Become a Citizen of the World

Any South African knows the struggle of planning a holiday – and no, we aren’t talking about choosing a hotel. The constant visagrapple that people all over the world face is becoming more and more prevalent, and with Brexit, Europeans aren’t immune to this fight. When planning a trip, attaining a visa can sometimes feel like an uphill struggle.

Even though the power of the South African passport has once again been downgraded on the Henley Passport Index – to 53rd position – it isn’t all doom and gloom. We are still third on the African continent and our passport still gives us visa-free access to 102 countries.

Nigel Barnes, Managing Partner of Henley and Partners South Africa, explains that the South African passport does not give its national visa-free access to any of the major global economies: India, China, the European Union, or the United States. “For South Africans who travel frequently to the UK, the US, and the EU, this situation is very restrictive,” Barnes says.

Alison Johnson, founder of Wherecani. Live, was born and raised in South Africa and encountered visa issues when travelling. Johnson was living in Spain and one (presumably sunny) afternoon, when discussing the possible effects of Brexit on her ability to continue living in Spain, she casually mentioned her grandmother’s Irish heritage. Her companion responded that she was eligible for an Irish passport, and so Wherecani.live was born.

Wherecani.live was inspired by an idea of free movement, of being able to live where you want while jumping through as few hoops as possible, and avoiding the dreaded visa process.

The online portal has up-to-date, relevant information that lets anyone from any country enter their particulars and see which countries they are eligible to live in, and what it will take to gain access. Many people don’t know this, but the Portuguese Golden Visa Program allows nationals of any country the ability to buy a property in Portugal (nothing under €350,000) and attain a permanent residency visa. From there, you have access to all 26 Schengen European countries, visa-free. After six years of residency in Portugal, you can apply for full citizenship. “Residency” may not mean what you think it does – in fact, you only need to spend a few weeks in Portugal per year for six years to qualify for a passport. A similar process is available in Paraguay and for only $5,000 you can get a residency permit for the South American country.

In a world where changing, it seems politics are sensible to constantly invest in a scheme that will one day result in dual citizenship – especially when that new passport is more powerful than your original one.

Ancestral visas are also a viable option if your family can prove their heritage in another country. There are various processes and procedures that you would have to go through to secure an ancestral visa, but all the admin will be worth it once you can settle somewhere new and enjoy the benefits of travelling on a passport that gives greater access. Wherecani.live can also help with this. In their detailed survey, they ask you if your family has any heritage different to the country for which you currently hold a passport, and they give you all the information you need.

Allowing yourself and your family greater freedom of movement seems like a worthy prize for a small amount of admin, and in the long run, your family will thank you for your effort. To think, this time next year you could be on your way to a luxurious holiday destination, and you didn’t even need to apply for a visa.

For more info, visit www.wherecani.live.