{"meta":{"source":"https://getwherenext.com/investor-visas","licence":"CC BY 4.0","attribution":"Data from WhereNext (getwherenext.com). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International.","lastGenerated":"2026-08-24T22:21:51.652Z","programmeCount":33,"activeCount":28,"closedCount":4,"staleCount":0,"registryVersion":"1.0.0","docs":"https://getwherenext.com/api-docs#/intelligence/golden-visa","contact":"https://getwherenext.com/methodology"},"filters":{"status":"all","budgetMaxEUR":null,"citizenshipMaxYears":null,"presenceMaxDays":null,"schengenOnly":false,"euCitizenshipOnly":false,"countries":null},"programs":[{"code":"PT","name":"Portugal Golden Visa (ARI)","shortName":"Portugal Golden Visa","countryName":"Portugal","flagEmoji":"🇵🇹","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open","statusNote":"Nationality reform ENACTED: Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 published in Diário da República 18 May 2026, in force 19 May 2026. Citizenship clock now 7 years (Portuguese-speaking/CPLP + EU nationals) or 10 years (all others); pending applications keep the prior regime. Source: Diário da República + Ministério da Justiça.","minInvestmentEUR":250000,"minInvestmentNote":"€250,000 non-refundable cultural/heritage capital transfer is the cheapest route (Lei 23/2007 art. 90.º-A vi; a 20% low-density-territory reduction to €200K exists but is geography-restricted). (The fund route is €500K.)","routes":[{"type":"cultural-donation","amountEUR":250000,"note":"Capital transfer to approved cultural/heritage projects; non-refundable. €200K only in low-density territories (20% reduction)."},{"type":"investment-fund","amountEUR":500000,"note":"Qualifying CMVM-registered fund; ≥60% Portuguese-companies allocation; 6–8 year hold typical.","primary":true},{"type":"research-donation","amountEUR":500000,"note":"Contribution to Portuguese research institutions."},{"type":"job-creation","amountEUR":0,"note":"Create and maintain 10+ full-time jobs in Portugal."},{"type":"capital-transfer","amountEUR":1500000,"note":"Transfer to Portuguese bank account or government bonds."}],"processingMonths":[36,40],"processingNote":"AIMA backlog: ~50,000 pending files as of May 2025. Government pledged 2026 resolution; 2025 pledge was broken.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":7,"physicalPresenceNote":"14 days in first 2-year permit, 14 days per each 2-year renewal period.","citizenshipYears":10,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"tiered","citizenshipNote":"ENACTED (Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force 19 May 2026): 7 years for Portuguese-speaking/CPLP + EU nationals, 10 years for all others (this field shows the 10y 'others' tier). Pending applications keep the prior regime. The earlier '5-year' claim is now outdated.","permanentResidencyYears":5,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":"dependency-only","grandparents":"dependency-only"},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":true,"closureRiskScore":4,"closureRiskNote":"Real estate removed 2023; citizenship timeline lengthened (Lei Orgânica 1/2026). Programme continues but politically less durable than a decade ago.","articleSlug":"portugal-golden-visa-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Portugal country profile","href":"/country/pt"},{"label":"Portugal IFICI tax regime","href":"/blog/portugal-ifici-tax-regime-guide-2026"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.aima.gov.pt/","sourceType":"secondary","sourceOrganisation":"Lei 23/2007 art. 90.º-A, via AIMA (AIMA does not publish the ARI thresholds — see notes)","notes":"Thresholds are set by Lei 23/2007 art. 90.º-A. AIMA does not publish them on its own site, so confirm the current figure against the statute or with a Portuguese lawyer before committing.","lastVerified":"2026-08-07","nextReview":"2026-09-30"},{"code":"GR","name":"Greece Golden Visa (Investor Permanent Residence Permit)","shortName":"Greece Golden Visa","countryName":"Greece","flagEmoji":"🇬🇷","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"Law 5275/2026 reshaped the tiers; a short-term-rental registration freeze applies in central Athens (districts 1–3, through end-2026) and Thessaloniki (from Mar 2026) — an urban registry rule, not a Golden-Visa threshold change.","minInvestmentEUR":250000,"minInvestmentNote":"€250,000 for commercial→residential conversion or listed-building restoration, nationwide.","routes":[{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":250000,"note":"Commercial-to-residential conversions or listed-building restoration, anywhere in Greece."},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":400000,"note":"Standard real estate outside prime-zone list.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":800000,"note":"Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and Aegean/Ionian islands over 3,100 inhabitants."},{"type":"government-bonds","amountEUR":500000,"note":"Greek sovereign bonds with ≥3-year residual maturity (€500k)."},{"type":"bank-deposit","amountEUR":500000,"note":"Fixed-term deposit in a Greek bank, auto-renewable (€500k)."},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":800000,"note":"Shares or capital contribution to a Greek company / corporate bonds (€800k)."}],"processingMonths":[2,6],"processingNote":"Faster than Portugal. Application complete after property acquisition.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No minimum stay required to maintain the permit.","citizenshipYears":7,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Requires B1 Greek language test.","permanentResidencyYears":5,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":"dependency-only"},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":true,"closureRiskScore":3,"closureRiskNote":"Reformed in 2024 rather than closed; unlikely to close outright but thresholds may rise further.","articleSlug":"greece-golden-visa-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Greece country profile","href":"/country/gr"}],"sourceUrl":"https://migration.gov.gr/en/golden-visa/","sourceType":"secondary","sourceOrganisation":"Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum (page predates the 2024 tier reform — see notes)","notes":"Tier structure comes from Law 5275/2026. The ministry's public Golden Visa page has not yet been updated to reflect it, so check the current tier with a Greek lawyer before committing to a property.","lastVerified":"2026-08-07","nextReview":"2026-09-14"},{"code":"HU","name":"Hungary Guest Investor Visa Programme (GIVP)","shortName":"Hungary GIVP","countryName":"Hungary","flagEmoji":"🇭🇺","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"Direct €500K real estate option removed 15 January 2025. Two routes remain.","minInvestmentEUR":250000,"minInvestmentNote":"€250,000 in MNB-approved real estate investment fund (min 40% Hungarian residential exposure).","routes":[{"type":"real-estate-fund","amountEUR":250000,"note":"MNB-approved real estate fund; ≥40% NAV in Hungarian residential real estate; 5-year hold.","primary":true},{"type":"education-donation","amountEUR":1000000,"note":"Non-refundable donation to a Hungarian higher-education institution operated by a public trust."}],"processingMonths":[1,2],"processingNote":"Fastest mainstream European golden visa at 4–8 weeks end-to-end.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No minimum stay required. Visit at least once per year for renewal paperwork.","citizenshipYears":8,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Requires A2 Hungarian language (~180-200 learning hours). Hungarian is a Category IV language for English speakers.","permanentResidencyYears":5,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":"dependency-only"},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":true,"closureRiskScore":5,"closureRiskNote":"Hungary-EU rule-of-law tensions; programme could face EU scrutiny. 2025 reform removed the direct-RE route — further narrowing possible.","articleSlug":"hungary-golden-visa-2026-guide","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Hungary country profile","href":"/country/hu"},{"label":"Hungary for Chinese applicants","href":"/blog/hungary-golden-visa-for-chinese-applicants-2026"}],"sourceUrl":"https://oif.gov.hu/factsheets/residence-permit-for-guest-investor","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Hungarian National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF)","lastVerified":"2026-08-07","nextReview":"2026-10-05"},{"code":"MT","name":"Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)","shortName":"Malta MPRP","countryName":"Malta","flagEmoji":"🇲🇹","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"Legal Notice 146 of 2025 (July 2025) reformed fee structure: unified €37K government contribution, spouse+minor children free, adult dependants reduced to €7.5K.","minInvestmentEUR":99000,"minInvestmentNote":"€99K verified government fees post-L.N. 146/2025 (€60K administrative fee [€15K on submission + €45K on approval] + €37K contribution + €2K NGO donation; adult dependants €7.5K each). PLUS a mandatory property commitment: €375K purchase OR €14K/yr lease anywhere in Malta or Gozo (no lower tier) for 5 years (Residency Malta). True minimum entry ≈ €169K via the lease route.","routes":[{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":375000,"note":"Property purchase in Malta or Gozo, held 5 years."},{"type":"capital-transfer","amountEUR":70000,"originalAmount":"€14,000/year × 5 years","note":"Rental property at no less than €14,000/year, for a property in Malta OR Gozo — the lower Gozo/southern-Malta tier no longer exists (S.L. 217.26 as amended by L.N. 310 of 2024 and L.N. 146 of 2025). Held 5 years.","primary":true}],"processingMonths":[8,14],"processingNote":"Predictable. Due diligence is thorough post-IIP-closure tightening.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No minimum stay. Residence is permanent from day one.","citizenshipYears":5,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"pr-only","citizenshipNote":"MPRP is PR-only — NOT a citizenship programme. The 5-year figure is generic Maltese naturalisation (a separate, discretionary process: Maltese-language fluency, integration test, continuous residence), not an MPRP entitlement.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"medical-only","parents":"dependency-only","grandparents":"dependency-only","adultDependantFeeEUR":7500},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":4,"closureRiskNote":"Malta EU-scrutinised; IIP (passport sales) already closed in 2025. MPRP reformed rather than terminated but future tightening possible.","articleSlug":"malta-mprp-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Malta country profile","href":"/country/mt"}],"sourceUrl":"https://residencymalta.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/S.L.217.26-Amended-by-LN-310-of-2024_-LN-146-of-2025.pdf","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Residency Malta Agency (RMA)","lastVerified":"2026-08-09","nextReview":"2026-12-09"},{"code":"IT","name":"Italy Investor Visa","shortName":"Italy Investor Visa","countryName":"Italy","flagEmoji":"🇮🇹","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":250000,"minInvestmentNote":"€250,000 in an Italian innovative startup (startup innovativa).","routes":[{"type":"startup","amountEUR":250000,"note":"Italian innovative startup registered with Chambers of Commerce."},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":500000,"note":"Equity investment in Italian limited company (SRL/SPA).","primary":true},{"type":"government-bonds","amountEUR":2000000,"note":"Italian government bonds (BTPs etc.) with ≥2-year residual maturity."},{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":1000000,"note":"Donation to Italian public-interest project (culture, education, research, heritage)."}],"processingMonths":[3,6],"processingNote":"Nulla osta processed in parallel with consulate visa — fastest EU option.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"None required for the permit. Tax residency triggers at 183+ days.","citizenshipYears":10,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Requires B1 Italian language test. Continuous legal residence during the 10 years.","permanentResidencyYears":5,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"medical-only","parents":"dependency-only"},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":true,"closureRiskScore":2,"closureRiskNote":"Launched 2017, stable. Flat-tax regime amount increased €100K→€200K for new electants from Aug 2024 — further changes possible.","articleSlug":"italy-investor-visa-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Italy country profile","href":"/country/it"}],"sourceUrl":"https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/index.php/en/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Italian Ministry of Economic Development (MISE)","lastVerified":"2026-08-09","nextReview":"2026-12-09"},{"code":"CY","name":"Cyprus Permanent Residence by Investment","shortName":"Cyprus PR","countryName":"Cyprus","flagEmoji":"🇨🇾","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"Annual-income requirement raised from €30K to €50K (2023 reform). The Cyprus Parliament was considering a major reform of the programme as of June 2026 (not yet enacted); further tightening is expected as Cyprus prepares for Schengen accession.","minInvestmentEUR":300000,"minInvestmentNote":"€300,000 investment + €50,000 annual secured income requirement.","routes":[{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":300000,"note":"Residential real estate purchase.","primary":true},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":300000,"note":"Share capital in Cyprus-based physical-operations company."}],"processingMonths":[2,3],"processingNote":"Relatively fast among EU options.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"Visit once every 2 years to maintain permit.","citizenshipYears":null,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"pr-only","citizenshipNote":"Cyprus removed the 5-year investment-PR-to-passport route in 2026. Citizenship only via standard 7-year naturalization with B1 Greek.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":true,"closureRiskScore":6,"closureRiskNote":"Parents/in-laws already excluded (2023). Citizenship fast-track removed (2026). Programme likely to tighten further with Schengen accession.","articleSlug":"cyprus-pr-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Cyprus country profile","href":"/country/cy"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/CRMD/crmd.nsf/index_en/index_en?OpenDocument","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Cyprus Civil Registry and Migration Department","lastVerified":"2026-08-19","nextReview":"2026-11-17"},{"code":"LV","name":"Latvia Residence Permit by Investment","shortName":"Latvia Golden Visa","countryName":"Latvia","flagEmoji":"🇱🇻","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"New Immigration Law passed the Saeima 2026-06-11 (scraps the real-estate + subordinated-deposit routes, adds a €150K fund route, cuts equity-route validity 5→2yr); President returned it 2026-06-19, so the routes below remain in force pending the autumn re-vote. Source: PMLP + IMI Daily.","minInvestmentEUR":60000,"minInvestmentNote":"€50K equity in a small Latvian company (≤50 employees, ≤€10M turnover/balance) + €10K state fee = €60K total — the cheapest route. (PMLP)","routes":[{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":60000,"note":"€50K equity in a small Latvian company + €10K one-time state payment (PMLP). Larger companies = €100K. Company must be genuinely operational; the ~€40K/yr tax figure is advisory, not in PMLP's published criteria.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":262500,"originalAmount":"€250,000 + 5% state fee","note":"€250K property purchase + 5% state-budget fee (the older sub-€250K 'outside Riga' tier is abolished)."},{"type":"bank-deposit","amountEUR":280000,"note":"€280K subordinated bank deposit (≥5-yr term) + a €25K state-budget fee ≈ €305K all-in (PMLP)."},{"type":"government-bonds","amountEUR":250000,"note":"€250K interest-free state bonds + €38K state fee ≈ €288K (PMLP) — on the books but practically dormant; verify with PMLP before relying on it."}],"processingMonths":[2,3],"processingNote":"Fast processing. Visit Latvia annually for renewal.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No minimum stay; visit yearly for renewal.","citizenshipYears":10,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Latvian citizenship requires 10 years continuous residence, Latvian language (B-level), citizenship test.","permanentResidencyYears":5,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":false},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":true,"closureRiskScore":4,"closureRiskNote":"Latvia tightened due-diligence after 2022 Russian-applicant scrutiny. Residency permits issued before political shifts remain valid.","articleSlug":"latvia-golden-visa-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Latvia country profile","href":"/country/lv"}],"sourceUrl":"https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/68522-immigration-law","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Immigration Law of Latvia, Section 23(1) (likumi.lv consolidated text)","lastVerified":"2026-08-09","nextReview":"2026-12-09"},{"code":"AE","name":"UAE Golden Visa","shortName":"UAE Golden Visa","countryName":"United Arab Emirates","flagEmoji":"🇦🇪","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":516000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€516K (AED 2,000,000) property investment — full valuation required, not just down payment.","routes":[{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":516000,"originalAmount":"AED 2,000,000","note":"Property valued at AED 2M+ (~USD 545K / ~€516K). Single or multiple properties registered to same owner.","primary":true},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":516000,"originalAmount":"AED 2,000,000","note":"Active business investment or entrepreneur route."},{"type":"talent-based","amountEUR":0,"note":"Exceptional talent / scientists / specialised professionals — varies by discipline."}],"processingMonths":[1,2],"processingNote":"Dubai Land Department handles property-based applications; very fast for qualifying purchases.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No minimum stay. Golden-visa holders are exempt from the standard six-month absence rule (u.ae) — the residence lapses only if it expires while the holder is abroad.","citizenshipYears":null,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"pr-only","citizenshipNote":"UAE citizenship is rarely granted to foreign investors. Golden Visa holders cannot expect a UAE passport through this route.","family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":2,"closureRiskNote":"Active government priority; thresholds have eased rather than tightened over time.","articleSlug":"uae-golden-visa-chinese-hnwi-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"UAE country profile","href":"/country/ae"}],"sourceUrl":"https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/golden-residency/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP)","lastVerified":"2026-08-07","nextReview":"2026-10-14"},{"code":"US","name":"USA EB-5 Immigrant Investor Programme","shortName":"USA EB-5","countryName":"United States","flagEmoji":"🇺🇸","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":736000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€736K (USD 800,000) Target Employment Area (TEA) investment; USD 1,050,000 non-TEA. Amounts adjust automatically for CPI-U inflation for petitions filed on or after 1 Jan 2027 (EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act).","routes":[{"type":"capital-transfer","amountEUR":736000,"originalAmount":"USD 800,000","note":"Target Employment Area (TEA) investment — rural or high-unemployment areas. Must create/preserve 10 full-time US jobs.","primary":true},{"type":"capital-transfer","amountEUR":967000,"originalAmount":"USD 1,050,000","note":"Non-TEA investment with same 10-job requirement."}],"processingMonths":[17,120],"processingNote":"Rural-TEA unreserved: ~17 months to conditional green card. China-mainland applicants: 5-10 years backlog for unreserved visas; rural/high-unemployment/infrastructure set-asides bypass backlog.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":183,"physicalPresenceNote":"US green card holders must establish US residence; absences over 6 months risk abandonment of residency.","citizenshipYears":5,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Green card to US citizenship requires 5 years (4 if married to US citizen), English + civics test. Citizenship via investment is a 7-10 year total for China-origin applicants under unreserved category.","permanentResidencyYears":2,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":3,"closureRiskNote":"EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act reauthorised the programme; USCIS states immigrant visas are authorised under the Regional Center Program through 30 September 2027, so that route (not the standalone route) carries a real statutory horizon. Set-aside categories stable. Separately, the investment amounts adjust for CPI-U every five years, first effective for petitions filed on or after 1 January 2027.","articleSlug":"usa-eb5-investor-visa-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"US country profile","href":"/country/us"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-fifth-preference-eb-5/about-the-eb-5-visa-classification","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)","lastVerified":"2026-08-09","nextReview":"2026-12-09"},{"code":"SG","name":"Singapore Global Investor Programme (GIP)","shortName":"Singapore GIP","countryName":"Singapore","flagEmoji":"🇸🇬","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":6900000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€6.9M (SGD 10M) minimum business investment; €17.3M (SGD 25M) for fund; €138M (SGD 200M) for family office route.","routes":[{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":6900000,"originalAmount":"SGD 10,000,000","note":"SGD 10M in new or existing Singapore business; must create ≥30 jobs (50%+ Singapore Citizens, ≥10 new)."},{"type":"investment-fund","amountEUR":17300000,"originalAmount":"SGD 25,000,000","note":"SGD 25M in a GIP-approved fund."},{"type":"capital-transfer","amountEUR":138000000,"originalAmount":"SGD 200,000,000 (family office)","note":"Family office with ≥SGD 200M AUM + ≥SGD 50M into GIP fund."}],"processingMonths":[6,12],"processingNote":"GIP fee increased to S$20K in May 2025. Thorough due diligence.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":183,"physicalPresenceNote":"PR holders expected to spend majority of time in Singapore to maintain status.","citizenshipYears":2,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Singapore citizenship available 2 years after PR, but discretionary. No language test, but good character and integration expected. Dual citizenship not permitted — must renounce prior nationality.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":2,"closureRiskNote":"Singapore has progressively raised GIP thresholds (doubled from SGD 10M for fund route in recent years). Further increases possible.","articleSlug":"singapore-global-investor-programme-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Singapore country profile","href":"/country/sg"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/incentives-and-programmes/global-investor-programme.html","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-10-17"},{"code":"AU","name":"Australia National Innovation Visa (NIV, Subclass 858)","shortName":"Australia NIV","countryName":"Australia","flagEmoji":"🇦🇺","category":"talent","status":"open","statusNote":"Launched 7 December 2024, replacing the Global Talent Visa (GTV) and Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP).","minInvestmentEUR":0,"minInvestmentNote":"No financial investment required. Invitation-only, based on exceptional achievement in a specific field.","routes":[{"type":"talent-based","amountEUR":0,"note":"Proven exceptional achievement in Professions, Sport, Arts, or Academia/Research. State/territory/Australian-organisation endorsement required before application."}],"processingMonths":[4,8],"processingNote":"Direct-to-PR. Expression of Interest + invitation required before application can be lodged.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No minimum stay for the permit. For citizenship path, standard residence rules apply (~4 years lawful, 365+ days as PR).","citizenshipYears":4,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Standard Australian citizenship pathway from PR.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"medical-only","parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":2,"closureRiskNote":"Newly restructured in Dec 2024; stable for the medium term.","articleSlug":"australia-national-innovation-visa-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Australia country profile","href":"/country/au"}],"sourceUrl":"https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/national-innovation-visa-858","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Australian Department of Home Affairs","lastVerified":"2026-08-09","nextReview":"2026-10-20"},{"code":"CH","name":"Switzerland Residence via Lump-Sum Taxation","shortName":"Switzerland Lump-Sum","countryName":"Switzerland","flagEmoji":"🇨🇭","category":"tax-residence","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":450000,"minInvestmentNote":"~CHF 450K minimum annual lump-sum tax (canton-level estimate; no federal minimum; verify locally).","routes":[{"type":"talent-based","amountEUR":450000,"originalAmount":"CHF 450,000/year minimum","note":"Negotiated annual lump-sum tax contribution to canton. CHF 450,000/year is a canton-level estimate, not a federal minimum — verify locally. No minimum capital or investment — the tax IS the qualifying contribution.","primary":true}],"processingMonths":[3,6],"processingNote":"Negotiated at canton level; varies significantly by canton.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":183,"physicalPresenceNote":"Lump-sum tax residency requires actual Swiss residence (183+ days); cannot earn Swiss-source income under this regime.","citizenshipYears":10,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Swiss citizenship requires 10 years residence, 3 years marriage-to-Swiss-citizen, language proficiency (official language of residence canton), and canton-level integration test.","permanentResidencyYears":5,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":false},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":3,"closureRiskNote":"Five cantons abolished lump-sum taxation (ZH, BS, BL, SH, AR); other cantons voted to retain it. Programme is canton-specific.","articleSlug":"switzerland-lump-sum-taxation-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Switzerland country profile","href":"/country/ch"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.efd.admin.ch/en/lump-sum-taxation","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Swiss Federal Tax Administration","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-10-23","notes":"The CHF 450K/year figure is a canton-level estimate, not a federal minimum; verify locally."},{"code":"PA","name":"Panama Qualified Investor Visa","shortName":"Panama Qualified Investor","countryName":"Panama","flagEmoji":"🇵🇦","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open","statusNote":"Real-estate minimum is B/.300,000 with no expiry date. Last amended by Decreto Ejecutivo 193 of 15 October 2024; no further change announced.","minInvestmentEUR":276000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€276K (B/.300,000) real estate, free of liens. Whichever route you use, DE 722 art. 5 requires the investment to be maintained — or reinvested on the decree’s terms — for five years, with annual proof filed through MICI, or the residency is cancelled. The decree sets the amount as a floor (“la suma mínima desde”), not a temporary rate: there is no sunset date and no higher real-estate tier.","routes":[{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":276000,"originalAmount":"USD 300,000","note":"Purchase of Panamanian real estate, free of liens (libre de gravámenes). Requires Registro Público title certification plus an ANATI valuation.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":276000,"originalAmount":"USD 300,000","note":"Pre-construction purchase under a promise-of-sale contract, secured either by a bank/fiduciary trust or by a renewable bank performance guarantee covering the full investment."},{"type":"bank-deposit","amountEUR":690000,"originalAmount":"USD 750,000","note":"Fixed-term deposit, minimum five-year term, free of liens, in a general-licence Panamanian bank."},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":460000,"originalAmount":"USD 500,000","note":"Securities bought through a licensed Casa de Valores on the Bolsa de Valores de Panamá, held at least five years."}],"processingMonths":[1,3],"processingNote":"Very fast — typical 30–90 days. No physical presence required during processing.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No minimum stay required to maintain permanent residency.","citizenshipYears":5,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"5 years as permanent resident, Spanish language proficiency, integration test. Dual citizenship permitted with Panama by treaty for some countries but generally requires renunciation.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":"dependency-only"},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":3,"closureRiskNote":"Open with no announced change. Legislated on three times in five years and the real-estate threshold has moved in both directions (B/.500,000 in 2022, back to B/.300,000 in 2024), so the figure is live policy rather than settled — but every amendment has extended the programme, and the 2024 decree added investor protections for pre-construction buyers.","articleSlug":"panama-qualified-investor-visa-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Panama country profile","href":"/country/pa"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/documento/91392","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Gaceta Oficial de Panamá — Decreto Ejecutivo 193 de 15 de octubre de 2024","lastVerified":"2026-08-09","nextReview":"2026-12-09","notes":"No sunset applies to the B/.300,000 minimum: the 2024 decree made it the standing figure. Separately, Decreto Ley 3 de 2008 (art. 20, parágrafo único) obliges the Executive to review minimum investment amounts every two years, which is why this programme has been amended each October of an even year. The next review falls due around October 2026 — a review obligation, not a scheduled increase, and nothing has been announced."},{"code":"MC","name":"Monaco Residence Permit (Carte de Séjour)","shortName":"Monaco Residence","countryName":"Monaco","flagEmoji":"🇲🇨","category":"hnw-residence","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":500000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€500,000 estimated bank deposit (not a fee — remains yours, must be maintained; amount varies by bank). Plus obligatory Monaco property (purchase or 12-month+ lease).","routes":[{"type":"bank-deposit","amountEUR":500000,"note":"~€500K estimated deposit at a Monaco bank (amount varies by bank; some require more). Deposit remains under your ownership.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":0,"note":"Must own or rent (12 months+) a Monaco property as primary residence. No minimum price but Monaco rental market starts around €4K/month for a studio."}],"processingMonths":[3,6],"processingNote":"Process begins with bank reference letter (confirming deposit), then application to Monaco authorities. Typically 3-6 months for initial temp card.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":90,"physicalPresenceNote":"Minimum 3 months per year actual residence in Monaco. Monaco is very small — this is easy to meet for genuine residents.","citizenshipYears":10,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Monaco citizenship is discretionary and rarely granted. Naturalization requires 10+ years continuous residence, French proficiency (Monaco's official language), and is granted at the Prince's discretion. Most residents remain permanent residents indefinitely.","permanentResidencyYears":10,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":2,"closureRiskNote":"Monaco's residence framework is politically stable; programme has existed since the 1950s. The €500K deposit minimum is set by banks (not the state) and has gradually risen.","articleSlug":"monaco-residence-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Monaco country profile","href":"/country/mc"}],"sourceUrl":"https://monservicepublic.gouv.mc/en/themes/nationality-and-residency/residency/new-entrants/how-to-apply-for-a-residence-permit","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Government of the Principality of Monaco","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-10-26"},{"code":"NZ","name":"New Zealand Active Investor Plus Visa","shortName":"NZ Active Investor Plus","countryName":"New Zealand","flagEmoji":"🇳🇿","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"Rules relaxed in 2025 — Growth category (NZD 5M) has much lower physical-presence requirement (21 days over 36 months).","minInvestmentEUR":2760000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€2.76M (NZD 5M) Growth category (higher-risk investments); NZD 10M Balanced category (broader acceptable investments).","routes":[{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":2760000,"originalAmount":"NZD 5,000,000","note":"Growth category: managed funds, direct NZ business investments, angel/venture. Held 36 months. 21 days NZ presence required.","primary":true},{"type":"capital-transfer","amountEUR":5520000,"originalAmount":"NZD 10,000,000","note":"Balanced category: broader acceptable investments (listed equities, bonds, managed funds, qualifying property developments, philanthropy). Held 60 months. 105 days NZ presence (reducible with Growth allocation)."}],"processingMonths":[2,4],"processingNote":"Two-stage at Immigration New Zealand: INZ averages ~35 working days to approval-in-principle, then ~36 working days to final approval once investment documentation is provided (~7 weeks each). A 6-month window to transfer funds sits between the stages, so end-to-end calendar time is applicant-paced. INZ publishes average working-day figures, not a percentile service standard.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":7,"physicalPresenceNote":"Growth: 21 days over 3 years (~7/yr). Balanced: 105 days over 5 years (~21/yr), reducible by 14 days per each additional NZD 1M in Growth allocation (max 42 days reduction).","citizenshipYears":5,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"NZ citizenship requires 5 years of residence as a PR, with at least 240 days presence in each of those years. More restrictive than the visa's own presence requirement.","permanentResidencyYears":3,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"medical-only","parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":3,"closureRiskNote":"Programme reformed and relaxed in 2025 — direction is favourable, not restrictive. Future changes unlikely in short term.","articleSlug":"new-zealand-active-investor-plus-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"New Zealand country profile","href":"/country/nz"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/active-investor-plus-visa/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Immigration New Zealand","lastVerified":"2026-08-07","nextReview":"2026-09-30"},{"code":"TH","name":"Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa","shortName":"Thailand LTR","countryName":"Thailand","flagEmoji":"🇹🇭","category":"hnw-residence","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":460000,"minInvestmentNote":"Wealthy Global Citizens needs USD 1M+ total assets AND USD 500K+ invested in Thailand (~€460K) — both are required (BOI). Other categories are income/talent-based without a fixed investment.","routes":[{"type":"capital-transfer","amountEUR":460000,"originalAmount":"USD 500,000 in Thai assets (+ USD 1M total assets)","note":"Wealthy Global Citizens: USD 1M+ total assets including USD 500K+ in Thai government bonds, Thai real estate, or Thai-listed equities.","primary":true},{"type":"talent-based","amountEUR":0,"originalAmount":"USD 80,000/year income","note":"Work-from-Thailand Professionals: remote workers with $80K+/yr from well-established overseas employers (2-year track record)."},{"type":"talent-based","amountEUR":0,"originalAmount":"USD 80,000/year pension","note":"Wealthy Pensioners (50+): $80K/yr passive income, OR $40K/yr + USD 250K in Thai assets."},{"type":"talent-based","amountEUR":0,"note":"Highly-Skilled Professionals: targeted industries (tech, healthcare, science), flat 17% Thai tax (vs up to 35% standard)."}],"processingMonths":[1,3],"processingNote":"Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) administers the programme. Fast processing for well-documented applications.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No minimum stay to maintain the 10-year visa. 90-day report extended to annual under LTR (major quality-of-life upgrade over standard Thai visas).","citizenshipYears":null,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"pr-only","citizenshipNote":"LTR does not provide a citizenship pathway. Thai citizenship through naturalization is very restrictive (5 years continuous residence, Thai language, renouncing original nationality for most applicants).","family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":true},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":3,"closureRiskNote":"Programme launched 2022, refined 2025. Thailand is actively promoting the LTR to attract HNW and remote talent. Programme stability is high in the short-to-medium term.","articleSlug":"thailand-ltr-visa-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Thailand country profile","href":"/country/th"},{"label":"Thailand LTR for Chinese retirees","href":"/blog/thailand-ltr-visa-chinese-retirees-2026"}],"sourceUrl":"https://ltr.boi.go.th/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)","lastVerified":"2026-08-07","nextReview":"2026-10-29","notes":"Best-in-class for HNW retirees and remote-work professionals seeking Thailand as a base without citizenship aspirations. Tax exemption on foreign-source income is a major differentiator."},{"code":"LU","name":"Luxembourg Investor Residence Permit","shortName":"Luxembourg Investor","countryName":"Luxembourg","flagEmoji":"🇱🇺","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":500000,"minInvestmentNote":"€500K into an existing or new Luxembourg company (commercial/industrial/craft). Real estate explicitly excluded from qualifying investments.","routes":[{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":500000,"note":"€500K into an existing Luxembourg company with commercial/industrial/craft activity; maintain existing employment for 5 years.","primary":true},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":500000,"note":"€500K into a new Luxembourg company; create at least 5 jobs within 3 years."},{"type":"capital-transfer","amountEUR":3000000,"note":"€3M into an existing or new investment/management structure based in Luxembourg with genuine substance."},{"type":"bank-deposit","amountEUR":20000000,"note":"€20M deposit in a Luxembourg financial institution, held for at least 5 years."}],"processingMonths":[4,6],"processingNote":"Typical ~6 months. Stringent due diligence standard for Luxembourg.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":90,"physicalPresenceNote":"Substantial physical presence expected to maintain the permit; Luxembourg enforces actual residence more strictly than some EU peers.","citizenshipYears":5,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Luxembourg citizenship after 5 years of legal residence plus Luxembourgish language (one of three official languages; most applicants take the Luxembourgish B1 test). Dual citizenship permitted.","permanentResidencyYears":5,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":"dependency-only"},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":true,"closureRiskScore":2,"closureRiskNote":"Stable programme within a financially sophisticated jurisdiction. Unlikely to change materially in the short term.","articleSlug":"luxembourg-investor-residence-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Luxembourg country profile","href":"/country/lu"}],"sourceUrl":"https://guichet.public.lu/en/citoyens/immigration/plus-3-mois/ressortissant-tiers/investisseur/investisseur-pays-tiers.html","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg","lastVerified":"2026-08-09","nextReview":"2026-12-09"},{"code":"TR","name":"Turkey Citizenship by Investment","shortName":"Turkey CBI","countryName":"Turkey","flagEmoji":"🇹🇷","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":368000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€368K (USD 400K) real estate investment — direct citizenship route, not a golden visa. Property held 3 years.","routes":[{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":368000,"originalAmount":"USD 400,000","note":"Real estate purchase (residential or commercial), held 3 years. Combined properties allowed. Valuation and DAB currency document must all show ≥USD 400K.","primary":true},{"type":"capital-transfer","amountEUR":460000,"originalAmount":"USD 500,000 deposit","note":"Fixed-term deposit in a Turkish bank, 3 years."},{"type":"government-bonds","amountEUR":460000,"originalAmount":"USD 500,000","note":"Turkish government bonds, 3 years."},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":460000,"originalAmount":"USD 500,000","note":"Fixed capital contribution to a Turkish company."}],"processingMonths":[3,9],"processingNote":"3–6 months for a clean application; up to 9 months with complications.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No residency requirement — this is a citizenship-by-investment programme, not a residency-by-investment programme.","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship at the end of processing. No language tests, no interview stages. Dual citizenship permitted (Turkey allows it). No integration requirements.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":4,"closureRiskNote":"Turkey periodically adjusts the real-estate threshold (raised from $250K to $400K in 2022). Further rises possible as programme matures. EU/Schengen visa-waiver tensions periodically threaten programme perception.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Turkey country profile","href":"/country/tr"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.invest.gov.tr/en/investmentguide/pages/acquiring-property-and-citizenship.aspx","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Republic of Turkey Ministry of Interior — Directorate General of Migration Management","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-11-01"},{"code":"KN","name":"St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment","shortName":"St Kitts CBI","countryName":"St. Kitts and Nevis","flagEmoji":"🇰🇳","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) replaces the pre-2024 Sustainable Growth Fund. Biometric data collection mandatory from 14 April 2026.","minInvestmentEUR":230000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€230K (USD 250K) SISC contribution — non-refundable donation. Plus due diligence fees (~$10K main, $7.5K per adult dependant).","routes":[{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":230000,"originalAmount":"USD 250,000","note":"Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) — replaces the Sustainable Growth Fund. Non-refundable donation to federal consolidated fund.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":299000,"originalAmount":"USD 325,000","note":"Approved Development unit (hotels/condos), resaleable after 7 years. Reduced from USD 400,000 on 25 Oct 2024. Private homes: USD 325,000 condominium / USD 600,000 single-family (7-year hold), per CIU."}],"processingMonths":[4,6],"processingNote":"Approval in principle typical 4-6 months. SISC contribution paid AFTER approval in principle.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No residency requirement — citizenship granted without physical presence.","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship at the end of processing. No language tests, no interview, no residence. Dual citizenship permitted. Passport grants visa-free access to 167+ countries including UK, Schengen area, and Saudi Arabia.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":"dependency-only","adultDependantFeeEUR":7000},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":6,"closureRiskNote":"Caribbean CBI programmes face intense EU scrutiny. St Kitts tightened DD in 2024-2025, adopted biometric collection from 14 April 2026. EU Commission has flagged CBI programmes as potential grounds for visa-waiver suspension — changes to Schengen access are a real downside risk.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"St Kitts & Nevis country profile","href":"/country/kn"}],"sourceUrl":"https://ciu.gov.kn/sustainable-island-state-contribution/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU)","lastVerified":"2026-08-09","nextReview":"2026-12-09","notes":"Schengen visa-waiver access is valuable but politically contingent. EU has signalled possible suspension if CBI programmes don't tighten further."},{"code":"DM","name":"Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment","shortName":"Dominica CBI","countryName":"Dominica","flagEmoji":"🇩🇲","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"OECS Memorandum of Agreement standardised the regional $200K minimum effective 1 July 2024.","minInvestmentEUR":184000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€184K ($200K) Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) contribution for single applicant; $250K for family of up to 3; $260K family of 4; +$25K per additional dependant.","routes":[{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":184000,"originalAmount":"USD 200,000","note":"Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) donation — non-refundable. Post-2024 standardised regional minimum.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":184000,"originalAmount":"USD 200,000","note":"Approved real estate (held 3 years for resale, 5 years for repeat-CBI sale)."}],"processingMonths":[4,6],"processingNote":"Approval in principle ~4-6 months. Payment triggered only after approval.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No residency requirement — citizenship granted directly.","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship on approval. No language test, no residence. Dual citizenship permitted. Visa-free access to ~145 countries including UK (but NOT Schengen since EU warnings in 2025).","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":"dependency-only","adultDependantFeeEUR":6500},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":7,"closureRiskNote":"EU Commission has flagged Caribbean CBI programmes as grounds for visa-waiver suspension. Post-2024 OECS MoA tightened compliance but risk remains elevated.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Dominica country profile","href":"/country/dm"}],"sourceUrl":"https://cbiu.gov.dm/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment Unit","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-11-04"},{"code":"GD","name":"Grenada Citizenship by Investment","shortName":"Grenada CBI","countryName":"Grenada","flagEmoji":"🇬🇩","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"National Transformation Fund (NTF) amount is US$235,000 flat, covering a single applicant or a family of up to 4; effective 1 July 2024; +US$25,000 per additional dependant.","minInvestmentEUR":216000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€216K (US$235,000) National Transformation Fund (NTF) amount, covering a single applicant or a family of up to 4; effective 1 July 2024; +US$25,000 per additional dependant.","routes":[{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":216000,"originalAmount":"USD 235,000","note":"National Transformation Fund (NTF) amount is US$235,000 flat, covering a single applicant or a family of up to 4; effective 1 July 2024; +US$25,000 per additional dependant.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":253000,"originalAmount":"USD 270,000","note":"Approved real estate. Plus government fees."}],"processingMonths":[4,6],"processingNote":"Typical 4-6 months. Grenada is notable for its E-2 treaty with the US — Grenadian citizens can apply for US E-2 visas.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No residency requirement.","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship. Unique: Grenada is the only CBI-offering country with a US E-2 Treaty of Commerce, enabling citizens to obtain US E-2 investor visas. Visa-free to China (unique among Caribbean), UK, Schengen (at time of writing), Russia. ~144 countries total.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":"dependency-only","adultDependantFeeEUR":6500},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":6,"closureRiskNote":"Caribbean CBI EU-scrutiny risk. US E-2 treaty status may also face diplomatic pressure.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Grenada country profile","href":"/country/gd"}],"sourceUrl":"https://imagrenada.gd/","sourceType":"secondary","sourceOrganisation":"Investment Migration Agency (IMA)","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-11-07","notes":"The official imagrenada.gd page is stale and still shows US$150,000. The US$235,000 amount is secondary-source information effective 1 July 2024; verify locally."},{"code":"LC","name":"Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment","shortName":"St Lucia CBI","countryName":"Saint Lucia","flagEmoji":"🇱🇨","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"OECS MoA standardised regional $200K minimum 1 July 2024; Saint Lucia set donation at $240K.","minInvestmentEUR":221000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€221K ($240K) National Economic Fund (NEF) donation — standardised minimum.","routes":[{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":221000,"originalAmount":"USD 240,000","note":"National Economic Fund (NEF) donation.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":276000,"originalAmount":"USD 300,000","note":"Approved real estate (hotels, resorts), held 5 years."},{"type":"government-bonds","amountEUR":276000,"originalAmount":"USD 300,000","note":"Non-interest-bearing government bonds, held 5 years."},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":3220000,"originalAmount":"USD 3,500,000","note":"Enterprise project investment by a sole applicant."},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":920000,"originalAmount":"USD 1,000,000 each","note":"Enterprise project investment in an approved joint venture; US$1,000,000 each."}],"processingMonths":[3,6],"processingNote":"3-6 months typical. Saint Lucia is known for tighter DD than some Caribbean peers.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No residency requirement.","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship. Visa-free ~146 countries (UK, Schengen at time of writing, Singapore, Hong Kong). Dual citizenship permitted.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":"dependency-only","adultDependantFeeEUR":6500},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":6,"closureRiskNote":"Caribbean CBI EU-scrutiny risk. Saint Lucia's stricter DD posture marginally reduces its individual closure risk vs regional peers.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Saint Lucia country profile","href":"/country/lc"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.cipsaintlucia.com/citizenship-by-investment","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Unit","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-11-10"},{"code":"AG","name":"Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment","shortName":"Antigua CBI","countryName":"Antigua and Barbuda","flagEmoji":"🇦🇬","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"National Development Fund (NDF) amount is US$230,000, one price covering a family of up to 4; fees US$10,000 single / US$20,000 family. UWI Fund offers US$260,000 covering up to 6 family members.","minInvestmentEUR":212000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€212K (US$230,000) National Development Fund (NDF) amount, one price covering a family of up to 4; fees US$10,000 single / US$20,000 family.","routes":[{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":212000,"originalAmount":"USD 230,000","note":"National Development Fund (NDF) amount is US$230,000, one price covering a family of up to 4; fees US$10,000 single / US$20,000 family.","primary":true},{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":239000,"originalAmount":"USD 260,000","note":"UWI Fund — covers up to 6 family members at one price. Best family-size value in Caribbean CBI."},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":276000,"originalAmount":"USD 300,000","note":"Approved real estate, held 5 years."},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":1380000,"originalAmount":"USD 1,500,000","note":"Business investment with employment creation."}],"processingMonths":[3,5],"processingNote":"3-5 months typical. Requires 5 days of physical presence in Antigua during first 5 years.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":1,"physicalPresenceNote":"5 days total physical presence required in first 5 years of citizenship (unique among Caribbean CBI — others have zero).","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship. Visa-free ~150 countries including UK, Schengen (at time of writing), Singapore. Dual citizenship permitted.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":"dependency-only"},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":6,"closureRiskNote":"Caribbean CBI EU-scrutiny risk. Antigua's 5-day presence requirement is perceived as slightly more substance-oriented than pure paper-citizenship programmes.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Antigua & Barbuda country profile","href":"/country/ag"}],"sourceUrl":"https://cip.gov.ag/investment-options/ndf/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-11-13"},{"code":"NR","name":"Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship","shortName":"Nauru CBI","countryName":"Nauru","flagEmoji":"🇳🇷","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"open","statusNote":"Launched at COP29 (November 2024). Revenue funds climate-resilience adaptation for the Pacific island nation.","minInvestmentEUR":82800,"minInvestmentNote":"~€82.8K (USD 90,000) standard contribution for the principal applicant, and the cheapest direct-citizenship route we track. An official, dated discount of USD 25,000 runs until 31 December 2026, so an application filed now costs USD 65,000.","routes":[{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":82800,"originalAmount":"USD 90,000","note":"Non-refundable contribution to the Economic and Climate Resilience Programme, principal applicant. An official USD 25,000 discount applies to applications filed before 31 December 2026, making the effective figure USD 65,000. Dependants aged 16+ add USD 2,000 each; siblings USD 15,000 each.","primary":true}],"processingMonths":[3,5],"processingNote":"Expected 3-5 months given programme newness. Due diligence administered by external specialist firm.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No residency requirement.","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship. Visa-free ~90+ countries (including UK and some Schengen members). Passport is less powerful than Caribbean CBI passports but significantly cheaper.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":true},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":5,"closureRiskNote":"Newest CBI programme — high political risk until track record established. Nauru climate-resilience angle gives legitimacy shield but untested.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Nauru country profile","href":"/country/nr"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.ecrcp.gov.nr/contribution","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Republic of Nauru Citizenship Unit","lastVerified":"2026-08-09","nextReview":"2026-12-09","notes":"Newest CBI programme globally; climate-resilience framing distinguishes it from legacy CBI pitches. Ranked on the standard USD 90,000 rather than the discounted USD 65,000 on purpose — a promotional rate that lapses on 31 December 2026 should not drive a cheapest-programme ranking that would then have to be unwound. The discount is real, official and dated, and is stated in the notes readers see."},{"code":"VU","name":"Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment","shortName":"Vanuatu CBI","countryName":"Vanuatu","flagEmoji":"🇻🇺","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"open-reforming","statusNote":"Open. Amendment Orders No. 39 & 40 of 2026 (Gazette No. 25, Mar 2026) revised the programme on financial-viability/FX grounds. Processing affected by the loss of Australian correspondent banking relationships.","minInvestmentEUR":120000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€120K ($130K) contribution to Development Support Program (DSP). Fastest CBI processing globally (~1 month).","routes":[{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":120000,"originalAmount":"USD 130,000","note":"Development Support Program (DSP) donation — non-refundable.","primary":true}],"processingMonths":[1,2],"processingNote":"Fastest CBI programme globally — citizenship in as little as 1 month for clean applications.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No residency requirement.","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship. Visa-free access ~100+ countries. Schengen visa-waiver was suspended for Vanuatu in 2022 — Vanuatu citizens need Schengen visas. Dual citizenship permitted.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":"dependency-only"},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":8,"closureRiskNote":"Schengen visa-waiver already suspended (2022). Programme has faced repeated temporary suspensions and DD concerns. Banking-relationship fragility is a real operational risk.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Vanuatu country profile","href":"/country/vu"}],"sourceUrl":"https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Vanuatu Citizenship Office","lastVerified":"2026-08-07","nextReview":"2026-09-14"},{"code":"EG","name":"Egypt Citizenship by Investment","shortName":"Egypt CBI","countryName":"Egypt","flagEmoji":"🇪🇬","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":230000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€230K ($250K) non-refundable contribution, OR $300K real estate, OR $350K business investment, OR $500K bank deposit (held 3 years).","routes":[{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":230000,"originalAmount":"USD 250,000","note":"Non-refundable contribution to Egyptian Treasury.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":276000,"originalAmount":"USD 300,000","note":"Approved real estate."},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":322000,"originalAmount":"USD 350,000","note":"Business investment in Egyptian economy."},{"type":"bank-deposit","amountEUR":460000,"originalAmount":"USD 500,000","note":"Non-interest-bearing deposit with Egyptian bank, held 3 years."}],"processingMonths":[6,9],"processingNote":"Approximately 6-9 months. Due diligence conducted by Egyptian General Intelligence Service.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No residency requirement.","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship. Egyptian passport provides visa-free access to ~50 countries only — weakest passport of any CBI programme but the cheapest non-Caribbean CBI route for applicants with Egyptian business/cultural ties.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":4,"closureRiskNote":"Programme launched 2019 and remains stable. Egypt doesn't face the same EU-scrutiny as Caribbean CBI.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Egypt country profile","href":"/country/eg"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.egypt.gov.eg/","sourceType":"secondary","sourceOrganisation":"Arab Republic of Egypt — Cabinet General Secretariat","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-11-16","notes":"No primary government source was found. Amounts are a secondary consensus from Henley and licensed firms; verify locally."},{"code":"ST","name":"São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment","shortName":"São Tomé CBI","countryName":"São Tomé and Príncipe","flagEmoji":"🇸🇹","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"open","statusNote":"Henley Index 2026 debut #8. Newer programme with lower profile than Caribbean CBI.","minInvestmentEUR":82800,"minInvestmentNote":"~€82.8K (USD 90,000) minimum contribution. Exactly the same headline dollar figure as Nauru, so the two are tied on price, not ranked — the €200 that used to separate them was an FX rounding difference, not a real one.","routes":[{"type":"philanthropic-donation","amountEUR":82800,"originalAmount":"USD 90,000","note":"Non-refundable government contribution.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":184000,"originalAmount":"USD 200,000","note":"Approved real estate, held 5 years."}],"processingMonths":[4,8],"processingNote":"Newer programme — processing times variable during early years.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No residency requirement.","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship. São Tomé passport is a CPLP (Portuguese-speaking) country passport — may facilitate Portuguese naturalization through Lusophone fast-track. Visa-free ~65 countries.","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":5,"closureRiskNote":"New programme — political risk until track record establishes. Small country with limited administrative capacity.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"São Tomé country profile","href":"/country/st"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.st/","sourceType":"secondary","sourceOrganisation":"São Tomé and Príncipe Government (secondary industry sources)","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-11-18","notes":"CPLP linkage (Portuguese-speaking countries) may enable downstream Portuguese naturalization routes worth exploring for specific applicant profiles."},{"code":"MU","name":"Mauritius Residence by Investment (Occupation Permit / Property)","shortName":"Mauritius Residence","countryName":"Mauritius","flagEmoji":"🇲🇺","category":"business-permit","status":"open","minInvestmentEUR":46000,"minInvestmentNote":"~€46K ($50K) Occupation Permit (business route) OR ~€345K ($375K) Integrated Resort Scheme real estate.","routes":[{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":46000,"originalAmount":"USD 50,000","note":"Occupation Permit (Investor) — minimum $50K business investment; 3-year renewable permit.","primary":true},{"type":"real-estate","amountEUR":345000,"originalAmount":"USD 375,000","note":"Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) / Property Development Scheme (PDS) — buys permanent residency."},{"type":"capital-transfer","amountEUR":32200,"originalAmount":"USD 35,000","note":"Self-employed Occupation Permit."}],"processingMonths":[2,4],"processingNote":"Fast processing. Mauritius is a well-established financial services hub with efficient immigration infrastructure.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"Occupation Permit requires some physical presence to maintain business operations; property-based residence has no minimum stay.","citizenshipYears":7,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Mauritian citizenship available after 7 years of legal residence (5 years if married to citizen). Applicants must demonstrate working knowledge of one of Mauritius's languages (English, French, or Creole) and good character. Dual citizenship permitted.","permanentResidencyYears":3,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":false,"parents":true},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":2,"closureRiskNote":"Very stable — Mauritius is a well-regarded financial centre with long-standing residence permits. Programme has expanded rather than contracted over time.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Mauritius country profile","href":"/country/mu"}],"sourceUrl":"https://residency.mu/invest/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Economic Development Board Mauritius","lastVerified":"2026-08-07","nextReview":"2026-11-19","notes":"Retired residence permit: official route is an income transfer of ~US$1,500/month; there is no property minimum. US$50 application fee applies from 1 December 2025."},{"code":"MK","name":"North Macedonia Citizenship by Investment","shortName":"N. Macedonia CBI","countryName":"North Macedonia","flagEmoji":"🇲🇰","category":"citizenship-by-investment","status":"paused","statusNote":"Paused indefinitely per industry consensus; approximately 5 applications ever, none processed. No primary source; verify locally.","minInvestmentEUR":200000,"minInvestmentNote":"€200K investment in a private-investment fund, OR €400K creating at least 10 jobs.","routes":[{"type":"investment-fund","amountEUR":200000,"note":"€200K into an approved Macedonian investment fund.","primary":true},{"type":"company-shares","amountEUR":400000,"note":"€400K business investment creating at least 10 Macedonian jobs."}],"processingMonths":[6,12],"processingNote":"Longer than Caribbean peers. Limited volume means processing infrastructure is less polished.","physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"physicalPresenceNote":"No residency requirement.","citizenshipYears":0,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"programme","citizenshipNote":"Direct citizenship. North Macedonian passport offers visa-free access to ~125+ countries including Schengen. Dual citizenship permitted. EU candidate country — Macedonian citizenship could become EU citizenship in the event of EU accession (currently no clear timeline).","permanentResidencyYears":0,"family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":true,"adultChildren":"education-only","parents":false},"schengenAccess":true,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":6,"closureRiskNote":"EU accession process creates pressure to tighten or close CBI programmes. North Macedonia's programme could be discontinued as part of EU pre-accession alignment.","relatedLinks":[{"label":"North Macedonia country profile","href":"/country/mk"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.mvr.gov.mk/","sourceType":"secondary","sourceOrganisation":"North Macedonia Ministry of Interior (secondary industry sources)","lastVerified":"2026-07-16","nextReview":"2026-11-20","notes":"EU-accession optionality is the long-term value driver — but timeline is very uncertain."},{"code":"ES","name":"Spain Golden Visa","shortName":"Spain Golden Visa (CLOSED)","countryName":"Spain","flagEmoji":"🇪🇸","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"closed","statusNote":"Programme formally terminated 3 April 2025. No new applications accepted.","minInvestmentEUR":0,"minInvestmentNote":"N/A — programme closed. Existing permit holders retain rights; successors should consider Portugal, Greece, or Italy.","routes":[],"processingMonths":[0,0],"physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"citizenshipYears":null,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"pr-only","citizenshipNote":"N/A for new applicants.","family":{"spouse":true,"minorChildren":false,"adultChildren":false,"parents":"dependency-only"},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":10,"closureRiskNote":"Already closed.","articleSlug":"spain-golden-visa-closed-alternatives-2026","relatedLinks":[{"label":"Spain alternatives article","href":"/blog/spain-golden-visa-closed-alternatives-2026"}],"sourceUrl":"https://www.exteriores.gob.es/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs","lastVerified":"2026-08-07","nextReview":"2026-12-31"},{"code":"GB","name":"UK Tier 1 (Investor)","shortName":"UK Tier 1 (Investor)","countryName":"United Kingdom","flagEmoji":"🇬🇧","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"closed","statusNote":"Closed to all new applicants at 16:00 on 17 February 2022 over security concerns.","closure":{"date":"2022-02-17","legalInstrument":"Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules CP 632","existingHolders":"Existing holders retained extension and settlement rights."},"minInvestmentEUR":0,"minInvestmentNote":"Historic programme; no current qualifying route is recorded.","routes":[],"processingMonths":[0,0],"physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"citizenshipYears":null,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"pr-only","citizenshipNote":"No citizenship timeline is recorded for new applicants because the route is closed.","family":{"spouse":false,"minorChildren":false,"adultChildren":false,"parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":10,"closureRiskNote":"Already closed.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tier-1-investor-visa-route-closes-over-security-concerns","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"UK Home Office","lastVerified":"2026-08-16","nextReview":"2026-12-31"},{"code":"IE","name":"Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)","shortName":"Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)","countryName":"Ireland","flagEmoji":"🇮🇪","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"closed","statusNote":"Closed to new applications from close of business on 15 February 2023.","closure":{"date":"2023-02-15","legalInstrument":"Government decision announced by the Minister for Justice","existingHolders":"Applications on hand continued; significantly developed projects received a three-month submission window."},"minInvestmentEUR":0,"minInvestmentNote":"Historic programme; no current qualifying route is recorded.","routes":[],"processingMonths":[0,0],"physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"citizenshipYears":null,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"pr-only","citizenshipNote":"No citizenship timeline is recorded for new applicants because the route is closed.","family":{"spouse":false,"minorChildren":false,"adultChildren":false,"parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":10,"closureRiskNote":"Already closed.","sourceUrl":"https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/minister-harris-announces-closure-of-the-immigrant-investor-programme/","sourceType":"official","sourceOrganisation":"Ireland Department of Justice","lastVerified":"2026-08-16","nextReview":"2026-12-31"},{"code":"NL","name":"Netherlands foreign-investor residence permit","shortName":"Netherlands foreign-investor residence permit","countryName":"Netherlands","flagEmoji":"🇳🇱","category":"residency-by-investment","status":"closed","statusNote":"The EUR 1,250,000 foreign-investor residence permit was abolished on 17 April 2024.","closure":{"date":"2024-04-17","legalInstrument":"IND scheme abolition (via practitioner corroboration)","existingHolders":"Existing holders renew under prior conditions, and pre-abolition applications continue processing."},"minInvestmentEUR":1250000,"minInvestmentNote":"Historic EUR 1,250,000 foreign-investor residence permit; the route is abolished.","routes":[],"processingMonths":[0,0],"physicalPresenceDaysPerYear":0,"citizenshipYears":null,"citizenshipPathwayKind":"pr-only","citizenshipNote":"No citizenship timeline is recorded for new applicants because the route is closed.","family":{"spouse":false,"minorChildren":false,"adultChildren":false,"parents":false},"schengenAccess":false,"euCitizenshipPathway":false,"closureRiskScore":10,"closureRiskNote":"Already closed.","sourceUrl":"https://www.fragomen.com/insights/netherlands-foreign-investor-scheme-abolished.html","sourceType":"secondary","sourceOrganisation":"IND scheme abolition, via Fragomen practitioner corroboration","lastVerified":"2026-08-16","nextReview":"2026-12-31"}]}