Participants of citizenship and residency investment programs get new rights, for example, to freely travel to countries that used to be available only with a visa. However, new duties may arise alongside the new opportunities.
Investors’ rights depend on the status they’ve obtained.
Citizenship provides the maximum rights within the chosen state: citizens can live, work, study, do business, buy properties, and count on social support. Investors exercise the same rights as other citizens with the only exception: participants of citizenship programs cannot be elected to posts at governmental authorities.
A residence permit allows its holder to live in the chosen country and visit it visa-free anytime until the permit expires. Other rights are limited. For example, there may be a prohibition on getting employed, doing business, or purchasing real estate in the country for residents. Restrictions depend on the country and type of residence permit.
Foreigners with residence permits cannot hold public office and freely travel to all states that have visa waiver agreements with the country of residence.
Malta permanent residence allows investors to visit only the Schengen countries without visas. At the same time, Maltese citizens travel freely to 185 states, including all the EU and Schengen countries, the UK, the USA, Canada, and Australia.
Investors’ duties depend on the obtained status and conditions of the particular investment program.
The investor must live in the country for at least 183 days a year if they obtain a residence permit as a financially independent person, for example, in Austria or Switzerland. Residency incitement programs usually don’t require participants to live in the chosen country permanently.
Portugal and Spain require investors to spend at least 7 days a year in the country to maintain residence permits. Visiting the country once every two years is a mandatory condition of the Cyprus permanent residence program. There is no obligation for investors to reside in Greece or Malta.
Residents must meet some other conditions: obey the law, have a registered address and health insurance at all times, and don’t apply for state allowances. Violations may lead to problems with the renewal of a residence permit or obtainment of the following status, namely, permanent residence or citizenship.
There are fewer requirements imposed on citizens. They don’t have to live in the country permanently after getting their passports and rent or own real estate. Citizens can qualify for social benefits and free healthcare.
The rights and duties of a person with multiple citizenships depend on whether they have dual or second citizenship.
One can get second citizenship by investment. Second citizenship means that each country considers the person to be only its citizen. In some cases, it may lead to various issues: for example, a person can be drafted into the army in both countries of citizenship. However, it’s not the case for investors as neither they nor their family members don’t have to serve in the army of the country of second citizenship.
Some countries require citizens to notify the state about getting second citizenship or a residence permit. Suppose a person fails to inform the authorities in time or hides the fact of becoming a citizen or a resident of another state. In that case, there might be administrative or criminal liability.
If an investor purchases real estate or spends most of the year in the country, the obligation to pay taxes arises.
2025-12-04T15:41:32.659Z
Trusted by 5000+ investors
Trusted by 5000+ investors
Comparison of citizenship and residency by investment programs
Greece — 9 to 44%
Spain — 19 to 45%
Switzerland — 0 to 48%
Turkey — 15 to 40%
UK — 0 to 45%
USA — a federal tax of 10 to 37% and an additional tax in the chosen state