Methodology

How we verify what we publish.

We publish what others hide. Every claim on this site has a source. This page is the receipt.

CBI programs change. Passport rankings shift. Tax frameworks get amended. We index every high-volatility claim on this site to a canonical source and stamp it with a verification date.

Below: by claim category, the canonical source we use, and per-program citations where applicable. If you find a stale figure, tell us; we re-verify the same day.

Verification promise

Every program card carries a Last verified date.
High-volatility claims (passport rank, visa-free count, CRS status, fees, processing time) are reviewed against their canonical source on a rolling cadence; the dates next to the program tell you when each was last cross-checked.
If a claim on this site looks stale or wrong, tell us. We re-verify against the canonical source the same day, and if the source has moved, we update both the copy and the source link.

Passport rank and visa-free destinations

Canonical sourceHenley Passport Index

We index passport rank and visa-free destination counts to the Henley Passport Index, the most widely cited mobility ranking. Numbers move quarterly. We refresh program cards and program detail pages on each Henley publication; the date sits next to the rank as Last verified. ETIAS, ESTA, and country-specific visa changes are noted in the program copy where they meaningfully change practical access.

CRS status (Common Reporting Standard)

Canonical sourceOECD CRS by jurisdiction portal

CRS participation is taken from the OECD's by-jurisdiction portal. CRS reporting depends on where your accounts are held and where you are tax-resident. Non-CRS status in any program does not erase reporting obligations tied to your home jurisdiction. We always pair the program's CRS posture with the underlying tax-residence trigger; we do not market Non-CRS as a privacy promise.

Government fees and program costs

Each program's government fee is taken from the program's official source. We do not republish a fee unless we can link to the official decree, regulator, or licensed agency that publishes it.

Per-program citations

VanuatuVanuatu Citizenship Commission, Fees and Charges (opens in new window)
São Tomé & PríncipeDecreto-Lei n.º 07/2025 (archived copy)
TürkiyeInvest in Türkiye, Acquiring Property and Citizenship (opens in new window)
El SalvadorAdopting El Salvador (official program portal) (opens in new window)
Argentina (rentista)Argentina Dirección Nacional de Migraciones (opens in new window)

Processing time

Processing windows reflect official statutory targets where they are published, plus typical clean-file timelines from licensed agents and our own engagements. Where a program publishes an official window, we cite both the target and the typical practice. Processing varies with applicant compliance profile, and our copy is explicit about that.

Restricted nationalities

Each program publishes its own restricted-nationality list, sometimes through a regulator notice rather than a public web page. We align lists to the most recent published framework and date the list. Vanuatu's list as of April 27, 2026 reflects the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission's published framework.

Per-program citations

VanuatuVanuatu Citizenship Commission framework (opens in new window)
El SalvadorAgent guidance from the program authority (opens in new window)
São Tomé & PríncipeUnidade de Cidadania por Investimento e Doação (Dubai)
TürkiyeInvest in Türkiye and licensed-agent guidance (opens in new window)

Tax treatment

Tax statements pair the program jurisdiction's published rules with the standard reminder that tax residence determines your specific obligations. We do not characterise any jurisdiction as tax-free without specifying which taxes are zero and which still apply. For El Salvador, foreign-investor Bitcoin tax treatment derives from Decreto Legislativo No. 57 (Ley Bitcoin), Article 5, as preserved under the 2025 amendments. Every tax claim should be paired with consultation with a qualified tax advisor.

Legal basis

Each program's legal basis is cited inline on the program page, with a link to the official text where available. Where the official portal is JavaScript-rendered or unstable, we host an archived copy of the published decree and label it as such. Programs we currently cite:

Per-program citations

Authorised-agent and license status

Where 21 CBI is a licensed agent, the licensing authority and validity window are documented on the relevant program page. Where 21 CBI operates through a licensed partner, the partnership is described inline. Licensing authorises us to submit and process applications under that program's framework; it does not constitute pre-approval of any applicant by the issuing government.

Per-program citations

El SalvadorDocumented on the El Salvador program page
São Tomé & PríncipeLicensed partner of a Dubai-based STP CBI provider
VanuatuLicensed Vanuatu legal partner

Program active / paused / discretionary status

Operational status is the most volatile single field. Argentina's direct CBI framework was paused on April 14, 2026 when Resolution 522/2026 cancelled the master-agent tender (Concurso Público N° 34-0001-CPU25); thresholds remain unpublished and the legal framework (Decrees 366/2025 and 524/2025) is still in force. Malta's Citizenship by Merit is discretionary by design and never operates as an investor program; the former MEIN was struck down by the Court of Justice of the European Union in Case C-181/23 and formally repealed on 24 July 2025. We update operational status on every change and stamp the program-level Last verified accordingly.

Per-program citations

ArgentinaAPCI status page (opens in new window)
VanuatuVanuatu Citizenship Commission (opens in new window)

See something stale?

The audit log is part of the work. If a claim or a date looks wrong, send a note. We re-verify the same day.

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