Property based citizenship and residency programs

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Prabhu Balakrishnan
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There are over 20 countries in the world offer an easy path to citizenship through property investment either directly or indirectly (residency). The bigger the investment amount, the easier becomes getting citizenship.

Caribbean nations grant fast track citizenship and passport against property investment. Montenegro offers citizenship  in Europe within 3 months, whereas Portugal, Spain or Greece, they require you to buy a property plus you must also live there for over 5 years, to naturalize for citizenship.

Portugal, Greece and Spain are the most popular real estate investment programs.

There is a great demand for property based citizenship programs with the rich and wealthy from these countries: China, Russia, Lebanon, Middle East (UAE, Saudi-Arabia, Qatar), Pakistan, India, South Africa, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria. Egypt, Libya etc.

Below is a quick overview of countries offering citizenship or permanent residency through property investment to foreign investors. 

1. Spain

  • EUR 500,000 property purchase in Spain (home, apartment, villa)
  • Permanent residency in the EU
  • Free movement in the Schengen zone.
  • No requirement to live in Spain.
  • Citizenship after 10 years of uninterrupted living in Spain (non-EU).
  • Processing time: 3 months

2. Malta

  • Malta offers an option to buy property either through Golden visa residency scheme (EUR 275,000).
  • Citizenship or residency in the EU schengen area through Malta.
  • No requirement to live in the country.
  • Processing time: 15 months (citizenship) and 3 months (residency)
  • Dual citizenship allowed

3. Hungary

  • EUR 500,000 property purchase in Hungary (home, apartment, villa)
  • 10 year permanent residence permit.
  • Free movement in the Schengen zone.
  • No requirement to live in Hungary.
  • Citizenship after 8 years of uninterrupted living.
  • Very popular golden visa program.
  • Processing time: 4-6 months

4. Cyprus

  • EUR 300,000 real estate (golden visa option)
  • European citizenship/passport for family within 6 months.
  • No requirement to live in Cyprus
  • Free movement within Europa and UK using Cyprus passport (ID)
  • Processing time: 3-5 months

5. United States

  • USD 900,000 business investment (in real estate projects approved by EB-5 regional centers)
  • Qualifies for immediate permanent residence (Green card) in the US including for family.
  • Live anywhere in the US.
  • US citizenship after 5 years of living in 7 years.
  • Processing time 12-18 months
  • Investors are taxed on worldwide income.

6. Greece

  • EUR 500,000 property investment in Greece
  • Permanent residency in Europe
  • Free movement in Schengen zone
  • No requirement to live in Greece
  • Processing time is 6 months
  • Greek citizenship after 7 years of uninterrupted living

7. Ireland

  • EUR 1,000,000 in irish real estate trusts (or) EUR 2 million in residential property mixed investment  (closed in 2023)
  • Qualifies for long term permanent residency in Ireland.
  • Irish citizenship after 5 years of living legally.
  • Processing time: 3 months.

8. Montenegro

  • Montenegro Citizenship by Investment launched in 2019
  • EUR 250,000 in real estate and EUR 100,000 (Government contribution) for Citizenship
  • Qualifies for 10 year long term residence permit in France
  • Free movement in Schengen
  • Processing time 3 months
  • French citizenship after 10 years of legally living.

9. Latvia

  • EUR 250,000 property investment in Latvia
  • Free movement in schengen
  • Long term temporary residence permit valid for 5 years
  • No requirement to live in Latvia
  • Processing time 3 months

10. Dominica

  • USD 200,000 property investment (house, apartments, holiday resorts or hotel limited share)
  • Fast track Dominica passport & citizenship within 4 months.
  • No requirement to visit/live in Dominica
  • Travel visa free to United Kingdom and Schengen countries (upto 110 countries) using Dominica passport.
  • Dual citizen status.
  • No taxes on personal income, wealth, inheritance

11. Grenada

  • USD 220,000 property investment in approved Grenada real estate developments
  • Fast track citizenship and passport within 2 months.
  • Passport gives visa free travel to China, United Kingdom, EU Schengen states (120 countries)
  • Apply for E2 business visa to United States after becoming a citizen of Grenada.
  • Lifetime citizenship and passport for family from Grenada
  • Fast processing time 2 months

12. St Kitts & Nevis

  • USD 400,000 property investment in approved  SKN real estate projects (limited share, full title etc) cannot be sold for 7 years
  • Fast track passport and citizenship issued to family and children within 3 months.
  • Passport gives visa free travel to United Kingdom, Brazil, EU schengen countries (120 countries)
  • Processing time 4 months
  • No requirement to visit or live in St Kitts required during the application process.

13. Antigua & Barbuda

  • USD 200,000 property investment in approved Antigua real estate projects for 5 years. 
  • Fast track Lifetime citizenship and passport for family within 3 months
  • No visit or residence requirements required
  • Application processing time is 3 months.
  • Antigua passport offers visa free travel to Canada, United Kingdom, EU Schengen states to over 130 countries.No wealth, inheritance, foreign income, personal income taxes
  • No wealth, inheritance, foreign income, personal income taxes.

14. Saint Lucia

  • USD 200,000 property investment in Saint Lucia government approved properties (homes, hotels, holiday resorts).
  • Fast track St Lucia passport and citizenship within 3 months.
  • Passport offers visa free travel to 125 countries including United Kingdom, EU schengen states.
  • No residence requirements. No taxes. No tests. No personal visit required.
  • 2 months processing time.

15. Bahamas

  • USD 500,000 property investment purchase of home.
  • Accelerated permanent residence given to investors and family.
  • No income personal/corporate, no sales, no inheritance, no gift, no estate or no capital gains taxes in Bahamas. No double taxation agreements with other countries.
  • Citizenship after 10 years by naturalising through permanent residence.

16. Andorra

  • EUR 400,000 in Andorra real estate (property investment in buying a home).
  • Investment gets long term residence permit to live in Andorra
  • No free movement in Schengen (Andorra not in schengen)
  • No personal tax, no wealth tax , 10% income tax, 10% corporate tax, no capital gains, no dividend taxes or estate duty taxes.
  • Permanent residency after 10 years of living.
  • Andorra citizenship after 20 years of living.

17. Bulgaria

  • EUR 300,000 in bulgaria real estate (property investment in a home)
  • Temporary residency to live in Bulgaria
  • Processing time is 3 months.
  • Permanent residence status after  5 years of living
  • No free movement in Schengen zone (Bulgarian not schengen)
  • Bulgaria citizenship after 6 years of uninterrupted living with PR status.

18. Fiji

  • USD 125,000 property investment in Fiji real estate through a business enterprise.
  • Qualifies for 7 year “investor permit” (permanent residence) to foreign investors.
  • Citizenship after 5 years of living.
  • Processing time 2-3 months.

19. Mauritius

  • USD 500,000 in qualifying investment activity in construction and real estate
  • Permanent residence issued for 10 years
  • Citizenship possible after 2 years of living.

20. Monaco

  • CHF 1,000,000 (swiss francs) property investment in Monaco (monte carlo)
  • Qualifies for temporary residence permit to live in Monaco
  • No income tax, no wealth tax, no local tax, no capital gains tax and very minimal inheritance taxes (tax haven in Europe).
  • No double taxation agreements with other countries.
  • Free movement in Schengen
  • Permanent residence status after 5 years of living.
  • Monaco citizenship after 10 years of uninterrupted living (dual citizen not allowed).
  • Processing time is 2 months.

21. United Arab Emirates

  • Property investment of USD 275,000 (AED 1 million)
  • Qualifies for UAE residency (in Dubai, Abu Dhabi) incl for family.
  • No citizenship, No PR, No dual citizen status
  • Processing time is 2 months

22. Colombia

  • USD 200,000 investment in real estate
  • Qualifies for resident investor visa to live in Colombia including family
  • Permanent residency after 5 years of lawful living.
  • Citizenship after 10 years of living (exceptions are spanish, caribbean nationals can get in one or two years)
  • Processing time is 2 months

23. Moldova

  • EUR 250,000 investment in real estate in Moldova (no citizenship only residency)
  • Moldova citizenship by investment launched in 2018
  • Qualifies for permanent residency status
  • Processing time 2-3 months

24. Seychelles

  • USD 400,000 property investment in Seychelles real estate (homes, villas, flats)
  • Foreign investors qualify for 5 year permanent residence permit with family.
  • Citizenship can be obtained after 10 years of living.
  • Processing time 2 months.

25. Turkey

  • USD 400,000 property investment in Turkey
  • Full Citizenship with Permanent residence status to live and work in Turkey.
  • Dual citizenship allowed.
  • Processing time 2-3 months.