Golden Visa: A Guide to Residency by Investment

What is a Golden Visa?

A "Golden Visa" is a government program offering foreign investors and their families the opportunity to obtain residency in exchange for significant investments in the country's economy. These programs are designed to attract foreign capital and support the development of the national economy. Depending on the country, investments can be directed toward real estate, job creation, and participation in government bonds, or funds.

Differences Between Golden Visas and Other Visa Types

• Investment-Based Nature

Golden Visas require substantial financial contributions to the country's economy, distinguishing them from standard visas, which usually do not demand any investment. These programs allow investors to directly support the economy through real estate purchases, business creation, or capital contributions to funds.

• Simplified Residency Process

Unlike traditional immigration routes, obtaining residency through a Golden Visa program is generally much faster and easier. These programs are designed to minimize bureaucratic procedures and expedite the residency process for investors and their families.

• Inclusion of Family Members

Golden Visas often allow the inclusion of not only the main applicant but also their family members, making these programs particularly attractive to family-oriented investors. This approach significantly simplifies the process of obtaining residency for the entire family, including spouses, children, and parents.

• Minimal Residency Requirements

One of the key advantages of Golden Visas is the lack of strict requirements for permanent residency in the country. Unlike other residency programs, investors are often only required to spend a few days in the country each year, allowing them to maintain flexibility in choosing where to live.

• Path to Citizenship

Golden Visas offers a clear and transparent path to obtaining citizenship after a few years. While standard visas may not provide this opportunity, investment visas often guarantee citizenship upon fulfilling all conditions and minimal residency requirements.

Benefits of a Golden Visa

A Golden Visa program offers numerous benefits for investors:

1. Global Mobility: Visa-free or simplified entry to various countries, facilitating business travel and tourism.
2. Path to Citizenship: Many programs allow investors to obtain citizenship, opening up additional opportunities for work and life in Europe and other regions.
3. Economic Stability: Investments in stable economies with favorable tax conditions help protect assets and diversify portfolios.
4. Security and Quality of Life: Countries offering Golden Visas often have a high standard of living, quality healthcare, and education.
5. Family Advantages: Programs allow the inclusion of not only the main applicant but also their spouse, children, and sometimes even parents.

Golden Visa programs are available in various countries, each with its own set of requirements, investment options, and benefits. Below is a comparative overview of some of the most prominent Golden Visa programs.

Comparative Overview of Countries Offering Golden Visas

Notes:

• Residency by Investment: All listed programs provide the opportunity to obtain citizenship through investment as of 2024.
• Permanent Residency: In countries where obtaining permanent residency (e.g., Malta) is mentioned, additional conditions must be met.

• Schengen Area: Citizens of these countries gain the right to visa-free entry to European Union countries.
• Investment Visa: This term is also applicable to all these programs as they involve obtaining a visa through investments.

All Golden Visa programs offer various types of investments that allow for the acquisition of residency and, subsequently, citizenship.

Best Golden Visa Programs

Portuguese Golden Visa

The Portuguese program remains one of the most flexible and sought-after in Europe, offering investors several different options for obtaining residency:

• Fund Investments: Applicants can invest €500,000 in approved Portuguese investment funds that support business or real estate development in the country. This option is growing in popularity due to the ability to diversify the investment portfolio.
• Business Creation: An investor can create or capitalize on a business project in Portugal with a minimum investment of €500,000 and hire at least 5 employees. This option allows you to develop your own business in the country while meeting the requirements for obtaining a Golden Visa.

• Cultural Heritage Donations: The minimum donation is €200,000. This option supports the preservation and development of Portugal’s cultural heritage and grants the applicant the right to residency.
• Job Creation: An investor can create or maintain at least 10 jobs in Portugal. This requires investing in a Portuguese business that must operate for at least 5 years.

The Portuguese Golden Visa also features minimal residency requirements: you only need to stay in the country for 7 days a year or 14 days over 2 years. This makes it convenient for international investors who do not plan on permanent residence in Portugal.

Spanish Golden Visa

The Spanish Golden Visa also attracts considerable attention due to its stability and diverse investment opportunities:

• Real Estate Investments: Applicants can obtain residency by purchasing real estate worth at least €500,000. This can include residential, commercial properties, or land. Multiple property purchases are also possible if the total investment exceeds the stated threshold.

• Government Bonds and Stocks: For those who prefer not to invest in real estate, Spain offers options to invest in government bonds from €2,000,000 or Spanish company stocks from €1,000,000.
• The Spanish program requires applicants to reside in the country for at least 10 years before they can apply for citizenship. This makes the program less flexible than the Portuguese one, but it remains popular due to the opportunities Spanish citizenship offers.

With a Spanish Golden Visa, you can include family members in your application, including spouses, children, and parents, making it attractive to family-oriented investors. The residency requirements are also minimal: a visit to the country once a year is sufficient.

Greek Golden Visa

The Greek Golden Visa program is one of the most accessible in Europe, offering unique benefits:

• Minimum Investment in Real Estate: The entry cost for the program is only €250,000, making it the most affordable in Europe. Investors can purchase residential or commercial real estate, as well as rent properties for a period of 10 years.
• Rental Income Potential: Greek properties can generate rental income, with yields averaging 3% to 5% per year, making this investment not only a path to residency but also a profitable venture.
• After 7 years of residence in Greece, investors can apply for citizenship. To do so, they must live in the country for at least 183 days a year for 5 years and pass an exam on Greek language and history.

The Greek program also allows the inclusion of spouses, children up to 21 years old, and parents. It is flexible and offers citizenship with relatively low residency requirements.

Maltese Golden Visa

The Maltese Golden Visa is known for its high standards and strict due diligence:

• Investment in Real Estate and Funds: The Permanent Residency program in Malta requires investors to invest at least €300,000 in real estate in southern Malta or on the island of Gozo, or €350,000 in other regions. Alternatively, you can rent property for at least €10,000 per year in southern Malta or Gozo and at least €12,000 per year in other regions. An additional contribution of €28,000 (for property purchase) or €58,000 (for rental) is required, along with a donation of €2,000 to a charitable organization.

• The Maltese program offers immediate permanent residency (PR), which is maintained as long as the investment requirements are met for 5 years.
• To obtain Maltese citizenship, applicants must reside in the country for at least 12 months. Malta also offers favorable tax conditions for those who decide to become tax residents.

Malta stands out for its strict requirements for applicants, including checks on income sources and the absence of criminal records. However, the program offers unique benefits such as the right to permanent residence in Schengen countries and visa-free entry to over 180 countries worldwide.

Why Choose Migronis?

Migronis is a company with over 12 years of experience in the field of investment migration, helping people obtain citizenship or residency by investment. Our mission is to provide our clients with freedom—freedom of movement, freedom to choose their place of residence, and freedom from the limitations associated with citizenship. We are proud to have successfully completed over 700 cases, providing our clients with more than 1,000 passports and permanent residency in various countries.

One of the main advantages of working with Migronis is the ability to pay for services only after the desired outcome is achieved. We understand the importance of every step on the path to obtaining citizenship through investment and guarantee our clients complete transparency and security in all transactions. This approach is confirmed by numerous success stories, and the absence of refusals on our applications is a testament to this.

The Advantages of Working with Migronis

• Experienced Team: The specialists at Migronis possess extensive experience and deep knowledge of migration programs. Since the company’s inception, we have helped clients solve even the most complex challenges, ensuring the successful acquisition of residency status, citizenship, and passports. We understand all the nuances of each program and offer solutions tailored to the individual needs of our clients.

• Focus on Key Areas: There are many golden visa programs worldwide, but we have focused on four main programs, allowing us to be experts in these areas. This focus ensures that our clients receive top-tier services and a complete understanding of all aspects of each program, whether it involves real estate acquisition, launching a business project, or participating in government funds.
• Support in Choosing Investment Solutions: When choosing between various investment options, such as real estate or funds, Migronis provides comprehensive support. We analyze risks, assess returns, and help clients make the optimal decision that aligns with their financial goals and risk profile. We also advise on issues related to the rights of residents and citizens, as well as the conditions for residency and visits to European Union countries.

• Direct Cooperation with Governments: We work directly with the governments of more than 10 countries, allowing us to stay informed about all legislative changes and strictly adhere to legal requirements. This ensures the successful implementation of golden visa programs and the acquisition of residency or citizenship in various countries. Our clients can be confident that their applications will be processed quickly and accurately.
• Transparent Conditions: We pride ourselves on offering our clients transparent and fair conditions. Payment for our services is made only after achieving the desired result, reducing risks for the client and increasing confidence in success. We take care of the content and accuracy of all documents required for status registration and provide full support at every stage of the process—from choosing a program to obtaining citizenship.

Migronis is a reliable partner that will help you not only choose the best investment path but also navigate it with minimal effort. If you need to obtain citizenship or residency through investment, our company will provide support at every stage, from applying for an investment visa to acquiring a passport from an EU country. We work so that our clients can freely choose where to live, enjoy the rights granted to citizens, and be confident in their future.

Conclusion 

A "Golden Visa" is not just an attractive way to obtain residency for wealthy investors and their families; it also opens up unique opportunities for global mobility and improved quality of life. These programs allow investors to obtain residency and citizenship in European Union countries, providing significant rights and privileges, including visa-free visits to numerous countries. With a golden visa, investors can choose investment options that suit them, such as real estate purchases, investments in funds, or business creation, offering flexibility and diversity in choosing the investment path.

Obtaining residency status through golden visa programs grants access to healthcare, education, and other social benefits in European Union countries. Citizens who gain this status enjoy all the benefits of citizenship, including rights to visa-free travel within the Schengen area and the ability to travel with a European passport.

Choosing the right country and program, as well as thorough preparation and adherence to all residency requirements, can significantly simplify the process of obtaining a golden visa and ensure a successful outcome. It is important to understand the content of each program, as well as the rights and obligations they provide. By relying on professional assistance, investors can be confident that their investments will lead to the desired result—from obtaining residency to securing citizenship and a passport in a European Union country.

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