Golden Visa For Investors In Uae - Lomelono Travel Solutions

The Special Scheme for Investors (or Golden Visa) is a golden opportunity for investors to get a total EU residence permit in just five years. This residence permit will allow you to stay in the EU and travel freely within the bloc, including the UK, where you can live, work or retire. Golden Visa Investors, Investment Intelligence Agency is proud to announce that we have prepared a list of countries that have made their national investment visa program available to investors worldwide.

The Portuguese Golden Visa is a promising investment program aimed at encouraging non-resident investors to obtain Portuguese residency, with the possibility of full EU citizenship. The holder of a residence permit that qualifies for the “golden visa” will automatically be eligible for the second phase, which includes 5 year residence permit renewal, and then also naturalization after 6 years in country. First we need to understand what nationality is. Nationality may be defined as the legal relationship of a person with a state and the body of nationals. By other definitions, it is the collective membership of a nation or country, or the rights and duties of citizens arising from their birth in the nation.

Golden Visa For Investors In Uae

What Is a Golden Visa?

A Golden Visa refers to the immigration program which allows wealthy individuals to get a residence permit or even citizenship in another country simply by purchasing a house there or making a relatively large investment or donation.

Different countries have different investment options, which range from $250,000 to millions.

If you make the required investment and apply for a Golden Visa, you and your family members will become legal residents of that country. You can live there, go to school, and get access to healthcare.

Considering the amount of investment involved, most potential investors hire experts to guide them through the process. Companies like La Vida have years of experience in residency-by-investment schemes. They will offer a free consultation to determine your eligibility for a Golden Visa. If hired, they can set up a trip so you can see your investment options personally, and even provide you with a lawyer to help you with the investment and visa process.

Do Golden Visas Lead to Citizenship?

Although a Golden Visa automatically comes with a residence permit, there is usually a longer path to getting a passport. Yes, a Golden Visa can eventually lead to citizenship, but you will be required to live in that country for a few years beforehand.

For example, if you apply for a Spanish Golden Visa, you will receive a residence permit even if you do not intend to live in Spain at all. But you can only apply for citizenship after ten years of continuous residence and “ties” to Spain, such as language proficiency.

Golden Visa Requirements

Residency by investment is a way many countries used to lure foreign investments usually in property or by creating a business that employs a set minimum number of locals.

Through residency-by-investment schemes, foreigners are enabled to obtain permanent residency in the country in which they are investing, bring their spouse and children to live with them, and study and work there.

Golden Visa eligibility requirements are:

You must personally own the money you wish to invest.
Maintain the investment, for at least a minimally-required amount of time.
Be able to prove you have acquired the money legally.
Have a clear criminal background.
You must have enough financial resources to sustain yourself and any family members that are coming with you – even if you do not intend to live there.

Naturally, depending on which Golden Visa you will apply for, there will be additional specific requirements as well.

How to Apply for a Golden Visa?

To apply for a Golden Visa, you must purchase a property (real estate) in a foreign country. This is the most common route and is offered by most Golden Visa countries. The cost of the real estate ranges from $200,000 to over $2 million.

Other investment options include*:

Make a capital investment in a company’s shares/stocks
Make a capital investment in the country’s public debt or government bonds
Create employment opportunities
Contribute to a country’s scientific or technological innovation

*Note that these investment options are not available in all countries which offer Golden Visas.

After making your investment, you can apply for a Golden Visa either at the respective Embassy in your country or a relevant government body abroad. In any case, your first point of reference should be the Embassy.

La Vida’s years of experience in Golden Visa schemes allow them to have connections with different banks and lawyers, as well as first-hand knowledge of international investment and immigration laws. So, you will be provided with a lawyer abroad, who can assist you with the investment and handle the visa application on behalf of you and your family. This ensures you’ll have the most efficient and streamlined process possible.

List of Countries that Offer Golden Visas

Here is a list of countries that have a Golden Visa program:

To determine which Golden Visa scheme you are eligible for, you can contact the advisors at La Vida – Golden Visas. They specialize in international real estate investment and can help you choose the most suitable Golden Visa scheme for you and your family, by taking into consideration your finances and what you hope to achieve through your investment. La Vida offers assistance with 18 Golden Visa programs worldwide.

Portugal Golden Visa vs Spain Golden Visa

Anguilla

To qualify for Anguilla’s Golden Visa, you have to make a minimum investment of $150,000 in a government-approved fund. You also have the option to invest in real estate or pay for a tax residency program.

With Anguilla Golden Visa, you can only receive a permanent residence, and to qualify for citizenship, you must live in the country for several years. But, then you can become a British Overseas Citizen (BOC), which entitles you to apply for British citizenship.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

Antigua and Barbuda

The Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa is one of the most attractive investor visas allowing you to obtain a passport immediately without a residence requirement. To qualify for the Antigua Golden Scheme, you have to make one of the following investments:

Purchase real estate with the minimum amount of USD 400,000.
A USD 100,000 investment to the National Development Fund (NDF).
Business investment of at least USD 1.5 million.
Invest at least USD 150,000 in the University of the West Indies (UWI) Fund.

With the Antigua and Barbuda Golden Visa, you can have visa-free or visa on arrival access to around 150 countries in the world, including the UK.

Permanent Residency by Investment	No
Citizenship by Investment	Yes

Austria

Austria has one of the strictest citizenship laws in Europe. As a result, its Golden Visa also has high demands for possible investors. The program is regulated by an annual quota of 300, which means not many people can receive residency by investment in Austria.

To be eligible for the visa, you have to invest directly in the country; either invest €10 million into a business or €3 million in a government fund. Additionally, your investment must generate jobs for Austrians and contribute to the economy of the country. If you want to apply for citizenship, you have to live for at least ten years in Austria, just like any other naturalized citizen.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

Canada

Canada offers several investment programs, but the most popular is the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP). For this program, you must make a bond contribution of at least CAD 1.2 million, and after three years, you can apply for citizenship. However, for most of Canada’s investment programs, you must live in the country for at least 183 days during three years if you want to qualify for citizenship.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

Germany

Germany’s Golden Visa program is slightly different compared to other countries. To qualify for a Germany Golden Visa, you’re not obligated to invest a minimum amount of money. However, you are strongly encouraged to invest at least €360,000. First, you need to apply for a self-employment visa and open a business in Germany. After three years, you can receive your permanent residence permit, and then after eight years, you can apply for citizenship via naturalization.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

Greece

You can apply for a Golden Visa in Greece if you meet the following investment criteria:

You purchase a real estate property valued at € 250,000+ taxes.
You sign a lease agreement for at least ten years.
You invest at least € 400,000 in a registered company in Greece.
You buy government bonds with a minimum amount of at least € 400,000.
You deposit at least € 400,000 at a bank in Greece.

With the Greek Golden Visa after seven years, you can apply for citizenship. If you qualify for citizenship, you can have access to the EU and the Schengen Area. If you don’t want to apply for citizenship, you can keep your permanent resident status as long as you renew your permit every five years and maintain your investment.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

Grenada

Grenada offers you second citizenship with a low investment cost of USD 150,000 to a national fund. Additionally, you can purchase real estate and qualify for the visa. You’re not required to fulfill a residency requirement for Grenada’s Golden Visa – you will receive citizenship immediately after your investment is completed. With Grenada’s citizenship by investment program, you can travel visa-free to 140 countries in the world.

Permanent Residency by Investment	No
Citizenship by Investment	Yes

Ireland

The Golden Visa program in Ireland grants you a renewable residence permit if you invest at least €1 million in one of the following options:

Investment fund
Enterprise fund
Real estate fund
Endowments

You cannot receive citizenship with Ireland’s Golden Visa directly. But, you may apply for citizenship through naturalization like other nationals if you meet the qualifying criteria.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

Malta

Malta has a residency-by-investment program and citizenship-by-investment program under its Golden Visa scheme. Depending on your financial situation and interest, you can choose one of the following options to apply for the Maltese Golden Visa:

Residency by investment. To qualify for the residency program, you must invest at least €98,000 into a government-approved fund. You are not required to live in Malta to keep your permanent residence program. Even though this is not a citizenship scheme, if you meet the eligibility for naturalization, you may apply for citizenship after five years.
Citizenship by investment. You can apply for the one-year citizenship route with an investment of €750,000 to a government-approved national development fund. But, you also have the option for a three-year program if you invest at least €600,000 in a government-approved national development fund.

With Malta’s Golden Visa scheme, you can live in the EU and travel visa-free to around 140 countries. Plus, you can keep your previous citizenship and become a dual citizen.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	Yes

New Zealand

New Zealand is another popular destination for investments as it offers an excellent quality of life, social security, and several other benefits. The country offers two different pathways for investment:

Investor 1 visa. For the investor 1 visa in New Zealand, you must invest at least NZD 10 million into approved investment options, including government bonds, equity, funds, new residential properties, commercial properties, or philanthropic investments. Under this program, you receive a temporary permit which you can renew, and after three years, apply for permanent residency and citizenship.
Investor 2 visa. The minimum amount required to qualify for investor visa 2 in New Zealand is NZD 3 million. You must hold your investment for at least four years, and if you invest NZD, you can apply for permanent residency and later on for citizenship.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

Portugal

Portugal has one of the most popular Golden Visa programs in the world. You can become a resident in Portugal after investing at least €500,000 in real estate- the amount is lowered to €400,000 if the investment is in low-density areas. After five years, you have to apply for either permanent residency or citizenship- most investors apply for citizenship to receive a second passport with access to the EU and Schengen Area.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

Singapore

You can qualify for the Singapore Golden Visa if you invest at least SGD 2.5 million in one of the following:

Existing business or establish a new business.
Approved fund in Singapore.
Establish a single-family office in Singapore.

In addition, you must have previous business experience and provide your company’s audited financial accounts. With this program, you can gain permanent resident status, and after two years of being a permanent resident in Singapore, you can apply for citizenship. But, you cannot be a dual citizen in Singapore.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

Spain

The residency-by-investment program in Spain allows you to become a permanent resident five years after your investment. Eventually, if you live in the country, you can become a citizen after ten years. To apply for Spain’s Golden Visa, you have to invest €500,000 in real estate, and you can bring your family with you. Remember, you have to renew your permit every two years until you become a permanent resident.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

St. Kitts and Nevis

For St. Kitts and Nevis Golden Visa, you may invest USD 150,000 to a government fund or purchase real estate with the minimum amount of USD 200,000. After your investment is completed, you will receive citizenship immediately without being required to reside in the country. With a St. Kitts passport, you will have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 160 countries across the world.

Permanent Residency by Investment	No
Citizenship by Investment	Yes

St. Lucia

St. Lucia offers a second passport with an investment of only USD 100,000 to a national government fund. However, you also have the option to invest your money in other funds, purchase bonds, or real estate. Your application will be processed as soon as 90 days, and you can become a St. Lucia citizen – there is no residency requirement to qualify for the St. Lucia’s Golden Visa.

Permanent Residency by Investment	No
Citizenship by Investment	Yes

Switzerland

The Golden Visa program in Switzerland differs from other countries where you are not required to purchase real estate, funds, or government bonds. You can qualify for the program if you pay annual taxes between CHF 150,000 and CHF 1 million– the amount required changes from canton to canton.

However, to receive permanent residence and citizenship, you must have lived at least ten years in the country

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

The Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands Golden Visa program is a residency by investment. You can become a permanent resident within a few months after investing USD 2.5 million in real estate. After five years, you can apply for citizenship by naturalization and become a British Overseas Citizen (BOC), and then eventually, you can apply for British citizenship.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

The United Kingdom

The UK offers a Tier-1 Investor visa for those with the required funds to invest in the country. The minimum investment is at least £2,000,000, and it must be held in a regulated financial institution. After a few years, you can apply for British citizenship if you meet the rest of the eligibility criteria.

Permanent Residency by Investment	Yes
Citizenship by Investment	No

Turkey

The Golden Visa for Turkey provides you with citizenship within 3 to 6 months after you make your investment. To qualify for Turkish citizenship by investment program, you have to invest at least $250,000 in real estate. With this program, you can have visa-free or visa on arrival travel to 125 countries in the world, and your family can apply for citizenship along with you.

Permanent Residency by Investment	No
Citizenship by Investment	Yes

United Arab Emirates

The UAE offer a 10-year residency program and a 5-year residency program within its Dubai Golden Visa plan. To qualify for the 10-year option, you have to invest at least AED 10 million in public investments or be a person with exceptional skills and talents. For the 5-year option, you have to invest the minimum amount of AED 5 million in a property in the UAE.