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Residence by Investment
Residence by investment (golden visa) programs across Portugal, Greece, Malta and Europe, opening the door to living in the Schengen area and a path to citizenship.
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USA
The USA EB-5 Investor Visa opens the way to US permanent residence (green card) through an investment of USD 800,000 in a targeted employment area...
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Argentina
Argentina offers residence through the rentista (passive income) and investor routes; both open the way to citizenship in a relatively short time...
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Austria
Austria offers a quota-limited 'special settlement' residence permit for those wishing to live without working.
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Australia
Australia's business and investment visa programs, including the Significant Investor Visa (SIV), were closed in July 2024; it is no longer possible...
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Bahamas
The Bahamas offers lifetime permanent residence through real estate investment from USD 1,000,000; investments above USD 1,500,000 receive expedited...
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Bahrain
Bahrain's Golden Residency program offers 10-year renewable residence. Eligibility is met through a real estate investment of approximately BHD...
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United Kingdom
The UK Tier 1 Investor Visa was closed on February 17, 2022, and there is no direct investment residency program.
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Bulgaria
Bulgaria offers direct permanent residence (EU) through a EUR 512,000 fund (AIF/ETF) investment; alternatively, a EUR 256,000 investment in a...
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Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands offers long-term residence through the Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means (R41), requiring real estate...
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Croatia
Croatia offers residence to financially independent individuals who can support themselves without working, to employees, and through family...
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Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic offers accelerated residence through real estate investment from USD 200,000; applications are also possible with a monthly...
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Dubai (UAE)
The UAE Golden Visa offers 10-year renewable residence through a real estate investment of approximately AED 2 million (approximately USD 545,000).
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France
France does not have a standard 'investment residency' program. The 'Talent Passport' (Passeport Talent) provides multi-year residence for investors...
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Greece
The Greece Golden Visa offers residence in Europe through a real estate investment of EUR 250,000-800,000 depending on the region.
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Netherlands
The Netherlands' residence by investment (golden visa) program was abolished in 2022.
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Hong Kong
Hong Kong's New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) offers residence through an investment of HKD 30 million (approximately USD 3.8 million); of...
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Hungary
The Hungary Guest Investor Program (GIP) offers 10-year residence in the EU through a EUR 250,000 investment in a real estate fund or a EUR 1 million...
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Ireland
The Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was closed to new applications on February 15, 2023.
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Italy
The Italy Investor Visa offers residence through a EUR 250,000 investment in an innovative startup, EUR 500,000 in an Italian company, EUR 2 million...
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Jersey
Jersey's High Value Residency (2(1)(e)) program is for top-tier wealthy individuals.
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Canada
Canada's federal Start-Up Visa (SUV) was temporarily suspended in January 2026.
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Montenegro
Montenegro offers residence by purchasing real estate with a tax value of at least EUR 150,000 or by establishing a company.
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Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Investor (Inversionista) program offers residence through real estate, business, or approved investment from USD 200,000.
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Latvia
The Latvia Golden Visa offers EU residence through a EUR 250,000 real estate investment, a EUR 280,000 bank deposit, EUR 250,000 in government bonds,...
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Luxembourg
Luxembourg offers residence in approximately six months to wealthy individuals who invest at least EUR 500,000 in a Luxembourg company or investment...
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Maldives
The Maldives does not have a classic 'residence by investment' program. Long-term stay is generally provided through company establishment, tourism...
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Malaysia
The Malaysia Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) offers 20-year residence through a fixed deposit of RM 1 million and proof of RM 40,000 in monthly foreign...
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Malta
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) offers indefinite residence in the EU through renting or purchasing real estate combined with a...
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Mauritius
Mauritius offers residence through the purchase of real estate from USD 375,000 under approved property schemes (IRS, RES, PDS).
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Mexico
Mexico offers residence based on economic sufficiency. Temporary residence requires approximately USD 4,400 monthly income or approximately USD...
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Monaco
Monaco offers residence (carte de sejour) through a bank deposit of at least EUR 500,000 (which remains in your account) and renting or purchasing...
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Namibia
Namibia offers a five-year residence permit through investment; after renewal (approximately ten years in total), permanent residence can be applied...
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Panama
Panama's Qualified Investor Visa offers direct and fast (approximately 30 days) permanent residence through real estate investment from USD 300,000.
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Poland
Poland does not have an 'investment residency' (golden visa) program. Residence is generally obtained by establishing a company, employment, the EU...
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Portugal
The Portugal Golden Visa (ARI) offers residence in Europe through a EUR 500,000 investment in investment funds; the real estate route has been...
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Romania
Romania does not have a golden visa program; residence is generally obtained through company formation, employment, or study.
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Russia
Russia does not have a golden visa program in the Western sense; however, a regulation issued in 2022 allows foreigners who make significant...
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Singapore
The Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP) offers direct permanent residence (PR) to high-net-worth investors.
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Serbia
Serbia is one of Europe's most accessible programs, offering residence through the purchase of real estate or the establishment of a company, with no...
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Southern Cyprus
Cyprus (South Cyprus) offers accelerated permanent residence (PR) through a new real estate investment from EUR 300,000 and proof of annual income of...
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Spain
The Spain Golden Visa program ended on April 3, 2025, due to housing price concerns, and no longer accepts new applications.
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Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency offers residence for a one-time fee of SAR 800,000 (approximately USD 215,000) for indefinite residency, or SAR...
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Switzerland
Switzerland offers residence to wealthy foreigners through lump-sum taxation (forfait fiscal).
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Thailand
Thailand offers long-term residence of 5 to 20 years through the Privilege (Elite) Visa; membership fees range from THB 650,000 to 5,000,000 and no...
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Uruguay
Uruguay is an accessible program offering direct permanent residence through stable foreign income (rentista, approximately USD 1,500 per month).
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New Zealand
The New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa offers residence through an investment of NZD 5 million in the Growth category or NZD 10 million in the...
Which Residence Program Is Right for You?
Residence programs differ in cost, tax and the path to citizenship. We define your priority together:
Lowest cost in the EU
Latvia from a EUR 50,000 business investment; Greece from EUR 250,000 in real estate.
Tax advantage
The UAE (no personal income tax) and Panama (territorial tax) stand out.
Path to citizenship
Portugal opens a path to EU citizenship after five years.
Speed
Panama can grant permanent residence in about 30 days.
Flagship Programs: A Comparative View
Amounts are for the minimum investment option; government and application fees apply separately.
| Program | Min. investment | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | EUR 500,000 fund | Path to citizenship in 5 years |
| Greece | EUR 250,000-800,000 real estate | No stay requirement |
| Hungary | EUR 250,000 fund | 10-year residence (GIP) |
| Latvia | EUR 50,000 business investment | Lowest EU cost |
| UAE (Dubai) | ~USD 545,000 real estate | Tax-free, 10 years |
| Malta | MPRP (from ~EUR 150,000) | Permanent residence in Schengen |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a golden visa (residence by investment)?
It is a temporary or permanent residence permit that grants the right to live and often work in a country in return for a qualifying investment. Many programs also open a path to citizenship over the years.
Does a residence permit turn into citizenship?
In most countries, yes: after a set period (usually 5-10 years) of legal residence, and a language requirement in some countries, you can apply for citizenship. In Portugal, for example, this is five years.
Which EU residence program has the lowest budget?
Latvia's business investment starts from EUR 50,000 and Greece's real estate from EUR 250,000. The right choice depends on your budget, tax position and your family's goals.
Does a residence permit allow free movement in the Schengen area?
Residence in an EU/Schengen country allows short stays of up to 90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area. The right to settle applies only in the issuing country.
Do I have to physically live there?
It depends on the program. Some, such as Greece, have no stay requirement, while moving to permanent residence or citizenship may require actual residence.
How long does the process take?
Typically 2-14 months depending on the program and country. Nearly all programs require a clean criminal record and a documented legal source of funds.
Contact Us
We provide clients with end-to-end citizenship, residence permit and investment advisory worldwide.