia is Castries. English is the official language on the island, French Patois is also widely spoken. The average life expectancy for the population of St Lucia is 72 years. The population of Saint Lucia has an estimated literacy rate of 90%. The economy of St Lucia is mainly based on tourism and its offshore banking services. The country exports various products such as bananas, mangoes and avocados. Tourism is known to account for 50% of St Lucia s gross domestic product. The official currency on the island is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, which is pegged to the US Dollar. CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS 19

20 NEXT STEPS TOWARDS A BRIGHTER AND BETTER PLANNED FINANCIAL FUTURE If you re looking for a transparent and trusted wealth planning partner, that can provide a service whether you are abroad or resident in the UK, we d be delighted to hear more from you. We can cater for simple through to complex client circumstances, and provide solutions that range from the straightforward to an enduring portfolio management relationship. Regardless of what you re looking for, we will spend the time necessary to determine exactly what your requirements are before setting out the different means in which we may be able to help. We look forward to hearing from you. 20 CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS

21 OUR OFFICES UK Ground Floor, 2 Bell Court Leapale Lane Guildford Surrey, GU1 4LY United Kingdom DUBAI Office 1004, Park Place Sheikh Zayed Road PO Box Dubai United Arab Emirates MALTA Alpine House 34 Naxxar Road San Gwann Malta SGN 9032 CAYMAN Governors Square, 2nd Floor 23 Lime Tree Bay PO Box 1569 Grand Cayman KY Cayman Islands enquiries@ariaprivateclients.com CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS 21

22 WEALTH WARNING: The value of investments and the income paid on them can fall as well as rise. All investments involve risk and you may not get back the full amount of your investment and your investment may fail altogether, resulting in an entire loss. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. Partners, employees, associates and clients may have a position or engage in transactions in any of the securities mentioned. There is an extra risk of losing money when shares are bought in some smaller companies, including penny shares, as there can be a big difference between the buying and selling price. ARIA have taken every step to ensure the accuracy of the information and statistics in this literature. However, some information is obtained from or is based on trade and statistical services or other third party sources and we cannot accept any liability for errors or any direct or consequential loss arising from the use of such data or this document. Any data on past performance, modelling, scenario analysis or back testing contained in this document is no indication as to future performance. We provide no guarantees as to the reasonableness of the assumptions made or the accuracy and completeness of this data. DISCLAIMER: The material in this Brochure is provided for information purposes only; it is not an invitation to invest. Please refer to the terms and conditions for any services offered for detailed information. Please seek relevant professional advice before making any investment decision. This document does not constitute an offer or solicitation to provide any investment services mentioned, by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorised or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. 22 CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ARIA PRIVATE CLIENTS

24 UAE Address: Office 1004, Park Place Sheikh Zayed Road PO Box , Dubai, United Arab Emirates This communication is from ARIA, is a trading name of Absolute Return Investment Advisers (ARIA) Dubai Branch Limited. Absolute Return Investment Advisers (ARIA) Dubai Branch Limited is authorised and regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority in the United Arab Emirates, under registration number Contact Address: Office 1004, Park Place Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, PO Box UAE Tel: +971 (0) enquiries@ariaprivateclients.com Website:

MALTA RESIDENCE & VISA PROGRAMME & THE INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR PROGRAMME

MALTA RESIDENCE & VISA PROGRAMME & THE INDIVIDUAL INVESTOR PROGRAMME Mark Attard & Josef Mercieca BDO Malta May 2017 BDO 01 MALTA BDO MALTA A General Overview BDO Malta, a Maltese civil partnership, is