Golden visa programs have become very popular in Europe among foreign investors. Golden visas grant immediate residency to foreign investors who buy an immovable property or create jobs through business.
It is estimated that “golden visa” programs are an estimated 5 billion dollar industry in Europe with investors from China, Russia, Middle East, Brazil and South Africa are buying immovable property in Europe. Portugal ARI golden visa programme already brought 3 billion euros investment whereas Spain received 2 billion euro inflows into the golden visa programme.
Golden visa programs have reignited the demand in property market in Europe, with soaring property prices in Greece, Portugal and Spain. Golden visa programs does not require investors are not required to live or move permanently to Europe.
Portugal Golden Visa
- EUR 500,000 Portugal golden visa ARI programme
- Residency by investment in Schengen country.
- Qualifying investments (real estate, business, research, capital transfer, Art)
- Minimal residency requirements – 7days per year.
- Permanent residency after 5 years of uninterrupted living.
- Most popular property investment program in Europe.
- Portugal Citizenship after 6 years of living.
- No requirement to live in Portugal
- Processing time is 3 months
- Free movement in Schengen with residence permit (“TÃTULO DE RESIDÊNCIA”) issued by Portugal.
Spain Golden Visa
- EUR 500,000 in real estate
- Spanish golden visa programme
- Residency by investment in Schengen
- Qualifying investments (real estate, bonds, company shares)
- Spanish Citizenship after 10 years of living (non spanish speaking countries), quicker 3 years for those from spanish speaking countries. (no PR status required)
- No requirement to live in Spain after getting residency (must visit spain for few days every year).
- Free movement in Schengen states with residence permit(“PERMISO DE RESIDENCIA”) issued by spain.
Ireland Golden Visa
- EUR 500,000 irish immigrant investor program
- Residency by investment in EU member state.
- Qualifying investments (enterprise, donation, real estate, bonds)
- Irish Citizenship after 5 years of uninterrupted living (no PR status required)
- No requirement to live in Ireland
- Most popular program for UK nationals seeking Irish passport post Brexit
- Ireland is an excellent business investment destination with corporate friendly taxes.
Belgium Golden Visa
- EUR 350,000 business investor scheme
- Belgium golden visa programme
- Residency by investment in Schengen
- Qualifying investments (business investment and create jobs)
- Belgium Citizenship after 5 years of living in Belgium (PR status in 5 years)
- Most popular business immigration program in Europe .
- No requirement to live in Belgium after receiving residency.
- Free movement in Schengen states with residence permit (“VERBLIJFSTITEL”) issued by Belgium.
- Easy application process and no language tests or business experience required.
United Kingdom Golden Visa
- GBP 200,000 (entrepreneur investor visa) or GBP 2 million (tier1 investor)
- Residency by investment in the UK (permanent)
- Qualifying investments (business enterprise)
- Citizenship after 5 years of living in the UK (PR status / ILR required)
- Attractive program post Brexit due to cheaper pound value.
- 2 months application processing time.
- Residency requirement: You must live 9 months per year in the UK.
Malta Golden Visa
he Malta Residence and Visa Programme (MRVP) offers non-Maltese persons the possibility of acquiring an EU residence card which offers visa-free travel within the Schengen area.
- EUR 250,000 in MRVP for 5 years
- Qualifying investments (real estate)
- EU residence card gives visa-free travel within Schengen area
- Right to reside indefinitely in Malta
- Five years’ permanent residence, renewable indefinitely
- Investment required only for first five years
- No residence requirement
- Taxed only on Maltese source income and remitted income
- Family members can be included
Cyprus Golden Visa
- EUR 300,000 (real estate immovable property)
- Cyprus permanent residency scheme
- Fast track application procedure, within two months
- High approval rate if all criteria is satisfied
- No requirement to reside in Cyprus but a visit once every two years is required
- Dependents can be enrolled in high quality private schools, offering English language courses
- Cyprus Residence applies to the whole family (applicant, spouse and children under 18 years old)
- Dependent children between 18-25 and parents of the applicant are also eligible
- The whole process can be arranged without being present in the country, however, a visit is required for biometric capturing
- Low property tax. No inheritance tax. No language requirements.
- Naturalize for cyprus passport after 8 years of living.
Netherlands Golden Visa
- EUR 1,250,000 (dutch golden visa)
- Netherlands foreign investor scheme
- Residency by investment in Netherlands
- Qualifying investments (business capital, shares, bonds)
- No residency requirements (must visit Netherlands once a year for few days)
- Dutch Citizenship after 5 years of living (no PR status required)
- Permanent residency status after 5 years of uninterrupted living
- Free movement in schengen zone with dutch residence permit card (“VERBLIJFSKAART”).
Switzerland Golden Visa
- CHF 1,000,000 (swiss business investor visa)
- Swiss business investment programme (swiss golden visa)
- Residency by investment
- Qualifying investments (capital investment in a swiss company and create jobs)
- Swiss citizenship after 12 years of uninterrupted living ( no PR status needed)
- Swiss permanent residence card after 10 years of uninterrupted living.
- Processing time is 3 months.
- Free movement in 26 EU schengen states with swiss permit.
- Buying a home or property in Switzerland is allowed.
- No requirement to live in Switzerland.
Latvia Golden Visa
- EUR 80,000 in Latvia
- Latvia immigrant investor program (latvia golden visa)
- Residency by investment scheme in Europe.
- Cheapest european real estate investment program
- Qualifying investments (€250,000 in real estate or €80,000 in business or €300,000 bank deposit)
- Latvian Citizenship after 10 years of living (must have PR status)
- No residence requirements.
- Latvia is a very popular program among Russian nationals.
- Latvian residence permit (Uzturešanas atlauja”) allows free movement in 26 Schengen states.
Hungary Golden Visa
- EUR 300,000 (hungary residency bond program – closed from March 2017)
- Government backed residency by investment scheme (Hungary golden visa)
- Qualifying investments (risk free hungarian government bonds worth 300,000 euros)
- Entire investment 300,000 euros will be returned with no interest after 5 years.
- Lifetime permanent residence status in Europe.
- No requirement to live in the country.
- Free movement in Schengen with hungarian residence permit (Tartózkodási engedély) issued under economic interest
- Family and children can apply for Hungarian residency
- Processing time is 4 months.
- Hungarian citizenship after 8 years of living (requires PR status)
- No language tests, no business experience, no health checks, No education required.
- Expect additional processing costs 50,000 to 60,000 euros.
- No country restrictions, programme open to all country nationals.
- Financing options available with agents.
Bulgaria Golden Visa
- EUR 512,000 (immigrant investor visa)
- Permanent residency by investment in Bulgaria
- No free movement in Schengen (Bulgaria is not in schengen)
- Qualifying investments (bonds, real estate, business)
- Citizenship after 5 years (requires PR status)
- Processing time 2 months.
- No residence requirements to live in Bulgaria
Greece Golden Visa
- EUR 250,000 (greek residency program)
- Residency by investment scheme (Greece golden visa)
- Qualifying investments (real estate property ownership)
- Residence permit issued valid for 5 years.
- No work allowed under this scheme.
- Greece Citizenship after 7 years of living (requires PR status)
- Free movement in 26 schengen states with residence permit issued by Greece (“A?EIA ?IAMONH?”)
- No residence requirements.
- Cheapest property investment program in Europe
- No language tests, No education, No business experience required to apply.
- Processing time is 3 months.
Monaco Golden Visa
- EUR 1,000,000 (investor visa)
- Residency by investment (Monaco golden visa)
- Residency in richest and second smallest country in the world.
- Live in France or Monaco.
- Qualifying investments (bank deposit, property purchase)
- Citizenship after 10 years of living.
- Free movement in 26 schengen states
- No residency requirements.
- Investment in buying a home or property allowed under the scheme.
- Open to EU and non-EU nationals
Andorra Golden Visa
- EUR 400,000 (Andorra residency program)
- Residency by investment
- Qualifying investments: Property investment (real estate)
- Andorra citizenship after 20 years of living
- No free movement in Schengen states.
- Processing time is 2 months.
France Golden Visa
- EUR 300,000 (business investment)
- Residency by investment (french investor visa under exceptional contributor scheme)
- Qualifying investments: business investment in a french company with job creation
- French citizenship after 10 years of living.
- No requirement to live in France
- Processing time is 2 months.
- No language tests, No interviews, No education required.
- Free movement in schengen with carte de sejour
Turkey Golden Visa
- USD 1,000,000 (property investment)
- Turkish visa or citizenship
- Qualifying investments: Real estate ($1 million), Business ($2 million), Bonds/Bank deposit ($3 million)
- No residence requirements
- Turkish citizenship for family and children
- No free movement in Schengen states (Turkey is not in schengen)
- Turkey offers competitive corporate tax rates in the OECD region
- Turkish passport ranked 51 best passport in the world with visa free access to 102 countries.
- No requirement to live in Turkey after citizenship.
Montenegro Golden Visa
- EUR 500,000 (real estate or business)
- Montenegro citizenship by investment fast track (Article 8 of Montenegrin Citizenship Act)
- Qualifying investments: €500,000 in business or €500,000 in property
- Family and children qualify for Montenegro passport.
- No residency requirements. No language tests.
- Montenegro passport offers visa free travel to 105 countries in the world including United Kingdom, Russia, all of Europe.
- Dual citizenship not allowed.
Note: Montenegro is a future candidate for EU membership. The country is not a member of Schengen.
Italy Golden Visa
- EUR 500,000 in business startups
- Residency by investment (2017 Budget Law, were discussed and approved by the Italian Parliament on 7 December 2016 and made effective as of 1 January 2017)
- Qualifying investments: EUR 500,000 in business startups or EUR 2,000,000 in Government bonds, shares or EUR 1,000,000 in public interest projects (culture, education, immigration management, research and development, arts and heritage)
- Italian residence visa issued for 2 years and thereafter renewed (including family members)
- Free movement in Schengen countries with Italian residence permit.
- Italian citizenship after 10 years of living.
Georgia Golden Visa
- EUR 120,000 (business investment)
- Investment residence permit in Georgia
- Qualifying investments: Business, Real estate
- Residence permit valid for indefinite term.
- Georgia residency for family and children
- Georgian citizenship after 5 years of living.
