How to gain more freedom to travel without having to obtain a new nationality

Today we are going to analyze in detail how you can gain greater freedom of movement without obtaining additional citizenships, through specific residency programs.

Obtaining a second or third nationality is undoubtedly the best option for achieving maximum freedom of movement worldwide, as it not only opens the door to new jurisdictions, but also makes you a full member of that country’s society, with the same legal rights as anyone born in the country. However, it is not always necessary to obtain a new passport if you are simply looking to increase your personal freedom of movement. You can also maximize your personal mobility and freedom to travel by strategically obtaining residence permits in several countries, without having to become a national.

For Schengen passport holders, restrictions on freedom of movement are not particularly relevant, as European passports are among those that grant the most freedom of movement worldwide. However, for couples, family members, or even children with less powerful passports, the freedom to travel, which in some cases is considerably more limited, can be an obstacle. Through various residency programs, people with weak passports or limited mobility can position themselves much more optimally globally through specific strategic guidance.

This is particularly interesting for families with “mixed passports” (e.g., one partner with an EU passport and the other without), as in these cases, residency strategies can harmonize mobility.

About the benefits of obtaining permanent residence

Many believe that only strong passports can open doors, but this is only partly true. It turns out that having a residence permit can also give you access to many countries without a visa, often allowing you to travel more easily, with a visa on arrival or even without a visa.

The most notable example in this regard is a residence permit in a Schengen country, which allows you to travel between other Schengen countries without a visa. Having a permanent residence permit in any of the Schengen countries opens up the option of traveling to the remaining 27 Schengen countries, which is nothing new for many. However, what not so many people know is that having a permanent residence permit in any Schengen country also allows visa-free entry or visa on arrival in 30 other non-Schengen countries.

Permanent residence in Schengen

Thus, having a permanent residence permit in Schengen is one of the most powerful means of increasing your freedom to travel.

For example, the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes:

“If you are a permanent resident of any of the following countries: Canada, the United States of America, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, any of the countries that make up the Schengen Area, as well as the member countries of the Pacific Alliance, you do not need a visa to enter Mexico for tourism, business, or transit purposes. Upon entering Mexico, you must present your valid Permanent Resident card along with your passport.” (Source)

This passage exemplifies how practical it can be to have a permanent residence permit in the Schengen area, even outside Europe. Mexico is one of the countries that officially recognizes this status and considers it a sufficient basis for visa-free entry, regardless of actual nationality. This is noteworthy because it is not the passport, but the residence permit that serves as a factor of trust. Thus, for example, those with a weak passport can obtain much greater international mobility thanks to permanent residence in the EU, without having to apply for another passport.

This is very valuable information, especially for holders of weak passports. Mexico’s recognition is also representative of a global trend, as Mexico is by no means the only country that allows entry based on residence status and not exclusively on nationality.

Something similar occurs, for example, in Jamaica, where a residence permit and passport are also explicitly required for certain types of visas and nationalities. In this case, they require “a US, Canadian, UK, or Schengen visa” (source). Thus, for example, you can significantly improve the travel freedom of a Vanuatu passport by combining it with a golden visa in, for example, Latvia.

All of these countries accept Schengen residency to facilitate entry

Other countries that allow facilitated entry with a permanent residence permit in the EU are: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, El Salvador, Georgia, Haiti, Honduras, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Singapore, and Turkey.

This is, therefore, a very interesting package of destinations that can be accessed without a visa with a single permanent residence in the Schengen area. Furthermore, obtaining a residence permit in the EU is not complicated at all. This detailed article provides a comparison of EU golden visas.

Also interesting: residency in the Gulf countries (GCC)

The situation is very similar in the Gulf region. The six GCC countries operate in much the same way as the Schengen area: generally, no visas are required if you have a residence permit/visa in one of the countries. These include: the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Residency programs in the Middle East, among which the United Arab Emirates and Qatar tend to stand out, have long been more than just local investment models. Not only do they offer their holders residency in Arab countries with a particularly favorable tax regime, but they also provide visa-free or simplified access to many other countries in the region.

For example, if you have residency in the UAE, you also benefit from visa-free entry to countries such as Jordan and Egypt. The same applies in other parts of the world, such as Asia and Africa. This is the case in Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Africa, for example. Thus, a residence permit in the Middle East becomes a real key to mobility.

Although the golden visas of the Gulf States do not usually lead to citizenship, they are still attractive because of their extensive tax exemptions and the large number of countries you can enter without a visa.

For those extreme travelers who have set themselves the goal of also visiting countries that are more difficult to access, it is interesting to know that many countries that are very difficult to travel to, such as Afghanistan and Eritrea, have consulates in Dubai, where, as a UAE resident, you are entitled to apply for a visa for the countries in question. This was one of the reasons why Christoph applied for a UAE visa at the time. Although there are also consulates for these countries in Germany, applying in Dubai is usually much simpler and more efficient. Thus, the residence permit has another major advantage, beyond whether or not it allows you visa-free access.

Not all residencies are the same: differences in the Gulf States

Those who have residency in the UAE can enter 20 other countries more easily: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Philippines, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand.

With Saudi Arabia’s special premium residency program, you even get simplified entry to 60 countries, including many top destinations: Albania, Angola, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Cook Islands, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Gambia, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritius, Maur Gambia, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritius, Micronesia, Morocco, Mozambique, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos Islands, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and Zambia.

You can access the Premium Residency program for SAR 100,000 (approximately €22,000) per year.

And those who settle in Qatar with permanent residency, for example, through the Qatar investor program (with an investment of around €170,000), can easily enter 25 countries: Brazil, Dominica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Palau, Samoa, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, and Turkey.

Residence in Canada: residence permit with global effect

A Canadian permanent residence permit also offers much more than just a life north of the US border. Those who have residence in Canada will benefit from surprising mobility, especially since Canadian permanent residence status is often relatively easy to obtain.

In North America, it allows visa-free or simplified travel to Mexico and often to parts of the Caribbean. Many countries in Central and South America also grant easier access. In addition, some Asian countries (such as South Korea and the United Arab Emirates) and even some African countries recognize Canadian permanent residency as reliable, which greatly facilitates entry into their territories. In this way, a Canadian residence permit becomes a powerful instrument of global freedom of movement for people with less valid passports.

The typical routes to permanent residence in Canada are the classic work visa, which allows you to obtain a suitable visa for in-demand professions before entering the country, meaning you have the opportunity to obtain a permanent residence permit without ever having entered Canada before. However, there are also various programs for investors, such as the Quebec investor visa or the Canadian start-up visa.

The scope of freedom of travel with a Canadian residence permit is reflected in the countries that do not require a visa or that grant it on arrival: Anguilla, Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kosovo, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Saba, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Singapore, Saint Eustatius, Saint Martin, South Korea, and Taiwan. Kosovo, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Saba, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Singapore, Saint Eustatius, Saint Martin, South Korea, and Taiwan.

USA: Simplified entry in many countries for green card holders

We have discussed legal entry options to the US in the past, because: It has never been easier to legally immigrate to the US. That is why, among other things, we provide concrete assistance with your US visa.

Those who decide to reside permanently in the US also benefit from easier entry or even visa-free travel to many countries around the world. However, the green card comes with one crucial aspect: worldwide income taxation. So, those who are only looking for the advantages of traveling with a U.S. residence permit should be aware that this automatically entails the obligation to pay taxes in the United States, unless it is properly planned and the freedom to travel is not sought. In that case, it is perfectly possible to live in the U.S. without directly resorting to a green card. This also applies to your E-1, E-2, or EB-5 immigrant investor visa. E1/E-2 visas do not result in automatic tax liability if the stay is less than six months and the substantial presence test is avoided.

Countries without a visa or with a visa on arrival with a US green card: Albania, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kosovo, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Singapore, Saint Martin, South Korea, Taiwan, Turks and Caicos Islands.

A residency permit in the United Kingdom also allows visa-free entry in some countries

Having a UK residence permit can also give you extensive access to several countries. Permanent UK residents benefit from more favorable conditions when entering several countries in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia, including visa-free access or simplified electronic entry procedures, such as the eTA, instead of a full visa.

Particularly noteworthy is the growing acceptance of UK residence permits as a “trusted document” in countries with restrictive visa policies. In this way, UK residency becomes much more than just access to everyday British life.

Global destinations with simplified entry thanks to permanent residence in the UK include: Albania, Anguilla, Aruba, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Georgia, Gibraltar, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Panama, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, St. Martin, and Taiwan.

Your residence permit can also be the first step towards additional citizenship

An interesting point is that residence permits not only serve to expand travel freedom, in some cases they can pave the way to citizenship by naturalization, which in turn offers other advantages.

Of course, it is important to understand the programs of each country well and adapt them to individual needs so as not to waste time.

For example, a residence permit combined with long stays in the Gulf countries will almost never lead to additional citizenship, but it does offer the possibility of living there while paying very little tax.

In the case of the EU or the US, we have the opposite situation: we will pay higher taxes, but they offer us an easier path to citizenship.

In many cases, residency is the first step, but not the last. Those who think long-term strategically use residency programs to subsequently obtain citizenship.

There are also people who, on the other hand, deliberately avoid acquiring (certain) new passports. For fear of possible citizenship taxation or similar, they prefer to simply opt for different residence permits and additional citizenship in a country with no taxes or where citizenship taxation is very unlikely (Vanuatu, Sao Tome, Dominica, etc.).

The bottom line is that both paths can provide enormous freedom to travel, depending on your lifestyle. For European citizens, this is not necessarily relevant, but it is for their partners and families or friends from countries with weak passports. Therefore, be sure to find out about these possibilities.

As always, there is no one-size-fits-all solution

To help you find the residence permit or citizenship that suits you best, we advise you individually and competently. We have been working in this field since 2017 and accompany people on their path to greater freedom and self-determination on a daily basis.

We are also happy to help you with any other questions you may have regarding tax-free living, international business structures, and global diversification. Just get in touch with us, we are happy to help.