Residency by Investment Programs

A residence permit is a document that verifies a foreigner’s right to live in a specific nation. It is typically obtained for the purpose of working, starting a business, obtaining an education in the country, or for other reasons.

Portugal, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Andorra, and the UAE are among the countries that offer residency by investment.

Some countries have an immigrant investor program that allows investors residency with less restrictions than other candidates. Investors, for example, are not required to pass language exams or live in the country continuously in order to stay residents.

Investing in real estate in Portugal, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Andorra, Malta, and the UAE can lead to a resident permit and becoming permanent residents. Applicants may purchase residential or commercial property before applying for residency.

Any global citizen must demonstrate the reason for coming to the country, such as finding work, enrolling in a university, establishing a business, or marrying a citizen of the country.

High-net-worth individuals can obtain residency by allocating foreign investments in Portugal, Malta, Greece, the UAE, and other nations. An investor must purchase real estate, government bonds, or other securities, or run a business and create jobs.

A temporary residency visa is issued for a set period of time, generally a year or two, with the option to extend the status. To keep residency, one must fulfill certain regulations, such as spending the majority of the year in the country.

Some countries issue a residence permit for a longer period of time. If you invest in real estate in Greece, you can apply for a 5-year residency permit.

After several years of stay in the nation, a permanent residence visa is normally granted. In most circumstances, the status is permanent, and the ID cards need be renewed every few years.

In some nations, investors can also apply for permanent residency. Processing takes several months.

The validity of a residence permit is determined by the country. In Portugal, for example, investors acquire residency cards for a year or two, whereas in Greece, the permit is valid for five years.

Permanent residence through investment provides for less frequent document exchange. In Malta, residency permission cards are replaced every five years, however in Cyprus, this document has no expiration date.

Although a Golden Visa investment program always includes a residency permit, obtaining a passport is usually a more difficult process and it is important to mention that a residency investment program is not the same as citizenship by investment.

Yes, a Golden Visa can eventually lead to citizenship, but you must first reside in that country for a few years. How long depends on each country, and in some cases you will never be eligible for citizenship.

For example, if you apply for a Spanish Golden Visa, you will be granted a residence permit even though you have no intention of ever living in Spain. However, citizenship can only be obtained after ten years of continuous residence and “ties” to Spain, such as language proficiency.

In Portugal, on the other hand, you only have to live there for 5 years with a permanent residence permit and you are eligible for citizenship.

The benefits of a Golden Visa vary depending on the country where you wish to apply. The benefits of European countries’ Golden Visas are numerous.

In contrast, the UAE Golden Visa has its own benefits, such as personal income tax optimization and particularly favorable circumstances for living in an EU country:

• Relocating to Europe – A resident permit or European residence, often known as permanent residence, allows you to live in the country of your choice. Moving, on the other hand, is a right, not a requirement: most programs do not need you to live in the country.

• Establish a safe haven – An investor with a residence permission can visit the nation at any time, even if entry to foreigners with valid visas is denied. The residence permits you to enter the country without a visa at any moment, including when your own country declares a state of emergency.

• Visa-free travel to Schengen countries – Investors holding a residence permit from Portugal, Greece, Spain, or Italy, or permanent residency in Malta or Cyprus, can stay in the Schengen nations for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. During this time, the time spent in the country providing the residence permit is not considered.

• Obtain European Citizenship – After 5-10 years of residence, an application for citizenship can be presented. Dual citizenship is recognized in Portugal, Malta, Cyprus, and Italy.

• Business Options – Golden Visa holders can register businesses in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, and Malta. This makes running a firm or expanding it easier, such as entering new markets.

• Access to European education and healthcare systems – Children of European investors can attend schools and colleges in the nation that awarded the residence visa. In European clinics, all family members mentioned in the application have access to high-quality medical care.

• Tax Advantages – An investor can take advantage of the country’s tax structure by becoming a tax resident, forming a corporation, or legally reducing their tax responsibilities.

• Return on initial investment – Most investment-based residence permit programs provide for a large portion of the initial money to be refunded after the investor is granted permanent residency or citizenship. Typically, the investor must reside in the country for at least 5 years.