Expatsi Guide to Golden Visas
Expatsi Guide to Golden Visas
Golden Visas can fast track you to the expat life of your dreams by offering a pathway to residency and sometimes citizenship without going through traditional immigration routes. But they aren’t for everybody—namely, budget minded folks. In fact, Golden Visas are really geared towards high net-worth individuals and require, oftentimes significant, investments in government funds, infrastructure, business development or real estate in exchange for residency options. Golden Visa options vary in investment amounts, ranging from $100,000 to the millions.
These countries currently offer Golden Visas to expats:
Antigua and Barbuda
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Caribbean life is calling and surprisingly easy to obtain! Antigua and Barbuda offer Citizenship by investment with four simple investment routes. You can donate US$100,000, buy a house for US$200,000, or start a business with US$1,500,000. For families, a US$150,000 investment in the University of West Indies Fund creates a citizenship pathway for up to 6 family members and includes a one year scholarship for one family member at the University of West Indies.
Bulgaria
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Bulgaria boasts diversity, culture, and visa free travel to 171 countries. To gain residency, investment options range from BGN 500,000 to BGN 2 million and are heavily focused on Bulgarian business development and local job creation. While the investment must remain for five years, you are eligible to apply for the fast track citizenship after just one year. There are additional investments required to pursue the fast track path, but if you’ve got the funds, Bulgaria offers one of the quickest citizenship paths while directly impacting the local economy.
Quebec, Canada
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As of 2024, Quebec has refreshed and relaunched its Immigrant Investor Program. In addition to an intermediate proficiency in French and a net-worth of 2 million dollars, aspiring residents need to follow a 2 prong investment approach. Part 1 is contributing CA $200,000 to Investissement Québec – Immigrants Investisseurs Inc. Next, Quebec requires CA $1,000,000 to be invested either in full or you can choose to finance over 62 months via a chartered bank. Residing in Quebec three out of four years qualifies foreigners to apply for full citizenship.
Cyprus
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Cyprus Investment Programs are currently suspended for new applicants.
Dominica
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Dominica, also known as Nature Island for its pristine beauty, offers two clear paths to residency or citizenship with options for singles, couples and families alike. You can purchase property for as little as US $200,000 and plan to hold on to the property for at least 3 years. Alternatively, you could contribute to the Economic Diversification Fund. Singles invest US $100,000 with options to add contributions to cover a spouse or dependents. The family option allows a family of four residency through a $175,000 donation to the EDF.
Greece
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Greece’s investment options are as attractive as the shimmering Mediterranean Sea it resides on. Investing €400,000 – €800,000 in financial products like bonds, corporate shares or bank deposits is one path to Greek residency. Or you can purchase housing for as little as €250,000 or €500,000 in more desirable areas like Athens and the picturesque islands. The process for both is straightforward and usually only takes 3-4 months.
Grenada
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Spice Island, aka Grenada, welcomes foreigners to qualify for citizenship through pre-approved donations and real estate options. Grenada’s National Transformation Fund accepts contributions starting at US$150,000 with options to increase donation amounts in order to cover additional family members. You can also purchase real estate for a minimum of US$350,000, but plan to stick around for at least four years to fully qualify for citizenship.
Hungary
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Hungary’s lowest investment option is just €250,000 to be contributed to registered real estate funds. If you’re more interested in solo private real estate, plan to spend at least €500,000. Alternatively, a €1,000,000 donation to a higher learning establishment is another way to gain permanent residency.
Montenegro
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If you truly want to expedite things, consider Montenegro. Residency can be obtained in as little as three weeks and citizenship within six months. However, it will cost you. To begin the process, applicants must make two individual €100,000 contributions to pre-selected government funds. Once donations are made, you can qualify for a real estate investment ranging from €250,000 to €450,000, depending on location.
Portugal
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As the pioneer of the Golden Visa, Portugal is ever evolving their residency investment options. Currently, you can spend a minimum of €500,000 through acquiring non-real estate shares, employment options, or a donation made to Portugal’s research activities. If that sounds a little too rich for your blood, just a €250,000 investment in the arts and national heritage projects will secure the coveted Golden Visa.
Saint Lucia
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Saint Lucia’s citizenship by investment program prides itself on efficiency and applicant benefits like attractive tax relief programs. While the benefits are attractive, the reality may only be accessible to those with deep pockets. High-end contributions can be made to approved enterprise projects for a whopping US$3.5 million. Fortunately, Saint Lucia does offer alternatives. You can purchase real estate for US$200,000, invest US$300,000 in national bonds, or make a US$100,000 contribution to the National Economic Fund. Keep in mind, these options can also come with US$30,000 – $50,000 added fees.
St. Kitts and Nevis
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Established in 1984, the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program boasts a welcoming environment and a myriad of options for aspiring expats. For real estate, a US$400,000 investment with a 5 year hold or US$200,000 investment with a 7 year hold is one path to consider. Or consider contributing to the Sustainable Growth fund for just US$150,000 as a single applicant, with additional contributions required for spouse and dependents. Families may prefer to pursue the Alternative Investment Option (AIO), which qualifies a single applicant plus 3 family members for citizenship for as little as US$175,000.
United Arab Emirates
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UAE primarily prioritizes residency for those bringing business to the region; lucky for us, they do still offer Golden Visas for individuals, couples, and families. Investments of AED 2,000,000 towards public projects and real estate can be made in exchange for long-term residency (10 years).
Your Guide to Golden Visas
Curious how golden visas work? Investing is a fast track to moving abroad and may require less money than you think.
Mo Bennis, our partner at Arton Capital, provides expert guidance and streamlined processes to help clients navigate the complexities of these investment-based residency and citizenship programs. As Associate Vice President with 18 years of extensive experience in the field and strong connections to North American markets, Mohamed is pivotal in helping his clients move through the golden visa process efficiently.
Emilie Maynor is a freelance writer from Alabama currently living abroad in Baja Sur, Mexico. She has worked for over 15 years as an E-RYT 500 yoga instructor and certified wellness educator. During these entrepreneurial years, Emilie created and managed corporate wellness programs, retreats and even launched the first wellness festival in the south, Fearless Fest. Now, shifting back to her journalism and communications roots, Emilie enjoys learning and sharing about life abroad. She’s got a rich curiosity for the fabric of a culture – the people, food, and customs you find across the world.
