As co-creator, Yakof explained that this model ensured that every application is examined thoroughly in a consistent manner and allowed for decisions to be taken systematically and transparently.

With further independent research, the CIVIQUO team presented the first commercially available Risk Assessment Framework (RAF) in 2019, during a stakeholder consultation organised by the European Commission. CIVIQUO’s RAF furthers the research on the subject of due diligence practice within the residency and citizenship by investment industry, by taking into account additional risk factors, such as the intention for an individual seeking alternative residency or citizenship and taxation. Now, with the 2nd edition being published, a 9th category is being included in the framework.

In 2019, the European Commission established a Group of Experts on Investor Citizenship and Residence Schemes, aimed at agreeing on a common set of security checks. The Group of Experts failed to present a harmonised due diligence process for such programs, thus the CIVIQUO RAF, remains the state-of-the-art tool, and continues to lay the foundations for future research on the practice of due diligence within the residency and citizenship by investment industry.