Citizenship by merit is presented as a growing alternative to traditional citizenship by investment, especially for investors who want access to less common or higher-quality passports that are not openly sold through standard CBI programs. The transcript argues that merit-based citizenship is available in many countries, but only for applicants who can prove exceptional value, strong track records, and meaningful economic contribution.
The main difference between citizenship by investment and citizenship by merit is that citizenship by investment is usually a standardized, productized program with published thresholds, while citizenship by merit is discretionary.
A citizenship by investment applicant typically qualifies by meeting defined requirements, such as a donation, real estate purchase, fund investment, or business investment.
Citizenship by merit is different. The applicant must show that they bring unusual value to the country. This could include:
- Major business activity.
- Large donations.
- Job creation.
- Significant tax contribution.
- Strategic skills.
- Real estate or business investment.
- A strong professional or entrepreneurial record.
The transcript argues that, in practice, almost every country has some form of merit-based citizenship or exceptional naturalization route, even if it is not marketed as a formal program.
Why merit routes are gaining attention
The transcript describes a shift from standard citizenship by investment toward citizenship by merit.
One reason is that some investors already hold common CBI passports, such as Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Turkey, or Malta, and want something more unusual or less widely marketed.
Another reason is reputation. Some countries do not want to be seen as selling citizenship directly, especially after the scrutiny faced by countries with conventional CBI programs. Merit-based routes allow governments to attract high-value individuals while avoiding the appearance of a mass-market passport sale.
Countries that care about relations with the European Union or other partners may prefer a merit model because it is more selective and less scalable.
Countries and examples mentioned
The transcript says merit-based citizenship may be possible in the UAE for applicants who bring very large value, such as:
- A $100 million business.
- A $10 million donation.
- Building a hospital.
- Another major contribution to the country.
The Balkans are also mentioned as a region where some investors may seek niche citizenships, including countries such as Serbia and other states in the region.
The transcript also mentions Slovakia. It says permanent residence by merit may be possible with around a €1 million contribution, either through a business or real estate, and that this permanent residence could later support a citizenship-by-merit case if the applicant continues contributing.
The transcript also notes that European Union citizenship is more valuable because it includes freedom of movement. For that reason, EU-related merit routes are expected to require much larger contributions. The transcript states that high-quality citizenship with EU freedom of movement could require at least €1 million and a significant contribution.
Who may qualify
Merit-based citizenship is described as highly selective.
The transcript says applicants generally need:
- No criminal record.
- No sanctions exposure.
- Limited or no politically exposed person risk.
- A strong CV.
- A clear business or professional track record.
- A history that demonstrates real value.
- Potential to increase the country’s tax base.
- Ability to contribute skills, capital, business activity, or strategic expertise.
Examples of potentially suitable applicants include:
- A business owner who can contribute to the local economy.
- A person able to pay around €1 million per year in taxes.
- A major engineer from China moving to a Balkan country to contribute technical expertise.
- A high-net-worth individual with a proven business history and local investment plans.
The transcript says the best candidates are those with a clear record of achievement and credible future benefit to the country.
Who may not qualify
The transcript distinguishes between wealth and merit.
A young person with $10 million from a meme coin may be able to qualify for some conventional investment programs, but may not be persuasive for a citizenship-by-merit application.
The issue is not only net worth. Governments want to see a track record, business substance, reputation, contribution potential, and a credible reason to grant citizenship outside normal rules.
The transcript gives the example of a 22-year-old with $10 million in Bitcoin. That person might qualify easily for El Salvador, but could be rejected by a citizenship-by-merit country if they cannot prove broader merit or contribution.
Productization and limits
The transcript says citizenship by merit can be structured and repeated, but it is not as scalable as standard CBI.
The speaker claims to have completed more than 40 government-approved applications where clients received passports, obtained driving licenses, opened companies, paid taxes, bought real estate, and traveled using the new citizenship.
However, the transcript stresses that merit routes are not mass-market products.
Compared with programs such as Turkey, St. Kitts and Nevis, or Dominica, citizenship by merit is:
- More selective.
- Less scalable.
- Less predictable.
- Less profitable for mass-market agents.
- More dependent on the applicant’s individual profile.
- More tied to government discretion.
The advantage is that successful applicants may receive a niche citizenship that is not widely available through standard investment migration channels.
Timing and strategic value
The transcript says some merit-based citizenships can be obtained in a fraction of the time required by regular investment or naturalization programs.
The appeal is strongest for investors who want:
- A less common citizenship.
- A passport not associated with mass-market CBI.
- A country that does not openly sell citizenship.
- Potentially higher reputation.
- Access to regions or blocs not available through standard CBI.
- A discretionary route based on value rather than a published donation.
For governments, the merit model may allow them to attract multimillionaires and strategic contributors without damaging their international reputation.
Main caveats
Citizenship by merit is not a guaranteed product.
The main risks are:
- The applicant may not be considered valuable enough.
- Wealth alone may not be sufficient.
- Government discretion is central.
- Requirements may not be published clearly.
- Outcomes depend heavily on track record and presentation.
- A weak profile can be rejected even if the applicant has money.
- Politically exposed applicants, sanctioned individuals, or people with criminal records may be unsuitable.
The transcript’s core argument is that citizenship by merit is becoming more important because it gives countries a selective way to attract valuable individuals while avoiding the reputational problems of openly selling passports. For applicants, it may offer access to niche or higher-quality citizenships, but only if they can prove genuine merit, contribution, and long-term value to the country.
