Filter active routes without opening every dossier.

The UAE Golden Visa is a self-sponsored, renewable long-term residence permit rather than a citizenship route. The principal 10-year investment routes require AED 2,000,000, while qualifying entrepreneurs, skilled professionals and nominated talent may use lower-capital or no-investment categories.

From

From AED 2,000,000 (approximately USD 545,000) for the main real-estate, deposit and fund routes

Timeline

Typically 2-3 weeks from a complete application file

Stay

Not required - no minimum stay to maintain the permit

Permanent residence and tax residency route requiring a local place of abode, at least 30 days’ annual presence, USD 100,000 minimum annual income and a USD 20,000 annual flat tax.

From

$20k

Timeline

4 - 5

Stay

30 days per year - The applicant must spend at least 30 days annually in Antigua & Barbuda to maintain the Permanent Residence Certificate.

One of the strongest Caribbean CBI programmes for families, with dependants up to age 30, flexible family inclusion and competitive overall costs. Antigua & Barbuda also offers strong global mobility, including visa-free access to the Schengen Area and the UK. In my view, it remains one of the best-balanced CBI programmes in the Caribbean.

From

$230k

Timeline

Typically 7 to 9 months

Stay

5 days during the first 5 years

Bolivia does not operate a formal golden visa. Foreign nationals may obtain temporary residence under the country's general immigration framework on qualifying grounds such as work, business activity, family links and other recognised purposes. Temporary residence may be granted for up to three years, after which qualifying residents may apply for permanent residence.

From

No statutory minimum investment for residence. Any capital or business requirements depend on the applicant's underlying activity and supporting documentation.

Timeline

Typically 1–3 months, depending on the residence category, documentation and DIGEMIG processing.

Stay

Temporary residents may generally be absent for up to 90 days per year, extendable to 180 days with prior approval. Permanent residents should avoid absences of around 2 years, which may affect their status. Bolivia expects genuine ongoing residence, especially for those seeking naturalisation after the qualifying residence period.

Switzerland's lump-sum taxation regime allows qualifying foreign nationals who relocate to Switzerland and do not engage in gainful activity there to be taxed on an agreed expenditure-based amount rather than ordinary worldwide income and wealth. No qualifying capital investment is required. For 2026, the federal minimum deemed-income base is CHF 435,000, although the taxable base and resulting annual tax can be significantly higher depending on lifestyle, housing costs, canton and the statutory control calculation.

From

No qualifying capital investment. For 2026, the federal minimum deemed-income base is CHF 435,000. The taxable base may be higher depending on actual worldwide living expenses, housing costs, cantonal rules and the statutory control calculation.

Timeline

Typically 3-6 months, depending on the canton, immigration approval and negotiation of the lump-sum tax ruling.

Stay

No fixed statutory annual day count applies to the residence permit itself, but the applicant must genuinely relocate and maintain residence in Switzerland. The regime is not designed for remote or nominal residence.

Cyprus offers both temporary and permanent residence options for non-EU nationals. The Pink Slip provides renewable residence for financially independent applicants, Category F offers a traditional income-based permanent residence route, while Regulation 6(2) provides accelerated permanent residence through a qualifying €300,000 investment.

From

€300,000 for Fast-Track PR; no investment required for Pink Slip or Category F

Timeline

Pink Slip: approx. 4-6 months. Fast-Track PR: generally several months. Category F: significant processing backlog.

Stay

Pink Slip holders must maintain genuine residence in Cyprus and should not remain outside Cyprus for more than 90 consecutive days. Permanent residence routes have separate maintenance requirements.

Dominica CBI offers From USD 200,000.

From

From USD 200,000

Timeline

4 - 6

Stay

Currently no physical presence requirement. A 30-day presence requirement within the first five years is expected under the new regional framework.

Egypt Citizenship by Investment Programme offers From USD 250,000 (non-refundable donation route); other routes range up to USD 500,000 (see 'Investment Options' tab). Visa-free / visa-on-arrival access reported in a wide range across sources (approximately 50 destinations); US E-2 Investor Visa Treaty eligibility (Egypt–US treaty signed 27 June 1992)

From

From USD 250,000 (non-refundable donation route); other routes range up to USD 500,000 (see 'Investment Options' tab)

Timeline

Typically 6–12 months for the main applicant; approximately 24 months in total for an included spouse due to the mandatory 2-year waiting period

Stay

2-day visit during application, plus 4 weeks after approval.

CLOSED to new applicants since 3 April 2025. Historically: LatAm HNWIs (2-year Spanish citizenship pathway). Expats using Beckham Law for 6 years of 24% flat tax. This entry is retained for reference and comparison purposes only.

From

$1.1M

Timeline

3–5 months

Stay

Visit required for biometrics or interview at consulate/immigration office

Grenada Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI) offers From USD 235,000 (National Transformation Fund contribution, single applicant or family of up to 4). Visa-free / visa-on-arrival access to 140+ destinations, including the Schengen Area, UK, China (30 days), Hong Kong and Singapore

From

From USD 235,000 (National Transformation Fund contribution, single applicant or family of up to 4)

Timeline

6–8 months

Stay

No physical presence requirement. Expected under ECCIRA reforms: 30 cumulative days in the first 5 years, including at least 5 days in year 1 for the main applicant.

Georgia offers renewable property-based residence from USD 150,000 and an initial 5-year investment residence permit from USD 300,000, both without a minimum-stay requirement. A separate HNWI programme can establish Georgian tax residency without the standard 183-day test for applicants who satisfy its asset or income criteria.

From

USD 150,000 in non-agricultural real estate for the temporary residence permit from 1 March 2026; USD 300,000 for the 5-year investment residence permit

Timeline

Processing time varies by route; no verified timeline is supplied.

Stay

Both the temporary residence permit (USD 150,000) and the investment residence permit (USD 300,000) can be maintained without any minimum number of days spent physically in Georgia — investors are not required to rearrange their daily life or relocate to keep the permit valid. The requirement to maintain ownership of the qualifying property for the duration of the residence permit is an asset-holding condition, not a requirement to personally occupy or spend time at the property. Simply holding a residence permit, even while spending time in Georgia, does not automatically make an individual a Georgian tax resident. Georgian tax residency is a separate determination under Article 34 of the Tax Code, requiring either 183+ days of physical presence in any continuous 12-month period, or qualification under the separate HNWI route (which has no day-count requirement at all). Georgian citizenship generally requires 10 consecutive years of lawful residence plus other statutory conditions — a materially different, more substantive presence profile than either the property-based residence permits or the HNWI tax-residency route.

A renewable 5-year Greek residence permit with no minimum stay for maintenance. Entry starts at EUR 250,000 for specified conversion, restoration, bond, startup and fund routes, while mainstream real estate is tiered at EUR 400,000 or EUR 800,000 by location.

From

From EUR 250,000; EUR 400,000 standard real estate; EUR 800,000 high-demand zones

Timeline

8–14 months

Stay

Golden Visa: no minimum stay required. Permit maintenance: investment must remain in place. Tax residency: generally triggered by 183+ days or stronger personal/economic ties to Greece. Citizenship: Golden Visa alone is not enough - requires actual residence, language and integration. Tax regimes: 7% retiree and €100,000 non-dom regimes require a genuine tax-residency position and supporting substance.

Budget-conscious EU Schengen residency with zero presence. 9% corporate tax for business structuring. Alternative to Greek GV for investors accepting Orbán political risk.

From

$270k

Timeline

3–5 months

Stay

Visit required for biometrics or interview

This record combines three distinct Italian tools: a non-EU Investor Visa from EUR 250,000, a EUR 300,000 annual substitute tax for qualifying new residents, and a 7% foreign-income regime for pensioners relocating to eligible Southern municipalities. Immigration status and tax elections remain separate.

From

Investor Visa from EUR 250,000; new-resident flat tax EUR 300,000/year; pensioner regime requires no investment

Timeline

3–5 months (move + registration)

Stay

Flat Tax Regime: requires genuine Italian tax residency. 183-day test: generally more than 183 days per year, or residence/domicile in Italy under Article 2 TUIR. Domicile test: now focuses more strongly on where the individual's personal and family life is centred. Investor Visa: no minimum-stay requirement to obtain or renew the permit, provided the investment is maintained. Permanent residence / citizenship: require genuine residence and satisfaction of the ordinary immigration/integration rules. 7% Pensioner Regime: requires registration in the qualifying municipality and effective Italian tax residence, generally 183+ days per year.

Arab-world investors specifically needing Jordanian citizenship for MENA connectivity and regional business operations.

From

$750k

Timeline

4–7 months

Stay

Visit required for biometrics or interview

Kyrgyzstan offers a simplified citizenship pathway for qualifying applicants with former USSR links. The route is based on origin and historical citizenship connections rather than investment. The process is presented as taking from 7 months and requires three short visits to Bishkek.

From

USD 0 qualifying investment; service package from USD 25,000 per adult

Timeline

From 7 months

Stay

No residence requirement, but 3 short visits to Bishkek are required during the process.

Ultra-low-cost Southeast Asia base. Digital nomads. Crypto entrepreneurs. ASEAN market access. No presence requirement.

From

$100k

Timeline

1–3 months

Stay

You can complete the entire application and investment process remotely from anywhere. After approval, you must travel to Cambodia for about 5 working days to receive the CM2H visa sticker in your passport.

St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) offers From USD 250,000 (Sustainable Island State Contribution route, single applicant or family of up to 4). Visa-free / visa-on-arrival access to a large share of global destinations, including the Schengen Area( Around 156 countries);

From

From USD 250,000 (Sustainable Island State Contribution route, single applicant or family of up to 4)

Timeline

4–6 months

Stay

0 days - no mandatory physical presence requirement. Upcoming reform: Physical presence is expected to become mandatory under the new regional framework, but the exact number of days has not yet been officially confirmed.

St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) offers From USD 240,000 (National Economic Fund contribution, single applicant or family of up to 4). Visa-free / visa-on-arrival access to 140 countires

From

From USD 240,000 (National Economic Fund contribution, single applicant or family of up to 4)

Timeline

12

Stay

A minimum of 30 cumulative days during the first five years of citizenship has been agreed under the regional Eastern Caribbean CBI framework. Implementation in Saint Lucia is pending, so applicants should confirm the effective rules before applying.

Latvia offers EU/Schengen residence through qualifying investment. From 15 September 2026, the long-standing real-estate and bank-deposit Golden Visa routes close to new applicants. The company-equity route remains available from €50,000 plus a €10,000 state payment, although the permit is reduced to up to two years. A new €150,000 alternative investment fund route is legislated but is not yet operational.

From

From €50,000 company equity + €10,000 state payment. €100,000 for larger companies. €150,000 fund route + €10,000 state payment, not yet operational.

Timeline

Approximately 3–4 months

Stay

No continuous residence requirement. Investors are not required to relocate permanently to Latvia solely to maintain investor residence, but permit registration/renewal and applicable entry requirements must be observed.

Malta's MPRP grants indefinite residence status with a 5-year renewable card and no minimum stay. The rental route is approximately EUR 169,000 before legal and ancillary costs, alongside a separate asset test; MPRP is distinct from Malta's citizenship and tax regimes.

From

Rental route from EUR 14,000 per year for 5 years, plus EUR 60,000 administration fee, EUR 37,000 government contribution and EUR 2,000 donation. Asset test: either EUR 500,000 including EUR 150,000 financial assets, or EUR 650,000 including EUR 75,000 financial assets.

Timeline

Officially 4-6 months; realistic full processing may extend to approximately 12 months

Stay

No minimum annual physical presence requirement. The MPRP grants permanent residence status with a renewable 5-year residence card.

Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program offers USD 90,000 for a single applicant under the temporary Iruwa Initiative discount (available through 2026); standard contribution is USD 115,000. Visa-free entry to approximately 71 destinations, including Singapore — limited additional mobility compared with Caribbean or Turkish programmes

From

$90k

Timeline

Typically 3–5 months, among the faster CBI programmes globally, though slower than Vanuatu's or Nauru's own headline 3-month best-case figure

Stay

No prior or ongoing residency is required. The application is fully remote, with no visit or minimum-stay requirement before or after citizenship is granted.

HNWIs seeking a Five Eyes Pacific passport, strong APAC connectivity, a safe lifestyle, and a 5 year pathway to citizenship through active investment in New Zealand

From

$2.9M

Timeline

Approval in principle averages around 37 working days. Investment must then be held for 36 months (Growth) or 60 months (Balanced)

Stay

Growth: 21 days over 36 months. Balanced: 105 days over 60 months, reducible by up to 42 days with additional capital allocated to Growth

Panama offers multiple permanent residency options, including the fast-track Qualified Investor route and a special treaty route for Italian citizens. It combines political stability, a US-dollar economy, territorial taxation and strong international connectivity.

From

Qualified Investor: Real Estate USD 300,000 - Italian citizens: no Qualified Investor minimum under the Panama–Italy Treaty

Timeline

Typically 45 days under the Qualified Investor route

Stay

Visit Panama at least once every 2 years to maintain permanent residency.

Early retirees and digital nomads (40+) wanting affordable Southeast Asia permanent residency. Excellent lifestyle and low cost of living. Flexible - deposit can be converted to property.

From

$15k

Timeline

4–8 weeks

Stay

Visit required for biometrics or interview

Portugal's Golden Visa (ARI) provides qualifying non-EU/EEA/Swiss investors with Portuguese residence through investment funds, cultural or artistic support, scientific research, company capitalisation or job creation. Real estate no longer qualifies. The programme offers low physical-presence requirements, Schengen mobility and family reunification.

From

$289k

Timeline

Approximately 12-24 months in practice, depending on AIMA processing and biometric appointment availability. AIMA does not publish a fixed end-to-end processing time.

Stay

7 days in the first year; 14 days in each subsequent 2-year period

Paraguay offers a low-cost standard residency route and direct permanent residence through SUACE and the 2026 Investor Pass, combined with territorial taxation and limited physical-presence requirements.

From

$70k

Timeline

Typically 4-9 months depending on route and document processing

Stay

Temporary Residence valid for 2 years No need to remain in Paraguay while the application is pending Return required for the Cédula Avoid absences of more than 12 consecutive months during temporary residence Permanent Residence conversion must be completed in person Once Permanent Residence is granted, enter Paraguay at least once every 3 years

UHNWI ($50M+ net worth) wanting Asia-Pacific hub + world's strongest passport. Wealth management center. Genuine business interest in Singapore/APAC essential. No dual citizenship permitted.

From

$7.4M

Timeline

6–12 months (application to approval)

Stay

183 days per year physical presence

Sierra Leone offers two citizenship pathways: Fast-Track Special Naturalisation from USD 140,000 and African Heritage Naturalisation from USD 100,000 for applicants who establish African ancestry through qualifying DNA evidence. Both routes can be completed remotely and provide Sierra Leone citizenship with access to ECOWAS regional mobility.

From

From USD 65,000 + 1kg gold bullion (Permanent Residency); from USD 100,000 (Heritage Citizenship, African descent); from USD 140,000 (Fast Track Citizenship)

Timeline

2 - 3

Stay

No physical presence, in-country residence or visitation requirement applies to the Fast-Track Citizenship via Special Naturalisation route.

Sierra Leone's GO-FOR-GOLD Programme offers lifetime Permanent Residency through gold-backed and no-gold pathways. The programme can be completed remotely, requires no ongoing physical presence and provides an optional pathway toward citizenship.

From

From USD 50,000 programme fee + qualifying gold purchase; no-gold option from USD 70,000.

Timeline

Up to approximately 40 days

Stay

No physical presence requirement

São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Programme offers citizenship from USD 90,000 through the National Transformation Fund. The programme is fully remote, with no residency requirement, and processing typically takes around 2 months.

From

From USD 90,000 (National Transformation Fund contribution, single applicant or family of up to 4) plus a USD 5,000 submission fee

Timeline

4–6 months

Stay

No physical presence required. The application can be completed remotely, with no mandatory visit before or after citizenship is granted.

El Salvador Freedom Passport offers fast-track citizenship through a USD 1,000,000 contribution payable in Bitcoin (BTC) or USDT. Includes family eligibility and access to 131 visa-free/visa-on-arrival destinations, including the Schengen Area, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

From

$1M

Timeline

Among the fastest in the world: approximately 6–8 weeks from application to passport, fully remote

Stay

No physical presence or residency requirement. The application can be completed remotely, with no mandatory stay after citizenship is granted.

HNWIs wanting a Southeast Asia lifestyle base with 10-year visa security. Remote professionals and skilled workers. Retirees with $250k–$500k Thai investment. No daily presence required. Wealthy Global Citizen track no longer requires proof of income (Feb 2025).

From

$500k

Timeline

1–2 months

Stay

Not required - no minimum days in Thailand

From 2026, qualifying individuals who become tax resident in Turkey can benefit from a 20-year exemption from Turkish income tax on foreign-source income and gains. No minimum investment is required.

From

No minimum investment

Timeline

Tax exemption available for up to 20 years from becoming a qualifying Turkish tax resident.

Stay

Tax residency generally requires becoming resident in Turkey. Presence exceeding six months in a calendar year is a principal statutory residency test, subject to exceptions and treaty rules.

Turkish Citizenship by Investment offers several qualifying routes, including real estate from USD 400,000 and financial investment options from USD 500,000, including bank deposits, government bonds, investment funds and the private pension system. No minimum residence period is required for citizenship. Turkish citizens benefit from broad international mobility, although the passport does not provide visa-free access to the Schengen Area, UK or USA.

From

From USD 400,000 (real estate route) or USD 500,000 (bank deposit, capital investment, government bonds, investment fund, or job-creation routes)

Timeline

Typically 4–12 months from application to citizenship, depending on the route, document quality, and case complexity

Stay

No ongoing minimum-stay requirement. One in-person visit is generally required for application and biometrics, with the remaining process handled remotely. Once citizenship is granted, there is no requirement to reside in Turkey or maintain a minimum annual presence.

Non-US investors with genuine desire to live and work in the USA. US market access. Children's education in US. Non-Chinese/Indian nationals face no backlog in the unreserved category; investors from backlogged countries can still access reserved (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure) categories, which remain current for everyone.

From

$800k

Timeline

30 to 90 months depending on country of birth. Non-China/India nationals typically 30 to 48 months. China and India nationals in the unreserved category face multi-year backlogs; reserved (Rural, High Unemployment, Infrastructure) categories remain current for all countries and move faster.

Stay

183 days per year plus in person biometrics/interview

Uruguay separates legal residence from tax residence. Legal residence can be based on income, a USD 100,000 investment, business or family ties, while the 11-year foreign-income tax holiday requires a separate 2026 investment threshold such as USD 2 million real estate or USD 100,000 per year to the National Innovation Fund.

From

Legal residence from approximately USD 100,000 investment or adequate monthly income; 2026 tax holiday requires approximately USD 2,000,000 in real estate, USD 100,000 per year to the National Innovation Fund, or a qualifying business investment

Timeline

Approximately 4 to 12 months for legal residence processing

Stay

183 days per year for the physical presence pathway; not required under the investment based routes

Vanuatu Development Support Program (VDSP), From USD 130,000 . Visa-free / visa-on-arrival access to approximately 86 destinations as of 2026 (materially reduced from 130+ prior to 2022 — see 'Updates' tab for the loss of Schengen and UK access)

From

From USD 130,000 (Development Support Program contribution, single applicant)

Timeline

Among the fastest in the world: typically 30–45 days, or 6–8 weeks, for the DSP route

Stay

No minimum physical presence or residence requirement. Applicants are not required to live in Vanuatu during the application process or after citizenship is granted.