Citizenship and Residency by Investment: Documents Checklist

Assembling documents for a citizenship or residency by investment application is frequently the most time-consuming part of the process. Unlike some administrative tasks that can be completed quickly, gathering certified documents from multiple countries, obtaining apostilles, and arranging certified translations can take weeks or months.

This guide provides a comprehensive checklist of the documents required across CBI and RBI programmes, explaining the purpose of each, the typical form it takes, and specific requirements for apostille and translation.

Requirements vary by programme and change over time. Always verify exact requirements with your authorised immigration agent or lawyer. This checklist is a general guide, not a substitute for specific programme instructions.

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Universal Documents: Required by Every Programme

These documents are required by all major CBI and RBI programmes without exception.

Passport

• Valid passport with at least twelve months' remaining validity (ideally more — some programmes require eighteen months)
• All pages, including blank pages and any endorsement pages
• If the applicant has held previous passports, copies of those are also usually required
• Certification: a certified copy is usually required — certified by a notary, commissioner for oaths, or equivalent authority

Photographs

• Recent passport-sized photographs meeting the programme's specifications
• Usually biometric-standard — white background, full face, eyes open, no glasses
• Typically four to six photographs are required per applicant
• Photos must usually have been taken within the preceding three to six months

Birth Certificate

• Official birth certificate issued by the registering authority in your country of birth
• For applicants with hyphenated or changed names, the document trail linking birth certificate name to current passport name must be complete
• Apostille/legalisation required for most destinations
• Certified translation required if not in English

Police Clearance Certificate

• A clean criminal record certificate is required from every country where the applicant has lived for twelve months or more (some programmes say six months)
• This means applicants who have lived in multiple countries — e.g., UK, UAE, USA, Singapore — need certificates from each
• Certificates must be current (typically issued within three to six months of application — check programme requirements)
• Different countries issue these differently: UK - DBS certificate or ACPO certificate; US - FBI background check; UAE - Abu Dhabi or Dubai police certificate; etc.
• Apostille required for Hague Convention countries
• Certified translation required if not in English

Allow sufficient time for police clearances — the FBI background check in the United States, for example, can take several weeks even with expedited processing. Start early.

Medical Certificate / Health Clearance

• A medical certificate confirming the applicant is free from contagious diseases and in good general health
• Must typically be issued by a doctor approved by the programme or a recognised medical institution
• Some programmes conduct medicals in-country at the biometric appointment stage; others require a medical in advance
• May include a blood test and chest X-ray
• Certified translation required if not in English

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Family Documents (for dependant applications)

When including a spouse, children, parents or other dependants:

Marriage Certificate

• Certified copy of the official marriage certificate
• For applicants in their second or subsequent marriage: divorce decree absolute (or death certificate of prior spouse) to demonstrate the prior marriage has legally ended
• Apostille and certified translation as required

Children's Birth Certificates

• One per child being included as a dependant
• Must show both parents' names
• For adopted children: adoption order or equivalent legal document
• Apostille and certified translation as required

Proof of Full-Time Education (for older dependent children)

• If including children above the standard child age limit (typically 18) as dependants on the basis of full-time education, a letter from the educational institution confirming enrolment and expected graduation date

Dependency Evidence for Parents / Grandparents

• Some programmes require evidence that parents or grandparents are genuinely financially dependent on the main applicant
• This might include evidence of shared household, financial transfers, or a statutory declaration

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Financial Documents: Source of Funds and Wealth

This is typically the most substantial section of the application and the one that requires the most preparation time.

Bank Statements

• Personal bank statements for all accounts in all countries — typically the past twelve months at minimum; some programmes want three years
• Business bank account statements if source of funds flows through a business account
• Statements should show the specific funds being invested entering an account and then being transferred for the programme investment

Tax Returns / Tax Declarations

• Copies of filed tax returns (UK self-assessment, US Form 1040, or equivalent) for three to five years
• Tax payment receipts or HMRC statements of account (UK) showing tax has been paid
• Where tax was not payable (e.g., below threshold in a low-tax jurisdiction), a declaration or accountant's letter explaining this

Business Ownership Documentation

For business owners — the most common source of wealth for CBI applicants:

• Memorandum and articles of association
• Certificate of incorporation
• Current company registry extract confirming ownership
• Audited financial statements for three to five years
• Details of the applicant's role and remuneration

Property and Investment Sale Proceeds

If funds originate from a property sale:

• Completion statement or solicitor's letter confirming sale price and net proceeds
• Land registry documentation confirming prior ownership
• Bank statements showing receipt of proceeds

If funds originate from an investment portfolio:

• Investment account statements showing the portfolio value and any withdrawals
• Share dealing confirmation notes if specific securities were sold

Inheritance Documentation

• Grant of probate and estate accounts
• Will of the deceased (or court order where intestate)
• Bank statements or solicitor's trust account statements confirming receipt of inheritance

Source of Wealth Narrative

Many programmes require a narrative explanation of how the applicant accumulated their wealth — not just documents, but a structured written explanation. This is prepared by the applicant's lawyer or agent and should be consistent with the documentary evidence. It should cover:

• Career history and income sources
• Business interests and their approximate value
• Property and investment portfolio history
• Significant asset receipts (inheritance, business sales, etc.)

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Programme-Specific Documents

For Real Estate Investment Routes (Greece, Caribbean)

• Notarised purchase contract or reservation agreement
• Title deed or land registry extract confirming ownership
• Proof of payment (bank transfer confirmations)
• Property insurance confirmation
• Rental agreement (if renting rather than purchasing, for programmes that accept this)

For Fund Investment Routes (Portugal)

• Subscription agreement confirming investment in qualifying fund
• Letter from fund manager confirming receipt of investment
• CMVM or equivalent regulator registration confirmation of the fund

For Caribbean CBI Donation Routes

• Bank transfer confirmation of government contribution payment
• Receipt from the relevant government fund administrator

For Business Investment Routes

• Business plan
• Employment records confirming jobs created
• Business registration and operating licences

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Apostille Requirements

The Hague Apostille Convention simplifies the legalisation of documents between member states. An apostille is a standardised certificate attached to a document that authenticates it for use in another Hague member state.

When an apostille is required: whenever you are submitting a document issued in one Hague member country for use in a CBI application in another country.

Common documents requiring apostille:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Divorce decrees
• Police clearance certificates
• Death certificates
• Notarial certificates

How to obtain a UK apostille: for UK documents, apostilles are issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Legalisation Office (or via authorised agents). For documents from other countries, the equivalent national authority issues apostilles.

Documents from non-Hague countries (a small number) require legalisation through embassy attestation rather than apostille. Your agent will identify which apply to your specific documents.

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Translation Requirements

Any document not in English (or the programme's official language) must be translated. Translations must be certified.

Certified translation means the translator provides a signed declaration that the translation is accurate and complete, and provides their credentials. In some programmes, translations must additionally be notarised (the notary certifies the translator's signature).

Keep original + certified translation together — documents should be submitted as a bundle: original, apostille (where required), and certified translation.

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Organising Your Documents Package

A recommended approach:

1. Identify all countries of residence — cross-reference each against police clearance requirements and start those applications first (they take longest)
2. List all accounts — bank, investment, pension — and order statements
3. Locate all corporate documents — and check whether registered documents are up to date
4. Begin apostille process — for birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearances
5. Commission translations — for non-English documents
6. Compile source of wealth narrative — with your lawyer
7. Collate into a structured package — organised by category, with tabs or numbered sections

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How Global Investments Can Help

Global Investments has over 32 years of experience advising internationally mobile, high-net-worth clients through citizenship and residency by investment applications. We work with authorised programme agents and immigration lawyers who manage the full document gathering and preparation process — including coordinating apostilles, translations and source of funds packages — so that clients submit complete, well-organised applications.

For clients approaching their first CBI or RBI application, we provide a personalised document checklist based on their specific background, countries of residence and programme choice, and manage the process from initial consultation to application submission.

Contact us to arrange a confidential consultation.