Golden visa

Investor Visas in Europe (Part of the best Golden Visa programs in Europe)

Golden visa programs from different EU countries grant immediate residency visa or even citizenship directly to foreign investors against a lump sum investment, no less than €250,000 in real estate, or in business & commerce. There is no requirement to live in the country after making the investment.

Golden Visa Portugal with €500,000 property investment

The Portugal Golden Visa program  has proven to be the most popular scheme in Europe with investors attracted to its flexibility and benefits. Launched in 2012 the investor visa program has been actively promoted internationally by the Portuguese government. An investment of €500,000 in real estate in Portugal will gain a residency permit for a family including dependent children. The golden visa can be renewed every two years providing the applicant spends two weeks in the country every two years.

Permanent Residency and Citizenship:

One of the most attractive options is to apply for permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship after 6 years without the need to reside in Portugal. In fact, the applicant and their family need only visit for two weeks every two years in order to renew the Portuguese Golden Visa. Citizenship of Portugal and a second passport conveys the right to live, work and study anywhere in the European Union.

The property market in Portugal like many southern European countries suffered with the credit crisis and prices in 2015 are typically 20% – 30% below their peak. However there is a clear turn in the market and property above the €500,000 investment visa limit is seeing huge demand particularly in the capital, Lisbon. Investors buying into the real estate market in Portugal for the Golden Visa now have excellent prospects for capital gain in the coming years. Advice is recommended for serious buyers as there are clear distinctions between typical vacation homes on the coast in Portugal and city properties such as Lisbon. In particular with regard to market demand for property types and on-going rental or lifestyle options for the investor.

Benefits:

• Live, study and travel in Europe.
• Most popular european property investment scheme
• Very minimal residency requirements.
• Profitable real estate investment
• Naturalize for citizenship after 6 years.
• No taxes unless you live 183 days in Portugal
• No interviews, No language tests
• Immigrate to Europe with family and children.
• Travel freely in Schengen including Switzerland, Germany etc.
• Qualify for Portugese PR after 5 years of living

Spain Golden Visa Europe (EU)

Golden Visa Spain with €500,000 investment. Spain launched its golden visa programme in 2013. An investment of €500,000 in real estate will gain family residency. The Spanish investor visa can be renewed every two years. After five years it is possible to gain permanent residency and after ten years citizenship. It is not necessary to live in Spain in order to retain and renew the residency visa permit.

Permanent Residency and Citizenship:

It is possible to apply for permanent residency in Spain after living in the country for five years. Citizenship can be applied for after living full time for ten years. Although the temporary residency permit (the golden visa) can be easily renewed without living in the country, the route to both permanent residency and citizenship requires the investor and their family to reside in Spain. For this reason many investors prefer the option of Portugal where such residence is not a requirement.

After several years of price declines real estate is now at rock bottom prices and the Spanish property market offers considerable potential for capital gains in the coming years. Investors need to consider their purchase carefully. Is it for investment and rental or lifestyle? There are many offers on the market from developers and banks but location and property type is critical to the success of the investment.

Benefits:

• Travel freely in Schengen
• High demand profitable real estate investment
• Family and children included in one application
• No minimum stay requirements

Compare Golden Visa Programmes:

Spain is not the only country in Europe offering a golden visa programme and residence permit through real estate investment. Visit our pages on Portugal and  Greece to compare the immigration investment requirements and benefits of their golden visa residency programs and also the citizenship by investment programs in Cyprus and Malta.

Golden Visa Greece Offering Residency Without Citizenship

Launched in July 2013 the Greek golden visa programme grants a five year residency visa in return for an investment in real estate. There is no minimum stay requirement and children up to the age of 21 are included in the family application. The visa is granted for five years and renewed every five years if the property investment is retained. It is not necessary to live in the country in order to retain and renew the investor visa. However citizenship can only be granted after seven years of residency.

Investors in real estate in Greece must also budget for the additional taxes on real estate at 23%. However at €250,000 + taxes and fees (just over €300,000 in total) this programme offers the lowest cost to residency in Europe. The Greek residency programme is relatively fast, taking around 40 days until a residency card is issued.

Benefits:

• The residency right is permanent, renewed every 5 years. After 7 years of residency will lead to citizenship possibility.
• The investor may offer residency right to his parent’s, spouse, spouse’s parents and children under 21.
• The investor will be able to sell his/her property before the expiration of 5 years to another foreign citizen, and transfer the residency permit together with the property.
• There is no need to stay in Greece to maintain the residency right.
• The investor may establish his own business in Greece.
• The residency permit holder can travel freely to all Schengen countries. He can also travel directly from his country without the need to come to Greece first.

Golden Visa Cyprus with €300,000 property investment

Permanent Residency €300,000. EU Citizenship €2.0 million

Cyprus offers two golden visa programs through real estate investment. One for permanent residency and one for citizenship. The two Cypriot immigration investment schemes are fast and efficient at granting a residency permit and second passport. Cyprus is a full member of the European Union and English is widely spoken on the island.

Permanent Residency Cyprus

Applicants can secure permanent residency in Cyprus through investment in real estate. The programme is one of the fastest and simplest investor visa programmes in Europe. It requires investment of just €300,000 into property to gain the Cyprus residency permit.

The residency visa is granted within two months and covers the whole family. It includes parents of both the main applicant and spouse plus dependent children up to the age of 25. It is valid for life and can be passed down to dependents and spouse.

The permanent residency programme offers ease of travel throughout the European Union and requires just one visit to Cyprus by all family members once every two years.

The investment may be made by a company for which the main applicant and spouse are beneficial owners. The investment can be in to a maximum of two properties provided they reach the €300,000 permanent residency limit. The properties purchased must be brand new.

Citizenship by Investment Cyprus:

Cyprus offers the quickest, most assured route to European citizenship and a second passport through the Cypriot citizenship by investment programme. An investment of €2.0 million in real estate is required. Cyprus is unique in its offering of citizenship within just 2-3 months of such an investment. This grants a Cypriot passport and EU citizenship, allowing the freedom to work, travel, study and live anywhere within the EU including countries such as Germany, France and the UK. The investment can be reduced down after 3 years to just €500,000.

Malta Golden Visa Europe (EU)

Launched in August 2015, the Malta Residence and Visa Programme (MRVP) is a fast and efficient way for foreign investors from non-EU countries to obtain a valid European residence permit legally. Under the Malta golden visa program, non-EU citizens can acquire a Malta residence permit promptly allowing the investor and their family to enter and/or live in Malta, as well as to travel freely to all EU Schengen Area countries including Switzerland. Once in possession of a Maltese residence permit, there is no need to apply for a Schengen Visa in order to visit EU countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, or Greece.

Qualifying Investments for the Malta Golden Visa

Apart from satisfying the above eligibility requirements, the applicant must also invest in Malta by satisfying these 3 requirements:

Contribution: Once an applicant is approved for the Malta Golden Visa, he/she must pay €30,000 to the Government of Malta (less the non-refundable fee of €5,500 payable upon submission of the application).
Property: An applicant must also buy or rent a property in Malta or in Gozo/South Malta. In terms of the Malta Golden Visa regulations, a qualifying property is an immovable property which is purchased for a minimum value of €320,000 if situated in Malta or €270,000 if situated in Gozo/South Malta. Alternatively an applicant may also rent a property for a minimum value of €12,000 if situated in Malta or €10,000 if situated in Gozo/South Malta.
Investment: An applicant must also make a qualifying investment in the form determined by Identity Malta holding a minimum value of €250,000.