Powerful Passports That You Can Buy
Powerful Passports That You Can Buy
https://student.grablingo.com/materials_units/1875
Exercise 1
Vocabulary
index
Noun
ˈɪndɛks
a system showing the number, level, etc. of something as compared to a standard
Syria is the lowest ranking country on the 2016 Global Peace Index.
citizenship
Noun
ˈsɪtɪzənʃɪp
the legal right to belong to a country
My wife recently gained French citizenship.
status symbol
Noun
ˈsteɪtəs sɪmbl
something a person has that shows how rich or important they are
Ferrari cars are a status symbol more than anything.
background check
Noun
ˈbækˌɡrɑwnd ˈtʃek
a detailed examination of a person's history
Background checks are required for all airport employees.
circumstance
Noun
ˈsərkəmˌstæns
a situation
The police are investigating the circumstances of the accident.
Exercise 2
Article
Powerful Passports That You Can Buy
According to the Henley & Partners Passport Index, Japan has the most powerful passport in the world, with visa-free access to 190 countries. Unfortunately, Japanese passports aren’t for sale, but if you have the money, there are other countries that will let you pay for citizenship.
Most countries offer ways to become citizens that involve living and working there for a long time. But Citizenship by Investment Programs (CIPs) offer a faster path for rich people who invest lots of money in the local economy or government.
People might want a second passport for many reasons. Some want to increase the number of countries they can easily visit, especially if they’re from a country with a less powerful passport. Others want to avoid taxes in their home country, or see passports as status symbols.
Shirley Heights, Antigua and Barbuda
If you need a powerful passport on a budget, then Antigua and Barbuda is the place to buy one. With visa-free access to 150 countries, becoming a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda is a bargain at just $100,000, which must be paid to their National Development Fund.
The Village of Mellieha, Malta.
The cheapest way to buy a European Union (EU) passport is through Malta, but it’s still expensive. As well as donating over $700,000 to the Maltese government, you must own or rent a house in Malta for five years and pass a background check. But for some people it’s worth it to be able to travel and work in all 28 EU countries.
Hallstatt, Austrian Alps.
It's hard to say which is the most powerful passport you can buy, but Austria is a good example. With access to 186 countries, Austria is also part of the European Union. It doesn’t have an official CIP, but may give citizenship to non-residents under “special” circumstances. In most cases, that just means donating or investing a lot of money. The amount that people pay is not released to the public.
Exercise 3
Discussion
What are your thoughts on Citizenship by Investment Programs?
If you could become a citizen of one of the countries featured in the article, which would you choose and why?
How difficult is it to become a citizen of your country? Please explain your answer.
How would you explain the fact that Japan has the world's strongest passport?
What countries do you imagine have the least powerful passports? Why?
Exercise 4
Further Discussion
Have you ever lived overseas? If so, did you enjoy it? If not, would you like to?
How many countries have you visited so far? Which ones would you like to visit again?
What countries do you hope to visit someday? Please explain your answer.
If you had to guess, where would you say most of the tourists in your country come from? Please explain your answer.
What do you imagine are the most popular tourist destinations for people from your country? Please explain your answer.
Exercise 5
Quotes
To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries. - Aldous Huxley. Do you agree? Why? Why not?
I'm in love with cities I've never been to. - Melody Truong. What do you make of this statement?
