Residency

Residency by Investment Programmes

Residency by investment offers you the opportunity to legally acquire permanent residency status in another country in return for an investment in its economy. Permanent residency is a visa status that allows the bearer to legally live, work, go to school and access healthcare in the host country. Having permanent residency can eventually lead to citizenship by naturalisation, provided the resident has lived in that country for a certain number of years.

There are more residency by investment programmes than those offering citizenship. The largest concentration of such programmes are within the European Union, commonly referred to as golden visa schemes. This is because the EU is where many investors tend to carry out business or relocate to.

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USA

The most efficient way to acquire permanent resident (‘green card’) status in the USA is via the United States of America Immigrant Investor Program.

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Greece

Greece launched its Golden Visa Programme in 2013. The programme offers immediate permanent residency followed by the option of citizenship post a residency of 7 years.

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Italy

Italy’s Investor Visa enables applicants to receive residence of Italy in return for a qualifying investment.

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Latvia

Since 2010, Latvia has been issuing temporary residence permits to foreign investors, allowing them to reside in Latvia and travel visa-free across the Schengen Area.

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Monaco

Monaco is a glamourous principality on the French Riveria and is widely considered to be one of the wealthiest places in the world.

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Portugal

Portugal launched its Golden Residence Permit Programme in October 2012. Successful and longstanding, the Programme is now considered the most established of its kind.

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Singapore

Singapore’s outstanding reputation as one of the world’s leading economies makes it a popular choice for residence by investment.

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Spain

Spain’s Golden Visa Programme, provision for which was made in 2013, is one of the industry’s most popular residence by investment programmes.

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Switzerland

Switzerland is a federal republic made up of 26 cantons and is one of the most attractive countries in the world for conducting business. Switzerland does not have a typical residence by investment programme. A non-EU/EFTA national who does not plan to undertake gainful activity in Switzerland can become a Swiss resident if a Swiss canton confirms a fiscal interest in that individual taking up residence.

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