Survey Shows Majority of South African Respondents Want a Second Citizenship

A recent survey conducted by international citizenship advisory, CS Global Partners, has found that 96 percent of the South African citizens who responded to the survey would like to have a second citizenship, with 70 percent claiming they would relocate if they did.

The online survey revealed an overwhelming 66% of the respondents have been motivated to research a second citizenship in the past 12 months due to the “current political and economic instability” of the country.

Of the 70% who said they would relocate if they got a second passport – over half said they were “highly likely” to do so.

Of those wanting to relocate, 60% cited being worried about their family’s future as a motivating factor. Safety and security also featured as a high concern.

Fifty percent said that a second passport provided a ‘plan B’ for added security pending South Africa’s future.

Over 25% chose the UK as their favoured destination if they were to relocate. The rest said, in order: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Angola, Ireland, Netherlands, France and Seychelles. The USA didn’t feature in the top 10.

Fifty-one percent want the second citizenship in order to increase mobility (and decrease visa headaches!) with better access to travel opportunities.

Only 16% already had a second passport, which they used largely for holidays and to visit family abroad.

The results are not unique to South Africa. CEO for CS Global Partners, Micha Emmett, said the response to the survey is consistent with growing trends in the economic citizenship industry: “In an increasingly unstable world of political and economic turmoil, people are looking for alternate citizenship as a backup plan, in case the situation changes in their home country.

“The results are consistent with the conversations we typically have with clients and stakeholders. People want to know that their families, and all that they have worked hard to achieve, will be safe and secure not just today, but well into the future.”

According to Emmett, global expats are choosing countries like the Commonwealth of Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada which have citizenship programmes in place, and are popular with people seeking a second citizenship whereby they can invest into another country in exchange for citizenship.

Twenty-two percent of South African respondents said they would be willing to invest 25% of their annual salary for a second citizenship.

The survey was conducted via an online form on social media last month, and was based on 500 participants (all SA citizens living in South Africa) from a broad demographic, aged between 25 and 50.

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If you’re relocating, you can still watch your favourite SA TV shows and films on Showmax: