Most Popular Visa Programs for Wealthy Investors

Numerous countries have launched various programs for foreign investors to obtain permanent residency or citizenship by making investments at a certain amount. For that purpose, each government has determined a different investment program granting either permanent residence permit or citizenship under certain conditions. Such residency and citizenship programs have been offered mostly by EU member countries to non-EU investors who intend to have permanent residence permit or citizenship in the country of their investments.

Portugal: Golden Visa Program attracts Investors’ Interest

Most preferred and attracting programs in the European Union have been provided by Portugal and Spain under the name of “Golden Visa Program”.

As a result of the Golden Visa Program launched on 8 October 2012 within the scope of rules governing the Residence Permit for Investment (ARI/Golden Visa), Portugal has been one of the most popular and attractive countries for immigrant investors. According to the statistics, 2693 residence permits have been granted by Portugal for pursuing investment activities between 2012 and 2015 and the biggest part of these applications placed in 2014 with 1526 residence permitsi. Portugal has been preferred predominantly by investors from China, Brazil, Russia, South Africa and Lebanonii.

There are several reasons for investors to prefer the Golden Visa Program in Portugal. Especially the wide range of investment options offered to the investors and the minimum required investment amount play an essential role in investors’ preference. An investor intending to obtain residence permit in Portugal will have following investment options;

• The transfer of capital with a minimum value of EUR 1 million,
• The acquisition of real estate for refurbishment located in specific areas with a minimum value of EUR 350,000 or purchase of any other kind of real estate with a minimum value of EUR 500,000,
• EUR 250,000 donation to artistic and national cultural heritage institutions,
• The creation of at least 10 new jobs registered with the social security department

As of 2015, a large amount of investment has been made in purchase of real estate property.

Citizenship by Investment Programs: Citizenship Opportunities for Investors Country by Country

Apart from permanent residency, some countries offer citizenship for foreigners that make “significant investments” in the relevant country according to their laws and conditions.

Countries in the Caribbean Region offer citizenship programs, the most inexpensive with the shortest application processing time of which is Dominica. In addition to other requirements determined by the government, donation of USD 100,000 to government or purchase of a real estate in an amount of USD 200,000 are sufficient for application to Dominica Citizenship. Another advantage of this program is that the processing time takes approximately 8 weeks and fixed physical presence is not required before or after the citizenship is granted.

Another advantageous citizenship program attracting investors is offered by Malta, which is the only European citizenship by investment program approved by the EU. For this program, contribution in an amount of EUR 650,000 to Government Development Fund and minimum property purchase in the amount of EUR 350,000 or lease of a residential property for a minimum of EUR 16.000 per annum (to be held for at least 5 years) or an investment in bonds to be identified by Identity Malta, for a minimum value of EUR 150,000 (to be held for a minimum period of 5 years) is required. Investors may benefit from visa free travel right to the countries in the Schengen area and to more than 160 countries in the world.