7 European countries with fastest residency by investment programs

While residency by investment programs are often designed to be more efficient than traditional immigration routes, their actual processing speed depends on the country, the investment option chosen, and how thoroughly the application is prepared.

Golden Visas can offer a structured and relatively straightforward path to residency, but they do not always outpace other types of permits in terms of timeline or simplicity. Each application is assessed individually and always involves rigorous Due Diligence.

Fastest investment-based residency programs: country comparison

Country

Latvia

Processing time

3+ months

Minimum investment

€50,000

First RP validity

5 years

Stay requirement

Visit once a year

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 18

Time to citizenship

10 years

Country

Greece

Processing time

4+ months

Minimum investment

€250,000

First RP validity

5 years

Stay requirement

None

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 21, parents

Time to citizenship

7 years

Country

Italy

Processing time

4+ months

Minimum investment

€250,000

First RP validity

2 years

Stay requirement

None

Eligible family members

Spouse, children, parents

Time to citizenship

10 years

Country

Hungary

Processing time

5+ months

Minimum investment

€250,000

First RP validity

10 years

Stay requirement

None

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 25, parents

Time to citizenship

11 years

Country

Malta

Processing time

6+ months

Minimum investment

€169,000

First RP validity

Lifelong

Stay requirement

None

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 29, parents, grandparents

Time to citizenship

5 years

Country

Cyprus

Processing time

9+ months

Minimum investment

€300,000

First RP validity

Lifelong

Stay requirement

Visit once every 2 years

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 25

Time to citizenship

8 years

Country

Portugal

Processing time

12+ months

Minimum investment

€250,000

First RP validity

2 years

Stay requirement

7 days per year

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 26, parents

Time to citizenship

5 years

Country

Processing time

Minimum investment

First RP validity

Stay requirement

Eligible family members

Time to citizenship

Latvia

3+ months

€50,000

5 years

Visit once a year

Spouse, children under 18

10 years

Greece

4+ months

€250,000

5 years

None

Spouse, children under 21, parents

7 years

Italy

4+ months

€250,000

2 years

None

Spouse, children, parents

10 years

Hungary

5+ months

€250,000

10 years

None

Spouse, children under 25, parents

11 years

Malta

6+ months

€169,000

Lifelong

None

Spouse, children under 29, parents, grandparents

5 years

Cyprus

9+ months

€300,000

Lifelong

Visit once every 2 years

Spouse, children under 25

8 years

Portugal

12+ months

€250,000

2 years

7 days per year

Spouse, children under 26, parents

5 years

Unlike employment or family-based permits, Golden Visa programs do not require applicants to live in the country year-round. In many cases, just a few days of physical presence per year is sufficient. This makes them appealing to globally mobile individuals who need flexible residence options.

Golden Visas are also independent of employment contracts, academic admissions, or family ties. As long as the investment conditions remain in place, the permit offers a long-term solution for those seeking a secure legal foothold in Europe.

The Latvia Golden Visa provides one of the shortest paths to EU residence, with application review completed in 3 to 6 months depending on the investment type. It offers flexibility in capital allocation, low financial thresholds, and minimal stay requirements.

Investment options

Investors can choose one of three qualifying routes:

1. Equity investment into the share capital of a Latvian company — €50,000.

2. Purchase of real estate in Riga or within a 30 km radius — €250,000.

3. Fixed-term bank deposit with a Latvian credit institution — €280,000.

Real estate and bank deposit applications are processed within 3 to 5 months due to standardised documentation and straightforward asset verification. Equity investments, which require business analysis and approval of company compliance, take slightly longer — 4 to 6 months.

Family eligibility 

The Latvia Golden Visa allows inclusion of a spouse and children under 18 in the same application. Adult children and parents are not eligible under the main programme terms and must apply separately, if at all.

Financial requirements

Applicants must confirm sufficient savings to cover living expenses in Latvia, evidenced by a personal bank account balance:

• €26,640 for real estate applicants;

• €8,880 for those applying via equity or deposit options.

Family members require additional proof of funds: €8,880 for a spouse and €2,664 for each dependent child.

Individual cost calculation for residence by investment in Latvia

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Validity and stay requirements 

The residence permit is granted for 5 years and may be renewed indefinitely, provided the investment conditions are met. While Latvia does not require investors to reside in the country year-round, they must visit at least once annually to renew their residence card and submit biometrics.

Regardless of the chosen route, the investment must be retained for a minimum of 5 years to preserve residency. However, the conditions for exit vary.

The real estate route offers the most flexibility: property may be sold at any time, even within the 5-year period. However, this will result in automatic cancellation of the residence permit unless the applicant has already transitioned to permanent residency. In contrast, equity and deposit routes are contractually binding — early exit is not permitted, even if the applicant is willing to forfeit residency.

Pathway to PR & citizenship

Permanent residence becomes available after 5 years of continuous legal residence in Latvia. To qualify, the applicant must not have been absent from the country for more than 6 consecutive months or 10 months in total during the 5-year period. 

After another 5 years as a permanent resident, applicants become eligible to apply for Latvian citizenship.

The Greece Golden Visa program is also among the fastest investment-based residency options in the EU, with permits issued in as little as 4 months.

Investment options

Greece offers the broadest range of qualifying investments among EU Golden Visa programmes. Applicants may choose from the following routes:

1. Real estate purchase of €250,000, €400,000 or €800,000, depending on the property’s location and type.

2. Units in mutual or alternative investment funds — €350,000.

3. Fixed-term deposit in a Greek bank — €500,000.

4. Long-term lease or timeshare agreement for tourist accommodation — €500,000.

5. Investment in a Greek company — €500,000.

6. Greek government bonds — €500,000.

7. Listed corporate or government bonds — €800,000.

The quickest routes to residency are the bank deposit and investment fund options, typically completed in around 4 months. Despite this, real estate remains the most popular investment path. Properties can be rented out, offering passive income and yields of up to 10% annually.

Khalid, 41

Entrepreneur from Qatar

Greece Golden Visa by property investment in just 2 months

Khalid, a logistics entrepreneur from Qatar, sought seamless access to Europe for frequent business travel. By acquiring a Golden Visa eligible property in Greece, he and his family secured 5-year residence permits in just 2 months.

Thanks to a swift property purchase and streamlined Due Diligence, the entire process — from initial review to receiving the residence card — was completed in just 8 weeks, cutting the typical 3- to 6-month timeline in half.

Learn a case

Family eligibility

The Greek Golden Visa allows family members to be included in a single application. Eligible dependants include:

• spouse or registered partner;

• unmarried children under the age of 21;

• parents of both the main applicant and their partner.

Validity and stay requirements

Greece issues a 5-year renewable residence permit. 

There is no physical presence requirement to maintain residency status: investors are not obliged to live in or even frequently visit Greece. Yet, the investment must be maintained for as long as the applicant wishes to keep their Golden Visa valid.

Pathway to PR & citizenship

After 5 years of continuous residence in Greece — meaning actual physical presence — applicants become eligible for permanent residency.

To qualify for citizenship, applicants must reside in Greece and maintain legal residence for at least 7 years from the date the Golden Visa is granted.

The Italy Golden Visa is an investment route to residency in the EU within as little as 4 months, making it one of the fastest residency by investment programs available.

Investment options

Italy provides four qualifying routes under its Golden Visa program:

1. Investment in an innovative startup — €250,000;

2. Investment in an Italian company — €500,000;

3. Donation to a philanthropic initiative — €1,000,000;

4. Purchase of Italian government bonds — €2,000,000.

As the 3rd-largest economy in the eurozone and 8th globally, Italy offers a strategic business environment with direct access to the EU single market. Its location facilitates cross-border trade, supply chain integration, and access to regional hubs.

The startup sector in particular has shown strong performance. In 2024, Italian innovative startups and small to medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, generated over €8.6 billion in revenue and employed around 60,000 people. 

Startup companies benefit from favourable tax incentives, including VAT reductions, R&D credits, and exemptions from stamp duties. Additionally, they may access state-backed loan guarantees and streamlined administrative procedures.

Individual cost calculation for residence by investment in Italy

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Family eligibility

Investors may include immediate family members in the same application. Eligible dependants include:

• spouse;

• children under 18;

• unmarried children over 18 who are financially dependent and have no children of their own;

• parents.

To include parents, they must meet one of the following conditions: either they are financially dependent on the main applicant and have no other children in their country of origin or provenance, or they are over 65 years old and their other children are unable to support them due to documented serious health reasons.

Validity and stay requirements

The Italy Golden Visa grants an initial 2-year residence permit card, which can be renewed for an additional 3 years. After this period, the permit may continue to be renewed indefinitely, provided the investment is maintained and all legal requirements are met.

There is no minimum stay requirement to retain the permit.

Pathway to PR & citizenship

After 5 years of continuous legal residence, investors become eligible to apply for permanent residency. An additional 5 years of residence is required to qualify for Italian citizenship.

The Hungary Golden Visa follows a slightly longer process, with residency obtained in at least 5 months. The timeline partly depends on the investor, as the first step is receiving the Guest Investor Visa, valid for 6 months. During this period, the investor must travel to Hungary, complete the investment, and apply for the residence permit.

Investment options

The Hungary Golden Visa offers two qualifying routes:

1. Purchase of units in a real estate fund — €250,000;

2. Donation to an institution of higher learning — €1,000,000.

The donation route supports academic, scientific, artistic or cultural initiatives within accredited Hungarian institutions. This is a non-refundable contribution with no capital return.

The real estate fund option allows investors to purchase units issued by approved asset managers registered with the Constitution Protection Office. Each fund certificate must have a minimum 5-year maturity, and projected returns may reach up to 6% annually.

Individual cost calculation for residence by investment in Hungary

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Family eligibility

The Hungarian program allows family reunification under the same application. Eligible dependants include:

• spouse or registered partner;

• children under 18;

• children aged 18 to 25, provided they are unmarried, in full-time education, and financially dependent;

• parents who rely financially on the investor and receive no income other than a pension.

Validity and stay requirements

The Hungary Golden Visa offers the longest initial validity period among EU investment programs — a 10-year residence permit, which can be renewed once for another 10 years. There is no physical presence requirement.

There are, however, special rules for adult children: those aged 18 to 25 may only receive a 3-year residence permit, renewable for another 3 years as long as eligibility conditions remain in place.

Pathway to PR & citizenship

Investors become eligible for permanent residency after just 3 years of legal residence, making this one of the shortest timelines for long-term status in the EU. 

Citizenship becomes available 8 years later, completing the path at 11 years total.

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme grants lifetime permanent residency from the start, rather than a temporary permit. This makes Malta one of the most accessible European countries for non-EU citizens seeking permanent residency. The process takes a minimum of 6 months.

Investment requirements

Applicants must meet several mandatory conditions, with the only variable being the choice between purchasing or renting real estate in Malta.

The minimum total investment starts at €169,000 for rental and €474,000 for property purchase. These thresholds include:

• purchasing or renting real estate in Malta;

• contribution fee of €37,000;

• administrative fee of €60,000;

• charitable donation of €2,000.

For rental, the property must cost at least €14,000 per year and be rented for a minimum of 5 years. For purchase, the real estate must be worth at least €375,000. 

Albert Ioffe,

Legal and Compliance Officer, certified CAMS specialist

Starting from January 1st, 2025, new rules under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme allow greater flexibility for investors in how they use qualifying properties. Previously, leasing such properties — whether short- or long-term — was prohibited.

Under the updated regulations, applicants who purchase real estate for the purpose of permanent residence may now rent it out on a short-term basis while they are outside Malta.

Applicants must also demonstrate sufficient financial means: either a minimum of €500,000 in total assets with at least €150,000 in liquid financial assets, or €650,000 in total assets with €75,000 in liquid financial assets.

Family eligibility

Close family members can be included in the application:

• spouse;

• children under 18;

• unmarried children aged 18 to 29 who are principally dependent on the main applicant;

• parents and grandparents who are also principally dependent.

An additional administrative fee applies for relatives over 18, except spouses, — €7,500 per person.

Individual cost calculation for permanent residence in Malta

Get the cost calculation

Validity and stay requirements

The residency status is granted for life. However, residency cards must be renewed every 5 years.

There is no obligation to live in Malta to keep the status. Still, during the first 5 years, the investor must pass an annual compliance check to confirm they continue to meet the programme’s requirements. After that, they must maintain a residential address in Malta — either owned or rented — with no minimum property value.

Pathway to citizenship

Holders of permanent residency can apply for Maltese citizenship by naturalisation after 5 years of holding the status.

Cyprus offers one of the most accessible permanent residence pathways in Europe. Although the processing time is longer than Malta’s, typically taking at least 9 months, the key benefit is the same: lifelong residency is granted immediately upon approval.

Investment options

Investors may choose from four routes, each requiring a minimum investment of €300,000:

1. Purchase of residential property;

2. Purchase of commercial property;

3. Acquisition of shares in Cypriot companies;

4. Investment in units of Cyprus-based funds.

For residential property, the investor may buy one or two new units with a combined value of at least €300,000 plus VAT. The standard VAT rate is 19%, but a reduced rate of 5% may apply if the property serves as the applicant’s only residence in Cyprus and is not rented out.

Rental is permitted, however, and offers an attractive return: residential property in Cyprus typically yields 4—6% annually, providing investors with a reliable passive income during the required holding period.

Family eligibility

The application can include:

• spouse or partner; 

• children under 18; 

• unmarried children under 25 who are financially dependent students; 

• children of any age with physical or mental disabilities.

Financial requirements

In addition to the investment, applicants must demonstrate a legal annual income of at least €50,000. This threshold increases by €15,000 if a spouse is included, and by €10,000 for each dependent child.

Validity and stay requirements

Cyprus grants permanent residence for life from the outset. Residency cards must be renewed every 10 years. To retain the status, the investor must visit Cyprus at least once every 2 years.

Pathway to citizenship

Investors may apply for Cypriot citizenship by naturalisation after 8 years of residence on the island.

Although the Portugal Golden Visa is not among the fastest options — full processing can take up to 12 months — it remains one of the most popular and attractive European residence-by-investment programmes. One key reason is its fast-track to citizenship: Portugal allows naturalisation after just 5 years of legal residency, with no requirement to live in the country full-time.

Investment options

Applicants can choose from five qualifying investment routes:

• support for arts and culture — €250,000;

• investment in scientific research — €500,000;

• purchase of investment fund units — €500,000;

• establishing a company and creating 5 jobs — €500,000;

• creation of at least 10 jobs — no capital threshold.

The most popular route is investment in Portuguese investment fund units. These regulated funds typically offer average annual returns ranging from 2 to 20%, with dividends paid quarterly or annually. Many funds also allow flexible exit strategies, enabling investors to recover capital over a 5 to 12-year horizon.

Family eligibility

Residence permits may also be granted to close family members of the main applicant, including:

• spouse or partner; 

• children under 18;

• unmarried children aged 18 to 26 who are full-time students and financially dependent; 

• parents who are over 65 or financially dependent on the investor.

Validity and stay requirements

The initial residence permit is valid for 2 years and renewable. To maintain residency, the holder must spend at least 7 days per year in Portugal. 

Pathway to PR & citizenship

After 5 years of legal residence, the investor becomes eligible to apply for permanent residence or citizenship, provided they pass a Portuguese language test at A2 level.

Portugal Golden Visa alternatives

For those seeking faster relocation to Portugal, alternative visas may be more suitable. Both the Digital Nomad Visa and the D7 Visa for financially independent individuals can be obtained in as little as 6 months.

To qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa, applicants must demonstrate remote work and a stable monthly income of at least €3,480.

For the D7 Visa, the minimum income requirement is €870 per month, sourced from outside Portugal. Eligible income types include dividends, royalties, interest, pensions, or rental income.

Residency in an EU country grants the right to live there without time limits for as long as the permit remains valid. But beyond legal stay, it also provides a range of valuable advantages for investors.

1. Visa-free travel across the Schengen Area

Residents of any Schengen member state may travel freely across the entire Schengen Area without a visa. This allows for short visits of up to 90 days within any 180-day period in other Schengen countries — ideal for business trips, family visits, and leisure travel.

2. Tax optimisation for newcomers

Residency can be a gateway to tax residency, typically acquired by spending at least 183 days per year in the country. While most programmes do not include built-in tax benefits, several EU countries offer favourable regimes for new residents:

• Greece applies a flat €100,000 tax on worldwide income for qualifying new tax residents;

• Italy offers a similar tax regime with a €200,000 flat tax, along with exemptions on foreign income and limits on gift and inheritance tax to assets held in Italy;

• Portugal introduced the IFICI+ tax regime, designed to support innovation-led investment. It provides a flat 20% income tax and, in some cases, 0% tax on dividends and capital gains — with benefits lasting up to 10 years.

3. Business advantages in a single market

EU residency makes it easier to start, relocate, or expand a business across the European Single Market. All the countries mentioned offer business-friendly conditions, and some feature Europe’s lowest corporate tax rates:

• Hungary – 9%;

• Cyprus – 12.5%.

Malta applies a higher nominal rate of 35% but offers significant refunds. For example, companies classified as Participating Holdings — owning equity in foreign firms — may qualify for a full 100% tax refund.

In addition, EU residency can support ventures in tourism, real estate, and hospitality — particularly in high-traffic destinations like Portugal and Greece, each attracting over 30 million tourists annually. Italy welcomed a record 70 million international visitors in 2024.

Latvia stands out for its administrative efficiency, ranking 19th globally in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index — thanks to quick procedures for company registration and property acquisition.

4. Asset diversification and income generation

EU residency enables investors to diversify their portfolios with European assets. Examples include:

• Greece — rental yields of up to 10%, with local funds offering 4–5%;

• Portugal —  investment funds yields projected at 2—20% annual returns;

• Hungary —  fund yields projected at up to 6% annually;

• Cyprus — steady capital appreciation of 1—4% annually; in 2024, property values rose by 4—8%, with similar yields from long-term leases.

5. Pathway to EU citizenship

Residency by investment can eventually lead to citizenship by naturalisation. Depending on the country, investors may apply after 5 to 11 years of legal residence, provided they meet the respective stay and integration requirements.

Each European country sets its own conditions for granting citizenship through naturalisation. However, most EU states apply broadly similar criteria, requiring applicants to meet several key conditions over a set period of legal residence.

Eligibility

To qualify for citizenship, applicants are usually expected to:

• physically reside in the country for most of each year during the qualifying period;

• pass a language exam and demonstrate basic knowledge of the country’s culture, constitution, or history;

• take a formal oath or pledge of allegiance;

• maintain a clean criminal record and pose no threat to public order or national security;

• have legal, stable income and secure long-term accommodation;

• demonstrate full tax compliance and hold valid health insurance.

In certain cases, applicants might also be required to renounce their previous citizenship — especially if their country of origin does not allow dual nationality.

Residency requirements

Most EU countries require continuous permanent residence, meaning that the applicant must live in the country for the majority of each year throughout the qualifying period. 

However, Portugal offers a notable exception: under its Golden Visa program, investors may become eligible for citizenship after 5 years by spending as little as 7 days per year in the country.

Timeframes of obtaining citizenship in EU countries for investors

Country

Latvia

Time to citizenship

10 years

Dual citizenship

Allowed to NATO members and citizens of Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand

Language proficiency

Level enough to understand and communicate in Latvian

Country

Greece

Time to citizenship

7 years

Dual citizenship

Allowed

Language proficiency

B1 level of Greek

Country

Italy

Time to citizenship

10 years

Dual citizenship

Allowed

Language proficiency

B1 level of Italian

Country

Hungary

Time to citizenship

11 years

Dual citizenship

Allowed

Language proficiency

Level enough to understand and communicate in Hungarian

Country

Malta

Time to citizenship

5 years

Dual citizenship

Allowed

Language proficiency

Adequate knowledge of Maltese or English

Country

Cyprus

Time to citizenship

8 years

Dual citizenship

Allowed

Language proficiency

A2 or B1 level in Greek

Country

Portugal

Time to citizenship

5 years

Dual citizenship

Allowed

Language proficiency

A2 level of Portuguese

Country

Time to citizenship

Dual citizenship

Language proficiency

Latvia

10 years

Allowed to NATO members and citizens of Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand

Level enough to understand and communicate in Latvian

Greece

7 years

Allowed

B1 level of Greek

Italy

10 years

Allowed

B1 level of Italian

Hungary

11 years

Allowed

Level enough to understand and communicate in Hungarian

Malta

5 years

Allowed

Adequate knowledge of Maltese or English

Cyprus

8 years

Allowed

A2 or B1 level in Greek

Portugal

5 years

Allowed

A2 level of Portuguese

Citizenship by investment, or CBI, programs offer a direct, efficient path to a second passport — ideal for those prioritising citizenship over long-term residence. 

Unlike residency routes, CBI programs are typically remote, streamlined, and do not require applicants to pass language, history, or culture exams, or maintain physical presence in the issuing country.

Vanuatu: the world’s fastest CBI process

Vanuatu currently offers the fastest citizenship by investment timeline globally, with applications processed in 2+ months. The program is especially attractive to entrepreneurs due to the country’s zero-tax policy — no corporate, income, capital gains, inheritance, or donation taxes.

Applicants can choose between:

• non-refundable contribution of $130,000;

• partially returnable investment of $157,000 into the CNO Future Fund, which refunds $50,000 after 5 years.

Caribbean Five: flexible and tax-friendly

The so-called "Caribbean Five" — St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and St Lucia — consistently rank among the most popular and accessible CBI destinations. These countries feature:

• no taxes on wealth, inheritance, or capital gains;

• no or limited taxation on personal income — usually only locally sourced income;

• citizenship granted in as little as 6—8 months, depending on the program and application route.

All Caribbean CBI programs offer at least two core investment options: a non-refundable donation to a national development fund and an investment in government-approved real estate.

The real estate option enables investors to earn annual rental yields of 2—5%, with resale permitted after the minimum holding period. Some countries also provide alternative routes such as business investment or the purchase of government bonds.

Türkiye

Türkiye’s CBI programme is primarily property-based, attracting investors interested in capital appreciation. Real estate values have risen significantly in recent years, with annual growth rates of 15—25%, making Türkiye one of the top choices for property-focused applicants.

Investment routes to a second passport: country comparison

Country

Vanuatu

Processing time

2+ months

Investment

$130,000+

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 25, parents 50

Country

Dominica

Processing time

6+ months

Investment

$200,000+

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 30, parents and grandparents over 65

Country

Antigua and Barbuda

Processing time

6+ months

Investment

$230,000+

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 30, parents, grandparents, siblings

Country

St Lucia

Processing time

6+ months

Investment

$240,000+

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 30, parents, siblings

Country

St Kitts and Nevis

Processing time

6+ months

Investment

$250,000+

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 25, parents

Country

Grenada

Processing time

8+ months

Investment

$235,000+

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 30, parents, grandparents, siblings

Country

Türkiye

Processing time

8+ months

Investment

$400,000+

Eligible family members

Spouse, children under 18

Country

Processing time

Investment

Eligible family members

Vanuatu

2+ months

$130,000+

Spouse, children under 25, parents 50

Dominica

6+ months

$200,000+

Spouse, children under 30, parents and grandparents over 65

Antigua and Barbuda

6+ months

$230,000+

Spouse, children under 30, parents, grandparents, siblings

St Lucia

6+ months

$240,000+

Spouse, children under 30, parents, siblings

St Kitts and Nevis

6+ months

$250,000+

Spouse, children under 25, parents

Grenada

8+ months

$235,000+

Spouse, children under 30, parents, grandparents, siblings

Türkiye

8+ months

$400,000+

Spouse, children under 18

Residency and citizenship by investment programmes offer streamlined paths to status — but they are not without risk. From regulatory overhauls to market volatility, investors must understand the dynamic nature of these programmes before committing capital.

Policy shifts and legal unpredictability

Golden Visa and CBI programs exist at the discretion of national governments. As political priorities shift, authorities may raise the minimum investment thresholds, revise eligibility criteria, tighten due diligence protocols, or alter physical presence obligations. 

In addition, such programs are increasingly subject to external pressure. Supranational bodies such as the EU and OECD have urged stricter oversight of CBI schemes, pushing countries to standardise rules and introduce transparency reforms.

Albert Ioffe,

Legal and Compliance Officer, certified CAMS specialist

A recent example comes from the Caribbean, where five countries — Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia — have agreed to introduce a unified framework that tightens citizenship by investment rules. 

The proposed changes include a mandatory physical presence, participation in an integration program covering local law and governance, annual limits on passport issuances, and an initial passport validity of 5 years, extendable to 10 only upon full compliance.

Administrative backlogs

A growing number of applicants and limited processing capacity can lead to significant delays in issuing residence permits or citizenship approvals. In some cases, files remain pending well beyond published timelines.

To defend client interests in such situations, legal teams may resort to litigation. For example, in Portugal, we have successfully filed lawsuits on behalf of clients to compel immigration authorities to process overdue applications.

Risk of renewal rejection

Residence permits are granted for fixed terms and require active renewal. Contrary to public assumptions, renewal is not automatic. 

Immigration services reassess compliance with all conditions: investment retention, clean criminal record, tax status, insurance coverage, and in some cases, minimum stay thresholds.

Naturalisation timelines may be extended

Even when permanent residency is secured, the path to citizenship remains vulnerable to policy revisions. 

For example, Portugal — long praised for its 5-year naturalisation track — is considering a significant change: increasing the required legal residence period to 10 years. This proposal, announced by Minister António Leitão Amaro, forms part of a broader reform package aimed at tightening immigration controls. Should it be enacted, investors hoping to secure EU citizenship may need to reassess long-term expectations or explore alternative jurisdictions.

Capital risks

Whether investing in real estate or fund units, applicants must be aware of the financial risks involved.

Property values may fall due to inflation, instability, or oversupply — particularly in markets driven by foreign demand. A decline could reduce rental and resale returns.

Fund-based routes involve market and management risks. Poor performance may impact expected income. Limited liquidity and lock-in periods can also restrict access to capital when flexibility is needed.

1. Europe’s fastest residency by investment programs — available in countries like Latvia, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Hungary, and Portugal — cater to diverse investor goals, from property income to fund performance or long-term settlement.

2. Latvia offers the fastest route to EU residency, with permits issued in as little as 3 months. It also has one of the lowest entry thresholds, with qualifying investments starting from just €50,000.

3. Greece is especially attractive to real estate investors, with rental yields of up to 10% per year and high liquidity in tourist areas.

4. Portugal and Hungary are strong choices for those prioritising financial instruments. Portuguese fund units often yield 2—20% annually, while Hungarian funds reach around 6%.

5. Italy offers the opportunity to invest in startups within a strategic business environment. As the 3rd largest economy in the eurozone and the 8th worldwide, it provides a strong platform for growth and innovation.

6. Cyprus and Malta stand out for granting life-long residency immediately after approval, with no need for future status upgrades or conversions.

7. If the ultimate goal is a second passport rather than residency, consider citizenship by investment programs in Vanuatu, Turkey, or the Caribbean. These offer fast, often remote pathways to citizenship without lengthy residence or language requirements.