Residence permit or citizenship in Europe in 2022
Portugal will limit the choice of properties for investors who wish to obtain a residence permit for the country.
From 1 January 2022, applicants for a residence permit by investment can only buy residential property:
- In Madeira and the Azores;
- In the interior regions of Portugal, which do not include coastal resort areas and major cities such as Lisbon and Porto.
Commercial property remains available for purchase in any region of Portugal without exception.
Real estate under the residence permit programme in Portugal in 2022
The minimum investment amount will increase for four of the eight options. The changes will take effect for all residence permit applications submitted after 1 January 2022.
The amount of investment for the options of the residence permit program in Portugal
| Option | Until 31 December 2021 | From 1 January 2022 |
| Buying units in an investment fund | €350,000 | €500,000 |
| Investing in a new or existing business | €350,000 + 5 new jobs | €500,000 + 5 new jobs |
| Investments in scientific research | €350,000 | €500,000 |
| Transfer of capital to Portugal, e.g. opening a deposit in a bank | €1,000,000 | €1,500,000 |
| Buying new property - residential or commercial | €500,000 €400,000 — in regions with low population density | €500,000 €400,000 — in regions with low population density |
| Buying property older than 30 years for renovation | €350,000 €280,000 — in regions with low population density | €350,000 €280,000 — in regions with low population density |
| Investing in cultural projects | €250,000 | €250,000 |
| Opening a new company in Portugal | + 10 new jobs | + 10 new jobs |
Regardless of the option chosen, the investor also pays
- application fee - €533 for the main applicant, €83 for the spouse and €133 each for the other family members;
- the fee for the production of the residence permit cards - €5,340 for each applicant.
Malta will start collecting information on the tax residency of applicants for citizenship for special services by direct investment.
Tax residency details must be submitted to the Community Malta Agency to undergo a due diligence check. Such a check is a mandatory step before applying for Maltese citizenship.
If the investor applies for a due diligence after 1 January 2022, it is compulsory to provide:
- residential address;
- individual taxpayer number;
- the type and method of obtaining the right of residence in Malta, e.g. residence permit;
- copies of all documents relating to the right of residence in Malta, such as passports and residence permit cards.
The Community Malta Agency will forward the information of the direct investment beneficiary of citizenship to the Maltese Revenue Authority. And the Revenue Authority will notify the new citizen's tax jurisdiction that he or she has obtained a Maltese passport. Read more about the new investor due diligence rules.
Montenegro's citizenship programme will end on 31 December 2021. In its place, the country's government will develop conditions for issuing residence permits to so-called digital nomads and highly skilled professionals.
We explained the reasons for the closure of the programme in the article "Citizenship of Montenegro by investment will only be granted until the end of 2021".
New conditions for Caribbean citizenship programmes
St Kitts and Nevis has allowed investors to buy any residential property on the islands, such as villas and apartments in apartment complexes. The new option can be exercised until 1 November 2022.
Approval from the national government is not required for the real estate project. But the value of the property must be at least $400,000. In comparison, the value of a share or apartment in an approved project must be from $200,000. Read more about the conditions for buying a home in St Kitts and Nevis.
Villas to buy under the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship programme
The special offer for another St Kitts and Nevis citizenship programme option – the non-refundable contribution – is coming to an end. Until the end of 2021, families of four would save $45,000 on the contribution, investing as much as a single applicant.
The programme department has confirmed that the government of St Kitts and Nevis has no plans to extend the special offer. From January 1, 2022, the contribution amount for families will again be $195,000.
The cost of the non-refundable contribution option in 2022
| Expenditure item | Investor | Investor with spouse and two children under 16 |
| Contribution to St Kitts and Nevis Sustainable Development Fund | $150,000 | $195,000 |
| Due diligence | $7,500 | $11,500 |
| Passport fee | $361 | $1,444 |
| Form processing fee | $250 | $1,000 |
| Bank fee | $200 | $400 |
| Naturalization certificate fee | $50 | $200 |
| Total | $158 361 | $209 544 |
St Lucia has extended a special offer to buy government bonds. Investors can buy Covid-19 Relief Bonds for $250,000 instead of $500,000 until the end of 2022.
From 1 December 2021, payments under the Saint Lucian citizenship programme will not be accepted from accounts registered in 21 countries, such as Ukraine and Egypt. Full list of St Lucia's blacklisted countries.
In 2022, investors will start paying a bank due diligence fee before making citizenship programme payments. The fee will be up to $1000.
Costs of buying Saint Lucian government bonds in 2022
| Expenditure item | Investor | Investor with spouse and two children under 16 |
| Buying government bonds | $250,000 | From $250,000 |
| Administrative fee | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Due diligence | $7,500 | $12,500 |
| Bank due diligence | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Forms processing fee | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Passport fee | $500 | $1000 |
| Total | $286,000 | From $293,500 |
Antigua and Barbuda has temporarily canceled one of the conditions of the citizenship by investment program – to stay in the country for at least five days in the first five years after obtaining a passport.
Investors are not allowed to come to the islands until 31 August 2022. The deadline may be extended depending on the global epidemic situation.
To take the oath, it is also not necessary to travel to Antigua and Barbuda: the ceremony can be held online or at one of the country's foreign offices. For example Russian investors take the oath in the Honorary Consulate of Antigua and Barbuda in Moscow.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent who helps you obtain a residence permit or citizenship by investment. If you want to get a second passport or residency permit, seek advice from our investment program experts.
