This article was written by Emma Marshall — Community Manager
We believe this article is accurate at the time of writing, but regulations evolve. We'd welcome you to contact us for a quick, up-to-date confirmation—we're always glad to help.
For families with complex nationality structures, the window to shape a child's citizenship profile is narrower than most realise. The most flexible legal routes close permanently at 18.
What this article covers:
- How jus sanguinis and jus soli routes apply to children in HNW families
- Which CBI programmes allow family inclusion at the point of application
- Structuring a multi-generational citizenship review before key windows close
- Practical considerations for families mid-programme or planning relocation
Why 18 Is the Critical Planning Horizon
For most citizenship frameworks, a child's eligibility to be included in a parent's programme or to acquire citizenship by descent expires at majority.
Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes uniformly permit dependent children to be included in an application, but this must be planned alongside the parent's own process, not as an afterthought. Some Latin American jurisdictions also offer jus soli acquisition for children born in-country, which can be relevant for clients whose relocation plans intersect with those markets.
The key point is that the deadline is the child's 18th birthday, not the parent's.
What a Family Citizenship Audit Covers
A structured audit begins with mapping what citizenship rights each child already holds through descent, a step that often surfaces overlooked entitlements in families with multi-national parents. From there, an adviser can identify which residency by investment or CBI programmes best align with the parent's timeline whilst accommodating dependants.
Where jus soli acquisition is viable, this can be incorporated into a broader relocation plan without requiring a separate formal application. The output is a clear picture of each child's current status, open routes, and the deadlines that govern them.
Marlow Bray's advisers work with families at the intersection of wealth planning and citizenship structuring.
If you're reviewing your own programme options and want to ensure your children's routes are considered alongside yours, we're happy to start with a conversation.
