Which countries have a reasonable path to citizenship?

[sanssouci]

I think Panama best fits your needs.
You might want to checkout the cruisers VHF morting net, they now have it on the inernet, Bocas Net in Bocas Del Toro, Panama

[gkrasnov]

In europe austria and i think latvia have economic citizenship paths... But pretty expensive. If u dont mind waiting a while - uk is good. 5 yrs of residency and u can naturalize as a brit.

[sanssouci]

Live Overseas; Resources, Articles & Videos For Living Overseas In A Multi-Newsletter Format By Nation, Featuring Expat Taxes, Asset Protection, 2nd Passports, International Real Estate, Overseas Jobs - Expatriate Resources - Overseas Retirement

[bobconnie]

If you can show you are of semi- current Irish descent, you can get a Irish passport !!just a thought! it's been done

[Captivy]

Originally Posted by bobconnie

If you can show you are of semi- current Irish descent, you can get a Irish passport !!just a thought! it's been done

You need to prove one grandparent was born there! Gets you anywhere in the EU (while it lasts).

[Nemo55]

I Hate to ruin "BoatPokers" fun,,but it's not as easy as he states,,besides i think he is taking a shot at Canada's Lax Refuge laws.
If you are of the Anglo-Saxon persuasion and speak either English or french your gonna be waiting a long time to come into Canada unless you have a great skill which is needed at the time,,or lots of cash.

Just Sayin.....

Originally Posted by sanssouci

FOR REAL?

[Blue Stocking]

If all you 'merkins didn't kick Lord Cornwallis's butt, you could all be EU folks, and go "over there"

[Wotname]

I think you can look at this another way.
If the path to citizenship (of any another country) is difficult, it is most likely a good / nice place to live; if the path is easy, then that country is desperate for new folk and one has to wonder why!

[ohdrinkboy]

If I remember correctly. So long as you are a US citizen you have to pay US taxes no matter where you live. If you want to renounce your US Citizenship you have to pay a lump sum tax to the US.

You could always go to North Korea.

[s/v Beth]

I was talking about future earnings of course.

[Ex-Calif]

Not sure at all what this thread has to do with sailing...

There as many schemes as there are countries. There is no single answer. Wotname has it about right. The easier it is to get into the less likely one is going to want to live there with some notable exceptions.

And on the renouncing US citizenship thing. Yes it can be done under certain circumstances and I have never heard of a need to make a lump some tax payment to do so.

[Aussiesuede]

Permanent, or extended, residency is the way to go for retirees. Absent spending/investing a good chunk of change, finding a spouse is about the best way of joining the immigrant class for working folks. Spending a bit of time learning the language & local customs of your new home so as not to become an undesirable class of immigrant is also highly advisable, as is a lowered earnings expectation.

[avb3]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Get on a plane to Canada ... tear up your passport before you land ...
get off the plane with your hands in the air yelling "POLITICAL REFUGEE" repeatedly.

Within hours you will have an Ontario Health Card, free dental and dentistry care, an apartment and a monthly allowance

Fortunately our Conservative Canadian government is getting rid of that path to entrance. Or at least severely restricting it.

It was about time.

[Astral Blue]

Here is a site that will give you information about different avenues you can take with respect to citizenship:

Expat World the Newsletter of International Living

This newsletter is an excellent resource, IMHO.

[swisscraft]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

I can think of one reason to give up my citzenship- taxes.

Will not work for US citizen: If you try to get ride of the US Passport the IRS is first of all thinking you do this because of taxes. They may check you in detail. Then you have tp pay a significant one time tax to get ride of your passport.....so could be a bad plan

Interesting enough there are less than a handful countries in the world which taxes there citizen if they live abroad and have no income in the home country. But the current economic situation may change that and more countries could think the US system is actually a good system