Residence by investment

Validity. A European residence permit is usually valid for 1 to 5 years, while the UAE, Thailand, and Indonesia issue long-term residence visas valid for up to 10 or 15 years. In any case, the holder has to renew their residence permit or visa, or it expires.

Permanent residence, however, is termless: it does not require renewal and allows you to live in the country unlimitedly.

Path to citizenship. A residence permit and permanent residence are two successive steps towards becoming a citizen:

1. A person obtains a residence permit.

2. After a few years of legal and uninterrupted living in the country, the resident can apply for permanent residency.

3. Citizenship applications become available several years after becoming a permanent resident.

Malta and Cyprus are the exceptions, as they grant PR by investment. Another one is Portugal, where you can apply for citizenship after 5 years of holding residence permits without obtaining permanent residency.

Some residency options are limited. For example, an investor with a Malta Nomad Residence Permit cannot qualify for permanent residency and citizenship even after living in the country for several years.

Language proficiency. When applying for investor residence, you do not need to pass a language proficiency test. In the case of other types of residence permits, it depends on the country.

Getting permanent residency after a temporary residence permit usually requires proving proficiency in the country’s official language. However, the rule does not apply to participants in Maltese and Cypriot investment programs.

The EB‑5 Visa allows foreigners to get a residence permit by investment in the USA by allocating $800,000 in business projects in high-unemployment areas or $1,000,000 elsewhere. Valid for 2 years, it can lead to a Green Card.

The benefits of the EB‑5 Investor Visa and US residency include the following:

1. Availability to family members. The investor can include their spouse and unmarried children under 21in the visa application.

2. The EB‑5 Visa leads to a conditional Green Card, with the option to apply for permanent residency after two years and US citizenship 5 more years later.

3. EB‑5 Visa holders can relocate to the USA and embrace the American lifestyle. The country hosts leading companies and some of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Americans are known for their friendliness and openness, and the nation’s diversity, home to 45 million foreigners, enriches cultural experiences, from cuisine to festivals. The varied climate and landscapes, from mountains to beaches, cater to all preferences.

4. Visa-free travelling. The Green Card grants unrestricted entry into the USA, Canada, and some South American nations. The US passport holders can travel visa-free to over 160 countries, including the Schengen member states, the UK, Canada, and Japan.

5. Investment returns are possible within 5—7 years, post the investment cycle completion, varying by project.

6. Education. EB‑5 Visa holders' children can attend US schools, learning primarily in English with options for other languages. Extracurricular activities, from sports to science clubs, enhance college admission prospects. The USA boasts top universities, with MIT leading the QS World University Rankings and nine institutions ranking in the top 20.

7. US healthcare, despite its high cost, offers quality services with state-of-the-art facilities, comfortable accommodations, and skilled staff. The country attracts top global medical talent and is a leader in medical research.

8. EB‑5 Visa holders can open US bank accounts for interest earnings or international transactions, primarily in dollars and euros, but also in other major currencies.

9. No sponsorship is required. Unlike other US immigration paths requiring a sponsor, such as work or student visas, the EB‑5 Investor Visa does not. Applicants simply need to comply with the EB‑5 program’s criteria.

However, there are disadvantages to consider before applying for the EB‑5 Visa. The risks include no guaranteed Green Card or investment return, with scenarios like insufficient job creation or financial struggles of the project affecting outcomes. Besides, investments must precede visa approval, risking loss if denied.

Five Asian residence by investment countries offer long-term visas and permits: Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. These visas have three major common benefits:

1. Relocate to Asia. Singapore grants permanent residency, allowing the holder to live in the country for as long as they want. In Malaysia, one must spend at least 60 days a year to maintain residency. Thailand Elite Visa holders can live in the country throughout the card’s validity, which is 5—15 years, needing only to exit the country yearly. In Indonesia, investors can move to Bali or elsewhere for up to 10 years.

2. Investors can secure long-term visas for immediate family, including spouses, children, and parents.

3. Minimum requirements. For example, Thailand Elite Visa applications require just a passport without providing fund sources. In Indonesia, obtaining a Second Home Visa requires only showing sufficient funds in a bank account or through a real estate purchase.

Thai residents can also benefit from low tax rates and living expenses. In Thailand, staying over 180 days makes you a tax resident, subject to local progressive tax rates of 0 to 35%. A family of four needs about $2,037 monthly for a comfortable life in Thailand, ranked among the top three Southeast Asian countries for quality of life.

Indonesia’s Second Home Visa permits business activities and investments, like buying shares and premium real estate, but not employment. After 3 years in Indonesia, investors and their families can seek ITAP, or permanent residency, renewable every five years.

One can get a residence permit in another country on different grounds. Most are associated with marrying a country’s citizen, reuniting with a family, working, or studying. There are also residence permits by investment for financially independent people and digital nomads. However, most residency paths have similar requirements, such as:

Having no criminal record. The applicant must have no legal issues to be granted a residence permit.

Financial solvency. In most cases, the applicant must provide proof of legal and regular income outside the country equal to or above the set minimum level. Usually, the savings must be transferred to a local bank account, allowing the holder to live without the state’s assistance for the residence permit’s validity.

Residing in the country. A foreigner usually must spend at least 183 days a year in the country to maintain residency. However, these conditions do not apply to investors. For example, Greece and Spain don’t set a minimum residing requirement, while Portugal asks investors to spend only 7 days a year in the country.

Having a residential address. Most countries require their residents to own or rent housing in the country. Some states set the minimum price foreigners must pay for rent or purchase. However, having a registered residential address is a common requirement for permit renewal.

Becoming an EU permanent resident involves meeting specific criteria that vary slightly among member states but generally include the following six conditions:

1. You have lived in the country for several years. The most common requirement is to continuously reside in the host country, typically 5 years or more. This period demonstrates your commitment and integration into the country.

2. You have successfully passed a language exam. Completing a language exam is crucial as it shows your ability to communicate effectively in the country’s language, facilitating better social integration. The required level of language proficiency can vary but usually aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages at an A2 to B2 level.

3. You have a clean criminal record. Applicants must have no convictions or prosecutions in the host country or any other country where they reside. This requirement ensures that the applicant poses no threat to public safety or order.

4. You have a place to stay. The accommodation must meet the living standards set by the government, ensuring it is appropriate for the size and needs of your family.

5. You have money to support yourself and your family. The foreigner must demonstrate the financial means to live in the country without becoming a burden on the social assistance system. This can include income from employment, self-employment, pensions, investments, or other sources. The specific amount of funds required can vary, depending on the cost of living and the family size.

6. You have integrated into the local society. Some countries may also require participation in integration courses or civic orientation programs designed to familiarise immigrants with the country’s laws, values, and societal norms.

It’s important to check the specific requirements of the country you’re interested in, as there can be additional conditions or variations to the general criteria mentioned above.

Basic advantages. The benefits of EU permanent residency are mostly the same as those of a residence permit, including:

1. Visa-free travel within the Schengen Area and EU.

2. Family members’ participation.

3. Opening bank accounts with high levels of financial security.

4. Business expansion in a stable economic zone.

5. Purchase of real estate for living or renting.

6. Moving to the EU.

7. Access to high-quality education and medical services.

8. Tax optimisation.

But there are the advantages only permanent residency can give.

Road to EU citizenship. One can apply for citizenship after living in the country for 1—5 years with a permanent residence permit.

Lifelong status. Once a foreigner obtains permanent residency, it is theirs for life. A permanent resident can stay in the country for as long as they want. The residence card has to be renewed every 5—10 years, but most of the time, the renewal is automatic: the holder has to fill out a simple application and provide the expired permit to get a new one.

No minimum residing requirement. If one obtains PR by investment, they are not obliged to spend time in the country to maintain the status.

27 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and North America offer residence-by-investment programs. The investor’s choice depends on their tasks and goals.

Visa-free travelling to the Schengen Area. Spending 90 days out of 180 in any member state is available to EU residents.

• Portugal

• Malta

• Greece

• Spain

• Italy

• Hungary

Profitable investments with return. Investors can purchase real estate or investment fund units and sell them in several years.

• Portugal

• Greece

• Spanien

• UAE

• Hungary

• Cyprus

Low-cost relocation abroad. Residency for financially independent people and digital nomads requires fewer expenses.

• Portugal

• Malta

• Austria

• Thailand

• Indonesia

Long-term residency. Unlimited permanent residency or permits for up to 15 years.

• Malta

• Cyprus

• UAE

• Hungary

• Indonesia

• Thailand

Prospect of citizenship. Applying for citizenship opens up in 5—7 years of holding residency or living in the country.

• Portugal

• Cyprus

• Greece