Leading Residency by Investment Programmes

With multiple options for Residency by Investment, it’s important to know the facts when choosing the right programme for you. Below we’ve highlighted the top 4 Residency by Investment programmes, 3 of which, Greece, Spain and Portugal, all made it to the Billion Euro Golden Visa club in 2021.

Spain 

For those looking for global mobility, Spain’s RBI is a popular option among applicants, with Spain being a part of the Schengen Area, residents have freedom of movement and visa-free travel throughout Europe. As well as allowing for dual residency, Spain’s ‘Golden Visa’ programme also offers a path to Spanish citizenship, which will allow travel to over 180 countries.

This programme requires a real estate investment amount starting at €500,000 and applicants must meet a certain criteria in order to be eligible. The main applicant must be at least 18 years old, be of good health and have no criminal record. As well as having the required investment amount, applicants must be able to provide proof of funds. 

In regards to who can be added to the application, the spouse of the main applicant is eligible, as well as any children or dependents under the age of 18. 

The country has a fantastic public health care system that is free for residents and citizens. Plus, you and your family will have access to some of the best educational institutions in Europe. Dependents under the age of 18, are able to enrol in the country’s free state education, whilst applicants that are 18+ will be able to enrol in one of Spain’s excellent universities. 

Although Spanish is the country’s official language, most people speak English as a second language. As such expats can easily get by without learning the native language, especially if you choose to live in one of the cities along the costa del sol, which are much loved by British expats.  

Greece

Greece’s residency programme is becoming the programme of choice for individuals wishing to gain residency in the EU, especially when compared to its other European counterparts. In 2020 alone, Greece saw over 8,000 applications, the highest number of issuances within Europe. This popularity can be attributed to the fact that Greece does not require individuals to visit the country in person. This allows individuals to become a resident of the country, even when international borders are closed. 

The programme is particularly popular amongst families, with it being the cheapest route to European residency. The starting price is just EUR 250,000, which will need to be invested into Greek real estate. Unlike other European golden visa programmes, there is no criteria as to which type of property the investor can purchase, allowing greater freedom over what and where applicants can choose to buy.  

Another advantage of the country’s residency programme is that there are no language requirements, you will not have to learn Greek in order to qualify for the programme. Although, it is important to note that outside of the expat communities and the bigger cities, English is not widely spoken by the locals. Therefore if you are looking to settle down in a quieter area of the country, picking up some Greek would be a big benefit.

Whilst the cost of living can vary from place to place, generally speaking, the cost of living in Greece is very affordable. The bigger cities, such as Athens, are slightly more expensive than the rest of the country, as can be expected with it being a large cosmopolitan capital.If you tread slightly further afield to smaller towns or islands, then the cost of living is significantly less expensive. 

 When choosing their qualifying property, buyers may be surprised to find that they can get a lot for their money. House prices are some of the most affordable in Europe. Even in Athens, the most expensive area of Greece, it is still considerably cheaper than other European countries.

As the market recovers, house prices are expected to see rapid growth in the upcoming years. This will greatly benefit investors who can profit on their property through capital gains. Investors are also able to rent their property out. With the country seeing some of the highest rental returns in Europe, this can be an attractive option for investors not willing to settle down in the country. 

As well as the benefit of  living in a beautiful country, Residents of the country will be able to enjoy visa-free travel throughout Europe’s Schengen Area. This will open the doors to countless more opportunities. Whether you are needing to travel for business purposes, or simply wish to explore and vacation in some of Europe’s treasures.

Residents will also benefit from the high standard of free medical care. Plus, the opportunity to study at world-class educational institutions. For applicants that have younger children, they will also benefit from free schooling up until the age of 18. 

Cyprus

Over the past few years, Cyprus has become an increasingly popular destination for people to retire to. Whilst a relatively small island nation, the country has a large population of British, Russian, Chinese and American expatriates, and as such, English is widely spoken throughout the country, even in some of the smaller, more rural areas.  

Whilst the year round sunny climate, low costs of living, and gorgeous beaches will no doubt have played their part, one of the most attractive benefits of Cypriot residency is the low taxation rates. The country offers a fantastic standard of free healthcare for residents, which is an important factor for those planning to retire there. To gain Cypriot residency, applicants need to invest €300,000 into real estate. 

Whilst a popular destination for retirement, it is worth noting that, unlike the other European countries that offer residency by investment, Cyprus is not part of the Schengen area. Therefore, if you are planning on travelling throughout Europe in your Golden years, you will not automatically be granted visa free travel. What’s more, Cyprus’ investment programme does not lead to citizenship, which is something worth considering if you are planning on getting a European passport. 

Portugal 

After Greece, Portugal is our second most popular Residency by Investment Programme. Individual applicants are required to invest €280,000 into Portuguese real estate to be eligible for permanent residency. The process is a relatively quick one, enabling clients to gain residency in less than 6 months. 

Portugal enjoys year-round sunny and warm climates and some of the most stunning coastlines and beaches in Europe. This, alongside the low cost of living and good value for money in terms of real estate, makes it no surprise that Portugal has been rated one of the happiest places to live in the world for expats. 

A major benefit of the programme is that it only requires the applicant to reside in the country for 7 days per year. Plus, Portuguese residents can enjoy visa free travel throughout the Schengen area, as well as attractive tax incentives. This programme is also a route to gaining Portuguese citizenship, with individuals able to apply for a Portuguese passport, and subsequently European citizenship, within a 5 year period. 

UK

The UK investor’s visa has attracted in excess of GBP 10 billion since launching in 2008 and is favoured among those seeking residency by investment, due to its central role in global commerce and world leading educational institutions. 

Single applicants must invest a minimum of GBP 2 million in the share capital or loan capital of active and trading UK registered companies and will be eligible for permanent residency after 5 years. However, it is possible to fast track your path to permanent residency by increasing the size of your original investment, taking only 2 years if you invest GBP 10 million and 3 years if you invest GBP 5 million. 

Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal and the UK are the best and most popular options among clients from all corners of the globe. However there are many other European countries offering residency by investment such Malta, Italy and the Netherlands. 

Deciding which programme and country is best for you, is an important, life-changing decision, and there are many factors that should be considered before the final decision is made. Our advisors are experts in all of these programmes and would be more than happy to have a free consultation and discuss the most important aspects for you.