A citizenship by investment or residence by investment program is known as a Golden Visa. It is intended for affluent foreign nationals who wish to buy a house or make a sizable financial investment in order to get residency in a certain nation.
You will receive residence permits, which you and your immediate family (spouse and kids) can renew eternally as long as you continue the investment, if you apply for a Golden Visa.
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Most of the time, being physically present in the nation that granted the Golden Visa is either minimally or not required. This implies that you are under no obligation to move abroad unless you so choose.
However, the majority of nations demand actual stay for a period of five to ten years if you want to obtain citizenship or permanent residence through investment.
Being allowed to travel freely throughout the Schengen Zone with one's family is one of the main benefits of having a Golden Visa for an EU nation. Depending on the issuing State, the passport that results from the Golden Visa eventually grants visa-free travel to more than 100 countries worldwide.
Can Investments Get You Permanent Residence in the EU?
Yes, after five years of residence* in an EU nation, you can apply for permanent residency through investment. A permanent residency permit is normally automatically renewable after you obtain one, albeit the country that issued it will choose some details.
Like an ID card, you will still need to apply for a new residence permit, but you will only need to renew your current one.
*There are some nations, like Portugal, where obtaining a permanent residency permit does not need a certain length of time.
Is it Possible to Obtain EU Citizenship Through Investment?
Obtaining a Golden Visa does not ensure citizenship. You have to really reside in a certain EU state for a predetermined period of time in order to obtain citizenship there using a Golden Visa.
Each State has its own requirements for obtaining citizenship by investment, although generally speaking, ten years of continuous residency are needed.
Citizenship can be acquired in certain situations—like Greece—with no residency requirements at all or even in a shorter amount of time.
What Kind of Investment Is Needed to Get a Golden Visa?
Depending on the nation, you may need to invest a certain amount of money to be eligible for a Golden Visa.
Certain nations, like Spain, Portugal, or Greece, provide residency opportunities through investments in businesses, real estate, government bonds, or certain industries. In these situations, the minimum amount of money needed for investments is often €500,000.
However, some EU nations like Switzerland, Italy, and Austria call for a far more active approach to investment, such the creation of job possibilities. In these nations, there are greater investment requirements.
How Can I Pay for a Golden Visa with a Loan?
You cannot, I repeat. Loans are not permitted if you plan to use an investment to gain residency because you will have to demonstrate that the funds are truly in your name.
But depending on the nation, you might be able to get a mortgage if you want to buy a house. You can still obtain a loan or mortgage for any amount beyond the minimal required amount, but you still need to pay the required minimum upfront. However, keep in mind that regulations vary from nation to nation, so this might not always be the case.
Requirements to Obtain a Golden Visa
Each country has its own eligibility requirements for a Golden Visa, but generally speaking, you will need to provide proof of the following:
👉That the funds meant for investment belong to you.
👉That the funds were obtained lawfully.
👉That you don't have any past criminal records.
👉Certain you have enough money to support your family for the duration you plan to live there.
Which European Union nations grant Golden Visas?
The following EU nations provide Golden Visa programs:
👉Spain
👉Portugal
👉Greece
👉Italy
👉Malta
👉Switzerland
👉Austria
👉Belgium
Spain
The most popular way to obtain a Golden Visa for Spain is through real estate investment. The minimum sum required to purchase a house is €500,000.
Conditions
One of the following investments must be made in order to qualify for a Spain Golden visa:
👉Invest a minimum of €500,000 in real estate.
👉Invest at least €1 million in bank deposits or shares in Spanish companies.
👉Invest at least €2 million in Spanish state debt.
Benefits
👉There isn't a minimum duration of stay necessary.
👉Visa-free travel is available to all family members in Schengen.
👉 In five years, you can obtain permanent residency in Spain; in ten years, you can obtain citizenship and an EU passport.
Portugal
Investment choices under the Portuguese Golden Visa begin at €250,000. After as little as five years, Golden Visa holders are eligible to seek for citizenship and permanent residency.
Conditions
One of the following investments must be made in order to qualify for the Portuguese Golden Visa:
👉Acquire property for a minimum of €500,000.
👉Acquire property in an urban renewal area that is at least 30 years old and costs at least €350,000.
👉Transfer at least €1 million in capital.
👉Make a minimum of ten employment positions.
👉At least €350,000 should be spent on scientific research.
👉Invest a minimum of €250,000 on heritage, the arts, and culture.
👉Put at least €500,000 into a small or medium-sized company.
Benefits
👉The minimum investment amount is €250,000.
👉To renew the visa, you merely need to visit Portugal for two weeks every year.
👉After five years, you can seek for Portuguese citizenship without having to reside there. But becoming a citizen requires having ties to Portugal and learning the language.
👉 The Schengen Zone offers you and your family members unrestricted freedom of movement.
Greece
Investing in real estate or other financial instruments worth at least €250,000 is a requirement for obtaining a Greek Golden Visa. In order to obtain Greek citizenship, you must reside in Greece for seven years, even though there is no minimum stay required in order to renew your visa.
Requirements
A Greek Golden Visa requires you to invest in one of the following in order to be eligible:
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Invest in at least €250,000 worth of real estate.
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Invest a minimum of €400,000 in Greek government bonds.
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Invest a minimum of €400,000 in a Greek business.
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Put down a minimum of €400,000 in Greek bank accounts.
Benefits
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There are no stay minimums.
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Comparatively few alternatives for investing.
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Every five years, if the investment is maintained, the visa may be renewed.
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After residing in Greece for seven years, one can become a citizen.
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The right of any family member to travel freely inside the Schengen Zone.
👉The spouse, children under the age of 21, and both parents may apply for the visa.
Cyprus
Cyprus grants Golden Visas in two varieties. Both have the intended outcomes—one leads to citizenship, the other to permanent residency (indefinitely).
You must invest €2 million in order to obtain Cyprus citizenship through investment. For a total of €2,150,000, you must additionally donate an extra €75,000 to the Land Development Organization and €75,000 to the Cyprio Research and Development fund.
The investment required to become a citizen of Cyprus is €2 million. You also have to pay an additional €75,000 to the Cyprio Research and Development fund and an additional €75,000 to the Land Development Organization, for a total of €2,150,000.
Through this scheme, you can become a citizen of Cyprus in six months.
You must invest at least €300,000 in real estate in Cyprus in order to be eligible for permanent residence through investment. Your family members, including children under the age of 25, are also covered by the residence permit.
Italy
Purchasing real estate does not provide access to residency or citizenship in Italy. You must genuinely invest in a business or make a donation in order to be eligible for an Italian Golden Visa (Investor Visa).
Conditions
You must invest one of the following in order to qualify for the Italy Golden Visa:
👉Invest in an Italian Republic Government Bond.
👉Invest a minimum of €500,000 in an Italian-incorporated business that is active there.
👉At least €250,000 should be invested in a creative startup.
👉Donate to charitable organizations that support science, the arts, education, immigration control, and the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage.
Benefits
👉Entry into the Schengen Zone without a visa for you and your family.
👉If you have continued to make the investment, your visa may be renewed every two years.
👉You can seek for permanent residency after five years of residency.
👉You can petition for Italian citizenship after ten years.
Malta
Like Cyprus, Malta has two varieties of "Golden" visas. Whereas the other results in indefinite permanent residency, the first leads to citizenship.
Conditions and Benefits
In order to qualify for a Malta Citizenship by Investment visa, you need to meet the requirements listed below:
👉Donate at least €650,000 to the national development fund of the government and €150,000 to bonds or shares that have been authorized by the government.
👉Make a commitment to settling in Malta for at least five years when you rent or buy a property there. The bought property cannot be purchased for less than €350,000.
After a year, you may qualify for Maltese citizenship through this scheme. In order to qualify for Permanent Residency by Investment in Malta, you must:
👉Invest a minimum of €250,000 for a minimum of five years in government bonds or shares.
👉Make a minimum investment of €30,000 in the Malta State Fund.
👉Buy a home or rent one and make Malta your home.
This program does not grant citizenship, but it does grant you residency rights in Malta and visa-free access to the Schengen Area.
Switzerland
Switzerland's Golden Visa application process is far stricter than that of the majority of other nations. To begin with, you would need to invest in one of the following in order to obtain residency in Switzerland:
👉Create a business that provides job possibilities for Swiss citizens.
👉Pay a yearly tax of CHF 150,000 to CHF 1 million, depending on the canton in which you intend to reside.
Furthermore, there is a longer settlement term needed before you may obtain citizenship or permanent residency. To obtain citizenship, you must dwell in Switzerland for at least 12 years after moving here for at least 10 years if you want to become a permanent resident.
Austria
Just as in Switzerland, buying real estate or other comparable inactive investments will not grant you an Austrian Golden Visa. You would need to invest in something that would boost the Austrian economy and create jobs if you wanted to obtain residency through investment in Austria. Among the choices are:
👉Directly investing a minimum of €10 million into a business.
👉contributing to the government development fund with a minimum of €3 million.
Belgium
Belgium doesn't grant Golden Visas for the mere act of buying real estate; even in this scenario, the investment needs to be more active.
You must establish a firm and invest between €350,000 and €500,000 over the course of five years in order to be eligible for a Belgian Golden Visa.
Only after residing in Belgium for five years is it possible to obtain citizenship.
