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Recently Answered Questions

How do I transfer funds to my Mexico bank account?

Alberto Alvelais - Alvelais & Asociados

Banorte Bank, Mexico – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

If you’re going to be living here in Mexico, you will need a resident permit, formally called a Resident’s Document for Permanent Residency or Non-Permanent Residency. (In the past, it was called an FM2 or FM 3.) With a resident’s document, you could open a bank account here in Mexico without any problem; it’s very easy. You could open bank accounts in Mexican pesos, in American dollars and in a foreign currency as European euros. It’s not...

What is the cost to buy land or a lot in Portugal?

Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living

House with water reservoir and traditional bread oven – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

The term “land” and the term “lot” mean two different things in the Algarve and Portugal in general. “Land” would be a piece of land somewhere in the interior of the province of the Algarve, where there is a good amount of space. “Lot” would tend to refer to a smaller piece of land in a subdivision or urbanisation.

There is a huge variation in the prices of land here. Land can start at € 40,000 (US $...

There is a huge variation in the prices of land here. Land can start at € 40,000 (US $ 43,800 or £ 29,500) to a couple of million euros depending on where the plot is located and how large it is. At the end of the day, you can calculate what the price per square meter is but people don’t tend to sell their land on a price per square meter basis. The average price per square meter of land could be anything between less than € 100 per square meter (US $ 440,000 per acre or £ 74 per square meter) to € 1,500 per square meter (US $ 6.6 million per acre or £ 1,100 per square meter). That is how broad the range is. Land is sold and bought in the interior and plots would be within what we call urbanizations, which are areas of planned housing development. Just like in the US, the subdivisions are subdivided into smaller plots, which are anywhere between 400 square meters and 2,000 square meters. Those plots would sell for anything between € 100,000 (US $110,000 or £ 74,000) and € 500,000 (US $ 550,000 or £ 370,000).

A property with about 1,000 square meters (about a quarter of an acre) of land would cost around € 350,000 (US $ 275,000 or £ 185,000) if you have a bit of a sea view (up to €750,000 or more if the sea view is spectacular) but if it is just in a residential suburb, it might cost anywhere between € 175,000 (US $ 82,000 or £ 55,000) and € 250,000 (US $ 110,000 or £ 74,000). A lot located around 20 or 30 kilometers away from the ocean that has a ruin on it that needs to be demolished and replaced by a new building would cost around € 50,000 (US $55,000 or £ 37,000).

Not all these properties would be connected to municipal water and other utilities. The more remote properties would be two types: if you are located in a village or town that is close to an urban area, you would either have electricity, sewage, and water already on the piece of land or you would have it at the boundary of your property and you would request for it to be connected. There are properties that are further out, especially in the rural areas, which do not have main sewage so they use septic tanks and they would have boreholes. In Portugal, we use the term “borehole” differently than we use the term “well” in that we refer to a well as a natural structure built some time ago that is basically a hole in the ground that the underground water would fill the well. To build a borehole requires large drilling trucks, which would drill through the sand and rocks underneath in order to find water. Once it finds water, then you would set up the suction mechanism and pump on top of the ground that will suck the water up. Water sources in the Algarve need to be licensed.

In the Algarve, you would always be on the grid in terms of electricity but you may find yourself having to use borehole water in some instances, although it is less common now because the water network in the Algarve is very good.

(Land and house to renovate with water reservoir or borehole and traditional bread oven in Portuguese countryside, pictured.)

Are there shopping malls in Panama?

Karen Walter - Local Travel Excursions

Shopping mall in Panama – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Shopping in Panama is a paradise for those who enjoy hitting the racks hard. There are huge malls that may be too big for some to navigate in one day and smaller more manageable malls to enjoy. There is everything from high end shopping as you find in the US and abroad and many department stores scattered around for convenience. More malls are popping up throughout the country that will be more convenient for those not residing in or near Panama City. A great...

What are the least-expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship?

Jay Butler - Asset Protection Services of America

There are only six (6) countries in the world which currently offer "economic citizenship" programs, which are:

The Commonwealth of Dominica ($100,000+)
The Dominican Republic ($200,000+)
St Kitts and Nevis ($250,000+)
New Zealand ($1,300,000+)
Ireland ($1,500,000+)
Austria ($3,000,000+)

Numerous countries offer citizenship by "naturalization" including, but not limited to, Costa Rica,...

There are only six (6) countries in the world which currently offer "economic citizenship" programs, which are:

The Commonwealth of Dominica ($100,000+)
The Dominican Republic ($200,000+)
St Kitts and Nevis ($250,000+)
New Zealand ($1,300,000+)
Ireland ($1,500,000+)
Austria ($3,000,000+)

Numerous countries offer citizenship by "naturalization" including, but not limited to, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama and Paraguay.

So, to best answer the question "What are the least expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship?" the answer would rely heavily on whether you have the financial means to afford an 'economic citizenship' program or the time to wait for a 'naturalization' program to come to fruition. Generally speaking, economic citizenship programs make second passports available within 3 to 12 months while naturalization programs can take 5 to 7 years.

If the case is the former, then the Commonwealth of Dominica offers visa-free access to 76 countries with a charitable contribution starting at $100,000 for individuals and $175,000 for married couples.

The Dominican Republic offers visa-free access to 40 countries with a $200,000 business investment which "furthers the overall economic value of the Dominican Republic".

And St Kitts and Nevis offers access to over 125 countries through either a charitable contribution to the SIDF (Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation) which runs $250,000 for an individual and begins at $300,000 for married couples, or through the purchase of real property (the minimum investment is $400,000) with government fees running $50,000 for the head of household, $25,000 for the spouse, and an additional $25,000 or $50,000 per child depending on their age.

If the case is the latter, then prices and residency or visitation requirements can vary dramatically. Although your options are more abundant for 'naturalization' programs so too is the demand for you to thoroughly do your research before making a decision. Unfortunately the length of this article will not permit for a comprehensive answer to the least expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship by way of naturalization. I would suggest speaking at length to someone qualified to get more details if interested.

Regardless of which jurisdiction best meets your needs, you must be pointed to the specific underlying legal foundation upon which the dual citizenship program is being made available to the public. Meaning, if you are not provided with a section from the constitution, a constitutional amendment or piece of current legislation validating the program then you are likely to become involved in a scam.

Be leery of anyone who tries to sell you a second passport based on adoption, the death of a citizen, or 'special activities' such as an involvement in the film industry, etc. The use of a fraudulent passport is a serious international crime and punishable with long prison sentences in most every participating country.

Lastly, whomever you choose to provide your dual citizenship services, the actual work should be performed by legal counsel on-the-ground in the country wherein you are seeking your second citizenship. Under no circumstances whatsoever should you consider attempting to procure a second passport without competent and reliable legal counsel.

Are there English-speaking doctors in Nicaragua?

Mike Cobb - ECI Development

There are a large number of doctors who speak English in Nicaragua, especially in Managua. English is the primary 2nd language for medicine in the region.

Are there exotic birds in and around Ambergris Caye? Where can I go bird watching in and around Ambergris Caye?

Allan Lima

Bird watching Melanoptila_glabrirostris_on_Ambergris_Caye – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

There are many birds in Ambergris Caye so there is bird watching here. What most people do is rent a golf cart and go north of San Pedro (about an hour away by golf cart), take their binoculars and cameras and see what kind of birds they could see.

You can also go bird watching south of San Pedro here in Ambergris Caye because there are less properties and the properties there are far apart from each other.

There is a place...

Recently Posted Expat Stories

Everything Changes, However Slow it Might Be

Welcome to Boquete. This charming town View is a side street in Boquete. – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

has changed a little and a lot in the last four years. We have watched as the economy has improved for the community. A great deal is based on tourism and the influx of expats. There has also been a worldwide increase in the higher-end coffees that grow in the mountains that tower over the towns of both Boquete and Volcan. Many small businesses have come and gone in the last four years. Growth is evident as the high school is currently...

A Short History of Medical Care In Panamá

I was recently asked about the healthcare Panama Punta Pacifica Hospital – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

available in the Coronado area of Panamá. In order to answer that question and at the same time, give you a more holistic view of healthcare in general in Panamá (so you don't have to worry), we can look to portions of the history of Panamá.

Panamá has traditionally been known by other nations as a passageway to move from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vice-versa. Since the construction...

BEAUTIFUL CONTADORA ISLAND, PANAMA

North and South America were divided by the sea, until the Isthmus of Panama was created three million years ago. It was the biggest and reportedly the most significant geological event in 60 million years. Prior to that date as the Earth's plates began to join, the Pearl Islands emerged from the sea. Indigenous tribes lived on many of the Pearl Islands, including Contadora, and Pre-Columbian artifacts have been found there. The biggest island in the chain is Isla del Rey where more...