In recent years we’ve seen African countries open their doors to foreigners looking for an African passport. We’ve previously discussed the most powerful passports in Africa, including South Africa, Ghana, and Mauritius.
These countries offer dual citizenship programs with a few conditions which can generally be met easily if you want. Following their lead, there’s been an increase in African nations offering dual nationality to foreign citizens.
If you ask us, we would say that this is an excellent opportunity for those looking to expand their businesses and elevate their lifestyle by living in Africa. It might seem like an odd choice for some, but at Nomad Capitalist, we’ve been saying that Africa’s the next up-and-coming commerce hub.
So, if you’re an entrepreneur, possessing African second citizenship might be in your best interests if you’re looking for a chance to be ahead of the curb. There are plenty of benefits from having businesses in Africa.
You simply need to know where to look.
What Do You Get With An African Passport?
Even though your lifestyle can drastically depend on which country you decide to live in, the African passport itself is one travel document. This is because the African Union decided to issue one standard passport for the whole continent back in 2016.
So, the plan was to make sure that everyone got the African Union passport by 2021; however, there are still reports that the passport still isn’t in wide circulation yet. Of course, the world’s present circumstances are the reason behind this.
We expect the African Union passports to be in total circulation soon. Now, due to this union, you can enjoy the benefits of the entire African continent. All you’ll need is an African passport, and you’re good to go.
The African Union is trying to emulate what the European Union has done with its passports. For now, given the opportunities in Africa, this just might pan out to be one of the best laws they’ve come up with so far.
Of course, all countries get to decide their own citizenship and immigration services, but the passport issued is going to be singular. This definitely makes it pretty easy for anyone who’s interested in acquiring African dual citizenship because you can essentially go where you want to.
Depending on the country you decide to settle in, you will undergo the process of naturalization. You can vote in elections and have the same rights as any other citizen.
The African passport is actually a pretty good one. Of course, you don’t have access to the United States and the other tier A countries without a visa, but there are plenty of other opportunities as well. It’s not really that difficult to obtain a visa for these countries. So, if you have the resources and you want an African dual citizenship, we would tell you to go for it.
Doing Business in Africa
If you’re the kind of person who wants to invest in an accelerating economy, it makes sense to do business in African countries. After all, there are several great reasons to be doing business in the region.
Untapped Market Potential
There is no doubt that there’s a lot of potential in the African market. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for anyone interested in investing in this market to hold citizenship of any of the countries on the continent. After all, other countries’ citizenship won’t help in Africa.
Like many Asian countries, there are many eligibility requirements for the kind of business you can do. So, to be complicit with the law and ensure that the process goes smoothly, you should opt for an African nationality.
World’s Fastest-Growing Economies
Another reason to possess citizenship of any one of the African countries is because six out of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world are present in the region. This means that any investment or businesses you decide to run in the region will definitely succeed.
Many entrepreneurs will tell you that it’s a brilliant idea to operate out of such economies because, in addition to the profits you’ll make, there’s room for exponential growth. Furthermore, you can even take advantage and bring in new industries that haven’t been explored in the region yet.
The laws are definitely more accommodating than the West. So if you’ve been holding out on your plans due to unfair laws, why not go ahead in a foreign country instead?
Young Talent Available
Perhaps the biggest reason to obtain dual citizenship is because it will give you unrestricted access to Africa’s young population. You can hire young talent freely without worrying about paperwork or any law limiting your hiring capacity.
You can hire as many new talents as you need to get the job down and help grow your businesses. Since it’s an emerging market, most written law is favorable for business owners.
African Citizenship Programs Available to You
So, now that you know why you should opt for African dual citizenship, we will look into the newest countries to join the dual citizens program. Of course, do note that you’re still going to have to go through with the whole permanent residence procedure like any other country.
This is why we kept mentioning that African countries are perfect for those who’re looking to become permanent residents on their way to dual citizenship, as you’ll be expected to physically live in said country for an entire year at least.
That being said, we’ve got plenty of people approaching us who’ve traced their descent back to certain African countries, and they’re obviously interested in becoming dual citizens. Of course, not everyone can do this, and it’s a tricky process.
Overall, naturalization isn’t too tricky, so you can quickly get dual citizenship within five years. Of course, if you compare this with European countries, it can take about a decade to get that citizenship.
With this in mind, let’s look at the two countries to join the last and the other country that surprised us all by making the announcement for dual nationality.
Malawi
So, the latest country to announce dual citizenship is Malawi. In terms of travel documents, Malawi isn’t on top of the list, nor is it at the bottom. However, if you’re interested in setting up ventures there, it can be an interesting dual citizenship combination.
You can easily get into Singapore and Malaysia with a travel document. Overall, it’s a pretty decent place to live. The government isn’t too tyrannical. You’ll first become a permanent resident before eventually getting your dual citizenship.
Liberia
The other dual citizenship news we got was from Liberia, whose government recently announced a loophole that has given way to dual citizenship. It used to be illegal in Liberia to possess dual citizenship.
But luckily, there were a series of lawsuits in which the government asked the courts to allow dual citizenship. So, now there’s the option for citizens of other countries whose parents or they formerly possessed Liberian citizenship can reclaim the nationality if they want to.
Great move for investment, of course. Liberia has many, many untapped natural resources. So if you’re interested in any form of exploration or investment, you should consider becoming a dual citizen of Liberia.
Ethiopia
The last country on our list offering citizenship is Ethiopia. Of course, this is a major African country with various industries you could invest in. The naturalization process is pretty simple, and it’s an excellent nationality to possess if you plan to stay in Africa long-term.
Apart from these citizenship programs, many countries in the region, Cameroon and Sierra Leone, for example, are starting to open citizenship programs as well. There isn’t any news of definite citizenship by investment program coming from this region.
But if you consider the fact that Africa’s always been quite particular about its citizens and what they’re going to do with foreign citizens, it’s good to see this new movement where dual citizenship is being considered.
In the past, a foreign citizen could not think about having such citizenship, but times are clearly changing, and new paths are being created for global citizens interested in the region.
Get in Touch to Learn About Other Citizenship Programs
As you can see, in recent months, we’ve seen a number of African nations make relocation and nationality programs for any citizen interested a lot easier than they used to be. In the past, the entire African region was against the dual citizen program. This change in vote and opinion is clearly an example of globalization and how it can.
If there are any other countries in the region you’re interested in, you can reach out to us for more information and proper guidance.
Nomad Capitalist is dedicated to helping you expand your passports portfolio and obtain second citizenship in countries where you can go where you’re treated best. In addition to the African countries, we also offer speedy citizenship by investment programs for you to explore.
So, don’t miss this chance. Get in touch with our team today to begin your journey into the nomad lifestyle.
