Many people believe that they may obtain their second citizenship easily just by paying money, however, this is untrue. Money is not the most crucial prerequisite, because applicants should provide accurate and truthful information in the documents and paperwork submitted. If applicants lie, mispresent facts, or conceal information in their citizenship application, they may face serious penalties including criminal charges, loss of citizenship, and deportation.

In this article, we will be highlighting 10 common reasons why Caribbean countries providing Citizenship by Investment (CIB) programs refuse a citizenship application and the consequences of hiding any information or fact in a citizenship application.

Ten reasons for application refusals

The most common reasons for application refusals under citizenship by investment programs:

Reason 1: Criminal Record

If you have a criminal record, ties to terrorism, convictions, or jailed abroad, it’s important to disclose it when applying for citizenship. The reason is that if the government later discovers that you have a criminal record, they could revoke your citizenship.

Reason 2: Background checks

Failing a background check done by the Government and third-party due diligence firms is the main reason for refusing a candidate’s application. Any deportation or repatriation orders served by the country, and any extradition case filed by a country, must be disclosed. If you have done military service with the enemy state, and if you changed your name in the past and did not disclose the information, your application can be denied.

Reason 3: Lying about your place of birth

Another mistake that could get your application denied or your citizenship revoked is lying about your place of birth. For example, if you were born in Iran but claim to have been born in Canada on your application, your citizenship could be revoked if the government discovers the truth. Original Birth certificates must be produced and issued with certification from the origin country, and applicants must meet the basic eligibility criteria. While this may seem like a small lie during the application process, it may come back to bite you later, especially when the time for passport renewal comes.

Reason 4: Bank compliance

Banks in CIP countries may not accept funds if an applicant fails compliance checks, or if he cannot prove his identity. This may be an obstacle for stateless people. Applicants should provide evidence for the source of funds if they originated from a country with sanctions. They should not be involved in cryptocurrency scams or frauds. Governments will not provide citizenship or passports to shady individuals or frauds engaged in financial crimes such as money laundering, or embezzlement, regardless of the amount of money you invest. They should not be involved in personal or corporate bankruptcy.

Reason 5: Sanction person or company

If you are sanctioned by Western countries (US, UK, EU), or wanted by Interpol or other law enforcement agencies, your application will automatically be refused. If you are a national of a blacklisted country hit by sanctions or trade embargoes (such as Sudan, and North Korea) you are ineligible to apply for citizenship.

Reason 6: Fraudulent

Providing false information, failing to disclose all details about you and your family members, or lying in your application, could get your citizenship application refused.

Reason 7: Applicant Visa denials

Visa denials raise red flags about being tagged as a high-risk applicant.  Any previous visa denials from EU Schengen countries, the US, the United Kingdom, or any other country that has signed a visa waiver with the country where you are applying for citizenship, and any alert issued in the Schengen information system (SIS) can easily lead to rejecting the application. Providing false information about visas issued by the United States and Canada can also be a reason for rejecting an application.

Reason 8: Health issues

Failing health or medical checkups or having an HIV-positive test, would be the main reason for an application denial, that’s why it’s important to disclose such information, otherwise your citizenship will be revoked.

Reason 9: Previous refusals

If an applicant has applied for citizenship in one country and was denied, his application will be automatically refused by other CBI countries as they share applicant information.

Reason 10: Minimum investments

If your investment is not paid fully or you do not maintain the required investments (real estate, bonds, business, etc.) for the minimum number of years, your citizenship may be revoked.

Consequences of hiding information

The consequences of concealing information or providing inaccurate facts in a citizenship application can be devastating because a refusal is game over. The data provided is recorded and shared by many countries, therefore, it will be very difficult to apply again for other CBI programs. However, the citizenship by investment unit will provide you with a reason in writing why your application was refused.

CIP regulations have provisions for revoking citizenship and passport If an applicant has already been approved for citizenship and passport but is later found to be a wanted person. The citizenship of the primary applicant is immediately withdrawn for all family members as well. If false information is discovered after citizenship has been granted, it can lead to the revocation of citizenship. This can result in significant personal and legal consequences, including deportation.

It is worth noting that Caribbean nations that offer CBI, have developed an in-depth due diligence process to conduct a thorough investigation of the economic, legal, fiscal, and financial situation of individuals and their dependents who are applying for alternative citizenship. Providing false information can be screened by third-party firms, and once the main applicant is revoked of citizenship, all the family members including spouse and children will follow the case.

Recommendations

Therefore, what can you do to avoid having your second citizenship application denied is to be factual and honest about your citizenship application. By doing that and meeting the requirements, there would be no reason for the government to refuse your application.