BRICS citizenship can look attractive to wealthy expatriates because of de-dollarization, geopolitical realignment, and the possibility of future non-Western financial infrastructure. In practice, most BRICS passports are not easy to obtain, not especially useful for wealthy mobility planning, or may create new problems around sanctions, banking, surveillance, taxation, and bureaucracy.
BRICS currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia. The bloc does not yet have a common currency. Trade is largely supported by existing alternatives such as the Chinese yuan, and there is discussion of future payment infrastructure that could reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.
However, BRICS is mainly an economic and geopolitical grouping. It does not operate like the European Union or Mercosur. Holding one BRICS passport does not give the right to live freely in other BRICS countries. An Indian citizen does not gain the right to live in the UAE, Russia, or Saudi Arabia simply because India is part of BRICS. That kind of free-movement structure is not expected to develop.
For wealthy individuals seeking citizenship or residence diversification, the value of BRICS passports is mixed.
Russia is unattractive for most wealthy applicants because of sanctions, restricted travel freedom, and banking difficulty. Many Russian citizens are trying to diversify away from Russia, move to places such as Dubai or Thailand, obtain EU golden visas, or secure second citizenships.
China is effectively not a practical citizenship option for most foreign investors. Many Chinese clients are also looking for ways to diversify away from China.
India is also not presented as a desirable citizenship target for wealthy expatriates. Many Indian citizens seek second citizenship or residence options outside India.
South Africa can work in limited cases, especially for permanent residence, but the country is described as moving in the wrong direction. Many South Africans are relocating to Mauritius, Dubai, or Europe. Concerns include crime, government direction, and border controls affecting crypto holders, including the possibility of being asked for crypto wallet access.
The UAE has one of the stronger passports in the BRICS group, but it is extremely difficult for most people to obtain. Citizenship may require investing tens of millions of dollars or meeting highly selective criteria. UAE residence, however, is much more realistic and remains one of the most useful BRICS-linked options.
Saudi Arabia also has a strong passport, but citizenship is generally not realistic for most investors. Saudi residence may be possible through a permanent residence route, but it is not suitable for everyone.
Iran is not a desirable citizenship option for most wealthy expatriates.
Egypt has citizenship by investment, but it is not recommended for most people unless they have specific ties to Egypt or a practical need for Egyptian citizenship.
Ethiopia is not presented as a preferred African citizenship option.
Brazil Is the Main BRICS Passport Worth Considering
Brazil is the main BRICS country that may be strategically interesting for some people.
Brazilian citizenship is relatively strong. It provides access to Mercosur rights, including the ability to live in countries such as Argentina and Uruguay. It is geographically distant from Europe, which may appeal to Europeans looking for a separate regional base. Brazil may also attract Americans and Europeans for lifestyle reasons, including climate, culture, food, and personal preferences.
Brazil has two main pathways discussed: citizenship through birth of a child in Brazil and permanent residence by investment.
Brazilian Citizenship Through Birth
Brazil grants citizenship by birth to children born in the country. Some families choose to give birth in Brazil instead of Canada or the United States.
Cities such as São Paulo and Florianópolis are mentioned as places where private healthcare quality can be very high if paid for. The cost is described as far below the $100,000 to $200,000 level sometimes associated with premium birth options elsewhere.
A child born in Brazil becomes Brazilian by birth. Brazil is also described as protective of born or original citizens in extradition matters.
Parents of a Brazilian-born child can obtain permanent residence. They may also become eligible for citizenship if they actually live in Brazil after the child is born.
Brazilian Residence by Investment
Brazil also offers permanent residence by investment.
The amount discussed is a little over $180,000, with a recommended practical level above $200,000, invested in Brazil, especially in main cities.
Permanent residence can be useful, but citizenship requires real presence. Brazil is described as strict about time spent in the country and flights out of Brazil. Anyone seeking citizenship should expect to live in Brazil for more than nine months per year.
For people who obtain permanent residence but do not intend to live in Brazil long term, citizenship should not be expected.
Risks of Brazil
Brazil may be the most realistic BRICS citizenship for some wealthy expatriates, but it also has serious drawbacks.
The first concern is digital control. Brazil has introduced the ficha nacional de registro de hóspedes digital, a mandatory digital hotel check-in system covering hotels, hostels, and inns. It is integrated with the gov.br app.
The concern is that this type of system allows the government to track hotel stays, travel, reservations, and movements. The transcript also claims that this infrastructure may connect to bank accounts, spending, and tax checks, allowing authorities to compare declared income with travel and spending patterns.
This direction is compared to digital identity and surveillance infrastructure in the European Union and the United States. For people seeking more freedom, Brazil may be moving in the wrong direction.
Other concerns include:
- Crime and shootings, especially in major cities and some northern areas
- Very dangerous cities in some regions
- Heavy bureaucracy
- Permanent residence and citizenship processes described as difficult
- Infrastructure problems
- Lower quality of life than some applicants may expect
- Low English proficiency in many cities
- Need to operate in Portuguese
For Spanish speakers, Portuguese may be somewhat easier to approach, but still difficult enough to affect daily life.
BRICS Residence May Be More Useful Than BRICS Citizenship
For wealthy expatriates, BRICS residence may be more practical than BRICS citizenship.
The clearest residence option is the UAE. It offers a useful base, strong infrastructure, and a tax-friendly environment, while citizenship remains unrealistic for most applicants.
Brazilian residence can be useful for people who genuinely want to live there or pursue citizenship through real presence.
Saudi permanent residence may be possible, though it may not be appealing or necessary for most people.
Beyond these, BRICS does not currently offer many high-value citizenship options for investors. Egypt has citizenship by investment, but it is not recommended for most applicants. Brazil may be realistic, but it requires real commitment and comes with surveillance, tax, crime, bureaucracy, and language concerns.
Main Takeaway
BRICS passports are not yet a strong standalone strategy for wealthy expatriates.
The bloc may become more important over the next decade if deeper treaties, financial infrastructure, or new members create more value. For now, however, BRICS does not offer EU-style freedom of movement, and most BRICS passports are either impractical, undesirable, difficult to obtain, or risky from a banking and compliance perspective.
For most wealthy individuals, the more practical approach is to treat BRICS as a residence or banking diversification layer, not as the core citizenship strategy. UAE residence, Brazilian residence for those willing to live there, and possibly Saudi residence may have value. But a BRICS passport should only be pursued when it fits a specific personal, family, tax, or geopolitical plan.
