Securing alternative citizenship residency or citizenship isn’t cheap, so why are so many South Africans doing it?

For many, it’s a backup plan, a ‘Plan B’, a way of managing their economic and political risks, and often pursued more for their children than for themselves.

For others, the benefit of being able to travel visa-free is enough to justify the required investment, while for some, the option of spending more time in another country is enormously appealing.

Among Immigration South Africa’s clients, the biggest reason for citizenship through investment is that they would like their children to be able to attend an overseas university and have the right to work abroad once they have qualified. Remember, if your children study in a foreign country, they do not automatically have the right to remain in that country once they have qualified.

This is why the EB-5 visa programme for the US is so popular, as your children will pay local tuition rates for their education, which can be as much as 60% cheaper than the international rates, and they have a green card to start their working lives in the US.

A reminder that the investment amount required to secure an EB-5 visa increases significantly from November 1, 2019, so you should get moving on that as soon as possible if you’re interested.

The Caribbean island of Grenada, home to St George’s University, with their world-class medical and veterinary schools, is another popular choice for clients with children wishing to go into one of these fields.

For those wanting their children to have the freedom to study, live and work anywhere in the EU, investing in citizenship programmes in Cyprus and Malta would be the best options.

Immigration South Africa, with offices based in Cape Town, are the go-to guys for any further questions you have. You can speak to one of their immigration professionals on 021 001 2109, or email them at info@immigrationsouthafrica.com.

It never hurts to have a Plan B, after all.