Turkish authorities have begun the process of revoking the citizenship of 687 foreigners who, according to investigators, obtained Turkish passports through fictitious real estate transactions and forged property appraisal reports. The original source of this information was a statement by Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gürlek, published on August 4, 2026. The operation was coordinated by the Organized Crime Investigation Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office. Investigative actions took place simultaneously in 16 provinces across the country.
According to the investigation, participants in the scheme purchased relatively inexpensive real estate and then, using forged expert reports, artificially inflated its value to the minimum threshold required to obtain Turkish citizenship. The transactions were accompanied by fictitious bank transfers designed to create the appearance of investment inflows.
As a result, Turkish authorities estimate that the country was deprived of approximately 2.5 billion Turkish lira—or roughly $52 million—that was supposed to have been invested by foreign applicants.
As part of the investigation, arrest warrants were issued for 90 people, and 72 suspects have already been detained. The government has placed seven companies that may have been linked to the scheme under its control. Additionally, 1,045 properties, a hotel in Bodrum, 15 vehicles, a yacht, and funds in ten bank accounts have been seized.
It is important to note that this does not yet involve the automatic and immediate revocation of passports, but rather the initiation of legal proceedings. Citizenship will be revoked once it is confirmed that a specific applicant obtained it based on fraudulent documents or a transaction that did not meet legal requirements.
Turkey’s investment citizenship program has been in effect since 2017. Currently, a foreigner can apply for a Turkish passport by purchasing real estate worth at least $400,000. The property cannot be sold for three years, its value must be verified by an authorized appraisal company, and payment must be made through the banking system. Alternative options include an investment or a bank deposit of at least $500,000.
The Ministry of Justice, the Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office, and the Turkish media have not yet disclosed the nationalities of the 687 individuals initially implicated. However, data on previous participants in the investment program and foreign buyers of Turkish real estate allow us to identify groups that potentially used such services more frequently.
Between 2018 and 2021, approximately 19,600 foreigners obtained Turkish citizenship through the investment program. Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Russia were cited as the main countries of origin for applicants, and since 2022, Ukrainian and Russian citizens have significantly increased their purchases of Turkish real estate and have become the most prominent groups of applicants for investment-based citizenship.
According to official statistics from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), in 2025, Russians purchased 3,649 residential properties in Turkey, Iranian citizens purchased 1,878, and Ukrainian citizens purchased 1,541. These three countries ranked first among foreign buyers of Turkish housing. This trend continued in 2026. In June, Russian citizens purchased 381 residential properties, while Ukrainians and Iranians each purchased 170 properties.
Based on this data, it is most likely that among the 687 investors under investigation are citizens of Russia, Iran, and Ukraine, who are simultaneously among the largest real estate buyers and the most active participants in the investment citizenship program. The list of those under investigation may also include individuals from Iraq and Afghanistan who participated in the program in previous years.
Additional risks may arise for the spouses and children of investors if they obtained citizenship as family members of the primary applicant. Turkish authorities have not yet clarified whether such relatives are included in the announced total of 687 people or whether their status will be reviewed automatically or through separate procedures. The investigation will likely lead to stricter scrutiny of appraisal companies, bank transfers, intermediaries, and the sources of funds. For new applicants, this may mean longer processing times and additional requirements, but it does not indicate that the investment citizenship program itself is being shut down.
The House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda has approved amendments to the citizenship-by-investment program that call for an increase in the mandatory period of physical presence in the country, regular independent audits, and stricter oversight of intermediaries.
The main change will be an increase in the minimum period of physical presence in the country for new citizens from five to 30 days. These days may be spent in Antigua and Barbuda cumulatively over the first five calendar years after obtaining citizenship, rather than annually. The requirement also applies to family members included in the application.
Until now, an investment citizenship holder could lose their citizenship if they did not spend at least five days in the country during the first five years. The amendments replace this requirement with 30 days.
The changes also provide for an annual independent financial audit of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) and an operational audit every two years. The regulator will have the authority to set common standards for the five Eastern Caribbean states offering investment citizenship, vet agents, and revoke the licenses of intermediaries that do not meet the established requirements. ECCIRA is expected to begin operations in September 2026.
The reform is taking place amid increasing pressure from the European Union. In a letter dated June 25, 2026, the European Commission proposed that Antigua and Barbuda gradually phase out its citizenship-by-investment program by June 1, 2028. Brussels also demanded that individuals subject to EU sanctions be excluded from the program and that background checks on applicants of all nationalities be strengthened.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda emphasizes that it does not intend to shut down the program without securing comparable sources of revenue. Authorities cite revenue from the investment citizenship program as a vital component of non-tax revenue, which funds infrastructure, schools, healthcare facilities, and post-disaster recovery efforts.
The latest detailed statistics published by the CIU cover January–June 2024. During this period, 739 applications were received. The official report takes into account the country of birth of the principal applicant, so these figures cannot be directly equated with the number of passports issued. A single application may also include a spouse, children, and other dependents.
The largest number of applications in the first half of 2024 came from natives of:
China—90 applications, or 12.18%;
the United States—81, or 10.96%;
Nigeria—67, or 9.07%;
Lebanon—50, or 6.77%;
Turkey—44, or 5.95%;
Pakistan—32, or 4.33%;
the United Kingdom—25, or 3.38%;
Iraq – 22, or 2.98%.
Over the past six months, 19 applications were received from Ukrainian nationals, accounting for 2.57% of the total. The same number of applications were submitted by Egyptian nationals. India, Canada, and Morocco each accounted for 21 applications.
From the program’s launch through June 30, 2024, Antigua and Barbuda received 5,203 applications. Chinese nationals accounted for 1,117 applications, or 21.47%; Nigerians—496; the U.S. – 347, Lebanon – 342, Russia – 222, and Syria – 208. However, no new applications from natives of Russia and Belarus were registered in the first half of 2024.
The program has been in effect since 2013 and offers several participation options. The minimum non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund is $230,000; investment in approved real estate starts at $300,000; and direct investment in a business starts at $1.5 million. Another option involves a contribution of at least $260,000 to the University of the West Indies Campus Fund. Government fees and background check costs are paid separately.
Extending the mandatory stay to 30 days does not change the minimum investment thresholds but increases participants’ actual expenses for airfare and accommodation. At the same time, regular audits and unified regional oversight are intended to increase the program’s transparency and help Caribbean nations maintain visa-free travel with European countries.
Antigua and Barbuda, Caribbean region, CITIZENSHIP, INVESTMENT, MIGRATION
According to Experts.news, the Ukrainian passport ranked 65th in the Global Passport Index 2026, which evaluates citizenship based on three key areas: enhanced mobility, investment potential, and quality of life, according to the Global Passport Report 2026 by Global Citizen Solutions.
The report was published on the Global Citizen Solutions website with an update date of July 1, 2026. The study notes that the ranking covers 197 countries and territories and is calculated based on 14 indicators.
According to the index, Ukraine ranked 65th in the overall ranking, 63rd in terms of enhanced mobility, 79th in terms of the investment index, and 82nd in terms of quality of life. According to Global Citizen Solutions, a Ukrainian passport provides visa-free access to 89 countries; however, Ukrainian citizens need a visa to enter approximately 31 destinations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and a number of countries in Africa and Latin America.
Sweden topped the Global Passport Index 2026 with a score of 96.05 out of 100. It is followed by Switzerland, Finland, and Germany, while Denmark and the Netherlands share fifth place in the interactive table.
The bottom five countries in the ranking were Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, and Afghanistan. Afghanistan remained in last place with a score of 23.10 points. The gap between the ranking leader, Sweden, and Afghanistan was 72.95 points.
The Global Passport Index differs from traditional passport rankings in that it is not limited to counting visa-free destinations. The index takes into account the quality of available destinations, the investment climate of the country of citizenship, and living conditions. This is particularly important for Ukraine, as the value of a passport under this approach is determined not only by travel opportunities but also by the perception of the country as a place for business, living, and long-term planning.
In practice, Ukraine’s result reflects a dual situation. On the one hand, the Ukrainian passport maintains relatively high mobility thanks to the visa-free regime with the EU and a number of other destinations. On the other hand, the investment and quality components of the ranking remain below the level of EU countries, which lowers the country’s overall position in the comprehensive citizenship index.
CITIZENSHIP, Global Passport Index, mobility, PASSPORT, UKRAINE
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that children born on U.S. soil to parents who are in the United States illegally or on a temporary basis are U.S. citizens from the moment of birth. The decision effectively blocks President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict the automatic granting of citizenship by birthright.
The case was heard in connection with Executive Order 14160, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” which Trump signed on January 20, 2025. The order proposed that children born in the U.S. to parents without permanent immigration status should not automatically be considered U.S. citizens.
The court concluded that such children are protected under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens of the United States and of the state in which they reside.
The ruling is significant not only for immigration policy but also for the market for services related to childbirth in the United States. In practice, it means that U.S. passports obtained by virtue of birth on U.S. soil remain valid, and the right to citizenship by birth itself cannot be revoked by presidential decree.
However, the debate surrounding so-called “birth tourism” is not over. Following the court’s decision, the Trump administration may tighten controls over visa applications, travel by pregnant women, and cases of potential fraud upon entry into the United States. But this is a different legal matter: combating visa violations is not the same as revoking the citizenship of a child born on U.S. soil.
For foreigners who view the U.S. as a destination for childbirth, the main takeaway is this: the fundamental constitutional principle has been upheld, but immigration and visa risks may increase. U.S. authorities may scrutinize the purpose of travel, financial documents, medical plans, and any potential concealment of true intentions more closely when issuing visas or at the border.
For the international market for immigration and medical services, the Supreme Court’s decision means the preservation of one of the most well-known mechanisms of jus soli—citizenship by place of birth. The United States remains one of the key countries where the mere fact of being born on U.S. soil grants a child citizenship, regardless of the parents’ citizenship, with the exception of a few specific cases.
Thus, Trump’s executive order has not altered the fundamental principle of U.S. citizenship. Children born in the United States are still entitled to U.S. citizenship, but there will likely be more scrutiny, legal disputes, and political pressure surrounding travel for the purpose of giving birth.
Ukrainians in the Republic of Moldova will be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship through a simplified procedure: The Cabinet of Ministers has included this country on the list of states whose citizens are eligible for this mechanism, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced.
“I discussed this decision with Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu. This is a natural step for our countries. We are united by a shared border, a shared path toward the European Union, and mutual support in the face of Russian aggression. There is a large Ukrainian community living in Moldova, and we want people to have easier access to Ukrainian citizenship,” she wrote on Telegram.
The prime minister noted that the next step will be to make this procedure as convenient as possible.
“Currently, to obtain citizenship, one must pass exams on the Ukrainian language, the Constitution, and the history of Ukraine, but this can only be done in Ukraine. We are working on the possibility of taking these exams remotely. We also need to streamline the final stage of processing documents through diplomatic missions abroad so that people can obtain a Ukrainian passport without unnecessary obstacles,” Svyrydenko emphasized.
In addition, the parties separately discussed the development of joint transportation infrastructure, in particular the construction of a new bridge between Ukraine and Moldova.
The Norwegian government has proposed tightening the conditions for obtaining citizenship by changing the requirements regarding length of residence in the country and knowledge of the Norwegian language for certain categories of applicants.
Under the government’s initiative, applicants will be required to have lived in the country continuously for eight years to obtain a Norwegian passport. Currently, most applicants must have resided in Norway for a total of eight years over the past 11 years, provided they hold a permanent residence permit. The new model is intended to simplify the calculation of residency periods and reduce the number of different requirements for specific groups of applicants.
Norway’s Minister of Labor and Social Integration, Kjersti Stenseng, stated that obtaining citizenship should be viewed as a privilege, and that the current rules are too complex, particularly regarding residency requirements.
Separately, the government proposes to increase the residency requirement for stateless persons from three to seven years. For applicants in this category who were born in Norway or arrived in the country before the age of 18, the plan is to set a residency requirement of five years.
The changes will also affect foreigners who are married to, in a registered partnership with, or in a de facto relationship with a Norwegian citizen. For them, the period required to obtain citizenship is proposed to be increased from a minimum of five years of residence and marriage to six years of continuous residence in the country.
In addition, the government wants to raise the Norwegian language proficiency requirements for stateless persons aged 18 to 67—from level A2 to B1. Residence on the Svalbard archipelago will no longer be considered grounds for applying for Norwegian citizenship.
The government explains the changes as necessary to make the rules more consistent and understandable, as well as to speed up the processing of applications. At the same time, the stricter requirements effectively make the path to a Norwegian passport longer for a number of categories of foreign nationals.
In total, as of early 2026, there were 987,120 immigrants in Norway, accounting for 17.5% of the country’s population. Another 238,507 people were born in Norway to immigrant families, accounting for 4.2% of the population. Collectively, people of immigrant origin make up more than one-fifth of the country’s population.
The largest group of immigrants in Norway remains those from Poland—111,740 thousand people. Next are Ukraine—85,461 thousand, Lithuania—43,065 thousand, Syria—42,040 thousand, Sweden—37,732 thousand, Germany—28,145 thousand, Somalia—27,769 thousand, Eritrea—25,819 thousand, the Philippines—25,673 thousand, and Pakistan—24,821 thousand people.
The structure of immigration to Norway reflects a combination of several waves: labor migration from EU countries and Eastern Europe, refugee migration from Syria, Somalia, Eritrea, and Ukraine, as well as long-standing diaspora communities from Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey, and other countries. Ukrainian migration is characterized by rapid growth over a short period and a high proportion of women and children among those who arrived after 2022.
Norway remains one of the countries with the most powerful passports in the world. According to the Henley Passport Index, the Norwegian passport is among the most prestigious and grants visa-free or simplified entry to over 180 countries. Since 2020, Norway has allowed dual citizenship.
