In my case I want to get rid of mine for war reasons: I don't ant to be called to a war to fight for "my" country, because I don't think most of the population here deserve me throwing my life away for them, even if it is REALLY unlikely (our country is sort of pacifist, even WWII people were skeptical that we would actually retaliate after we were attacked).
Now that it's been adopted by multiple countries it's only a matter of time before some start competing on price. Hopefully it will start to become affordable soon.
Leaving aside the developing and underdeveloped nations discussed in the article, the two cheapest right now look to be: the US ($500k equity in a job creating business for four years) and Portugal (€500k in real estate for five years).
The big disadvantage to the US program is that it has fairly strict residency requirements and, almost alone, taxes on worldwide income. Portugal appears to have much looser residency requirements (both to maintain the visa and to ultimately apply for citizen) but I'm far less familiar with its program and could be missing some nuance.
Hungary's program is €300k (in special government bonds), but I don't think they are considered a developed nation yet. (they used to be called 2nd world, but that category seems to have dropped out in the new developed/developing/underdeveloped scheme).
Speaking from my home in Budapest, I can tell you with utter confidence that if you don't consider Hungary a developed nation you need to do a little more research.
Hungarian citizenship lets you live and work anywhere in the EU, which is attractive even if you don't want to live in Hungary.
Kind of like how being born in Wyoming gives you US citizenship, which lets you live and work anywhere in America, even if you wouldn't want to live in Wyoming.
Not necessarily fraudulent, I think there are some EU rules that permanent residents of one country can live and work in other countries. I don't know the specifics though.
Spain and Ireland also have programs where you can buy houses, gain residency (but not work permits), and then become a citizen after 5 years.
I've been living in Ireland for 2.5 years and was really excited to become a citizen, but am returning to the US for family reasons, which is bittersweet. My time spent here still counts towards the residency calculation, should I return in the next four years.
As I tried to indicate the current classifications are a bit of mess. You can see the different definitions in use by various entities in this wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_country
I don't mind people wanting me to go to war for them.
But I mind WHAT people wants me to.
Brazil has two important issues to me:
First, and most importantly, the average Brazillian is a scumbag, Brazil has a terrible culture that is extremely individualistic and noxious, yes, people externally are happy, generous, and whatnot, but here people are fast to backstab you if they see an advantage in it, there is a reason Brazillians are hated in internet games (even by other Brazillians), I would very much prefer 'cold' people like the nordics, that yet you can leave your baby on the street outside and noone will dare to steal it.
Second, the population has mostly no blood relation to me, there is a good reason why people frequently want to defend blood-related people in wars... (for those wondering: most of me is Portuguese, with bits of Italian and Spanish mixed in)
Currently I feel... like if I had no home, unsure of what nation I should adopt.
Many times I considered some of the more "serious" european countries (UK, nordics, germanics) that tend to act more honourable.
Other times I considered my "home culture" (the countries bordering the north mediterrean, like Portugal, Spain, Italy... even Malta sounds interesting)
But who knows. for now I don't have much of a choice anyway.
On the original Silk Road you could find UK passports, allegedly generated from within the UK govt, for around US$6,000. Seller claimed they worked in voting, being scanned, moving to the UK etc.
I think it is a great idea.
In my case I want to get rid of mine for war reasons: I don't ant to be called to a war to fight for "my" country, because I don't think most of the population here deserve me throwing my life away for them, even if it is REALLY unlikely (our country is sort of pacifist, even WWII people were skeptical that we would actually retaliate after we were attacked).