Residency & Citizenship by Investment Hub

Golden Visas grant residency rights, while CBI programs provide direct citizenship. This fundamental difference affects timeline, benefits, and long-term strategy.

Golden Visa (Residency by Investment):

• Timeline: Immediate residency, citizenship after 5-10 years
• Benefits: Live/work in country, maintain original passport
• Requirements: Ongoing investment, minimum stay rules
• Examples: Portugal (€500K), Spain (€500K), UAE (varies)

Citizenship by Investment:

• Timeline: Direct citizenship in 3-6 months
• Benefits: Immediate passport, no residency requirements
• Investment: Often donation + due diligence fees
• Examples: Malta (€750K), Dominica (US$100K), Vanuatu (US$130K)

Yes, CBI is legal under international norms, as countries have sovereign rights to set citizenship criteria. However, such programs face scrutiny under global transparency and security frameworks.

Legal framework:

• International recognition: CBI passports have same legal status as birth citizenship
• Treaty rights: Full access to visa-free travel and bilateral agreements
• OECD scrutiny: OECD monitors CBI risks related to tax evasion and information exchange compliance
• EU scrutiny: Ongoing pressure on Malta, but programs remain legal

Long-term validity: Once granted, citizenship typically cannot be revoked except for fraud or specific criminal acts. Choose established programs with strong track records. Compare program stability rankings.

Not automatically. Legal residency ≠ tax residency. Tax residency depends on physical presence, economic ties, and specific country rules.

Key factors determining tax residency:

• 183-day rule: Most countries require substantial physical presence
• Economic ties: Income source, business activities, family location
• Center of vital interests: Where your primary life activities occur
• Tax treaty provisions: Tie-breaker rules for dual residency situations

Strategic examples:

• Portugal Golden Visa: 7-day minimum stay ≠ tax residency (need 183+ days)
• UAE residency: Tax residency may be granted with 90+ days presence if supported by economic ties; otherwise, 183+ days is standard.
• Cyprus program: 60-day presence can trigger tax residency

Total costs can be 30-50% higher than advertised investment amounts due to legal fees, due diligence, ongoing maintenance, and opportunity costs.

Common additional costs:

• Legal and advisory fees: €25,000-€100,000+ for complex applications
• Due diligence fees: €5,000-€15,000 per family member
• Government processing fees: €5,000-€50,000 depending on program
• Real estate costs: Transfer taxes, maintenance, management fees
• Renewal fees: €500-€5,000 every 1-5 years
• Family inclusion: €25,000-€50,000 per additional family member

Investment risk factors:

• Real estate liquidity: Golden Visa properties often difficult to resell
• Donation programs: 100% cost (Malta, Dominica) vs. investment recovery
• Opportunity cost: Capital tied up vs. other investment returns

Most programs include immediate family, but age limits and generational transfer rules vary significantly. This is crucial for legacy planning.

Standard family inclusion:

• Spouse: Always included in main application
• Dependent children: Usually up to age 18-30 (varies by program)
• Parents: Often included if over 55-65 and financially dependent
• Adult children: Some programs allow unmarried children up to 30

Citizenship transmission to future generations:

• Automatic transmission: Most CBI programs allow children born after citizenship is granted to apply under facilitated procedures—but generational transmission is not automatic or unlimited and often requires re-application or proof of substantial ties.
• Jus sanguinis: Children inherit citizenship regardless of birth location
• Golden Visa limitations: Children must apply separately for citizenship path
• Generation limits: Some former programs (e.g., Cyprus, now closed) had unclear limits on generational transmission

Consider family size and ages when selecting programs. Review family-friendly program comparisons for optimal inclusion strategies.

No. Golden Visa residency ≠ EU freedom of movement. This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of residency by investment programs.

Golden Visa limitations:

• Country-specific residency: Rights limited to issuing country only
• Tourist access: Can visit other EU countries for 90 days per 180-day period
• No work rights: Cannot work in other EU countries without permits
• No social benefits: No access to healthcare/education in other EU countries

Path to EU freedom of movement:

• Citizenship route: Must obtain citizenship first (5-10 years residence)
• Portugal example: Golden Visa → 5 years → citizenship → full EU rights
• Spain example: Golden Visa → 10 years → citizenship → full EU rights
• Malta CBI: Immediate EU citizenship and freedom of movement

For immediate EU access, consider Malta CBI (€750K) or long-term residency programs with shorter citizenship timelines.

Several programs have closed or significantly tightened in 2024-2025 due to EU pressure, security concerns, and policy shifts.

Recent closures and restrictions:

• Ireland: Closed Immigrant Investor Programme (February 2023)
• Portugal: Ending real estate Golden Visa route (October 2024)
• UK: Closed Tier 1 Investor Visa (February 2022)
• Cyprus: Suspended CBI program (November 2020)

Programs under pressure:

• Malta: EU legal challenges, but program continues with modifications
• Spain: Considering restrictions on real estate Golden Visa
• Greece: Increasing minimum investment thresholds

Stable programs with strong track records:

• UAE: Expanding investor visa options, politically stable
• Dominica/St. Kitts: Established CBI programs with 30+ year history
• Singapore: Selective but stable investment immigration

Timelines range from 3 months to 10+ years depending on program type and your specific circumstances.

Fast-track options (3-6 months):

• Vanuatu CBI: 3-4 months, US$130K donation
• Dominica CBI: 4-6 months, US$100K donation
• St. Kitts CBI: 4-6 months, US$250K minimum via Sustainable Island State Contribution (subject to change)
• UAE Golden Visa: 1-3 months, varies by route

Medium timeline (6-18 months):

• Malta CBI: 12-18 months, €750K donation (total cost €850K–€1M+ with fees and real estate)
• Portugal Golden Visa: 6-12 months for residency
• Spain Golden Visa: 3-6 months for residency

Long-term citizenship path (5-10 years):

• Portugal: 5 years residency → citizenship
• Spain: 10 years residency → citizenship
• Greece: 7 years residency → citizenship

Document preparation adds 2-4 weeks to any timeline. Compare current processing times and start applications early, as processing times tend to increase as programs become more popular.