Residency by investment programs is a way to legally reside in a country by contributing to economy. Depending on the RBI program, investors get other rights, e.g., right to work, do business and travel mobility. European countries offer RBI programs to non-EU citizens to attract foreign direct investment and use it to stabilize economy. RBI applicants can get permanent residency of a European country along with family members and possibly qualify for citizenship.
Why to Consider EU Residency by Investment?
What makes EU Residency by Investment a Top Choice?
EU residency by investment is a golden opportunity for non-EU citizens to enjoy the European lifestyle. Investors get access to European residency by making contribution to economy. European investment migration industry is booming as wealthy individuals consider western countries for business development and to live a dream life. Apart from being a resident, the thing that makes RBI programs stand alone from CBI programs is return on investment and capital gains.
Top Factors to Consider for Residency by Investment Programs
Residency by investment programs are valuable due to some factors. These factors differ from person to person due to personal preferences and scenarios. The factors mainly include visa free travel, reputation of a program, tax benefits, processing time, integration to local community and others. Here are the details of top factors that are critical for RBI investors:
EU Residency by Investment
The most attractive benefit of an EU residency by investment program is the right to live in the EU country. Investors get rights to live in the chosen country of investment for a specific time period which could be from 5 years to 10 years. In most of the cases, you can renew the residency permit. RBI programs allow inclusion of family members in the RBI application.
1. Visa Free Travel
Travel mobility is second most important factor investors consider when choosing a residency by investment program. HNWIs with limited mobility value mobility as the prime value when seeking a residency by investment program. EU residency by investment programs offer mobility to all Schengen states, i.e., investors can visit any country within Schengen zone without visa requirements.
Investors of Portugal residency by investment program can travel to any Schengen country without need for a visa. The down side of EU residency by investment programs is that investors need to meet visa requirements for to visit other countries. For example, the Nigeria investor of Hungary residency by investment program need a visa for UK visit.
Residency Duration
Investors are interested to know about how many years they get residency permit by getting a Golden Visa. Golden visa investors get 10 years renewable residency in Hungary and 5 years for Greece, Portugal and Latvia. Malta RBI program offers permanent residency to investors.
Cost of Residency
Cost of residency is another important factor for EU Golden Visa investors. EU investment migration industry offers a wide range of investment options. The cost of residency by investment program depends on country, type of investment and inclusion of dependent family members. Here is the cost of EU countries offering RBI programs to non-EU citizens:
| Residency by Investment Program | Minimum Investment Starting From |
| Latvia Residency by Investment | €50,000 |
| Portugal Residency by Investment | €250,000 |
| Greece Residency by Investment | €250,000 |
| Malta Residency by Investment | €182,000 |
| Hungary Residency by Investment | €250,000 |
*The indicative prices are exclusive of applicable govt fees, due diligence fee and others.
Requirements
How easy are the requirements of a residency by investment programs are another factor to consider when choosing an RBI program? Typical requirements could include but not limited to:
2. Legal age requirements, i.e., 18 and above for main applicant
3. Not a citizen of banned countries, i.e., currently citizens of Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus, Iraq, Somalia are banned.
4. Meet the minimum investment requirements of respective RBI country.
5. No criminal record
6. Good health care
7. Pass due diligence
Processing Time
Processing time for a residency by investment program is also an important factor for investors. Latvia is known for fast processing time for its Golden Visa program which grants Latvia residency to investors within 3 months only. As per IMIDaily, processing time for the Portugal residency by investment program was over 26 months during 2024. Though the immigration authorities at AIMA have accelerated the process during 2025, there are around 55000 Golden visa pending applications including main applicants and their family members.
Tax Benefits
Residency by investment countries lure investors by offering tax benefits for a specific time period. RBI countries with low tax rates draw the attention of investors. The interest of Americans investors in Portugal has grown considerably especially after landslide victory of Donald Trump in 2024. Further, Portugal offers a flat 20% tax on income and no tax on foreign source income except pension. Other RBI countries have also reduced tax rates for investors.
Time to Citizenship
All EU residency by investment countries allow citizenship to non-EU citizens who meet the criteria. Each country has its own timeframe for citizenship qualification which could be around 5 to 10 years. Here is the list about citizenship timeframe for RBI investors:
| Residency by Investment Program | Time to Citizenship |
| Latvia | After 10 Years Residency |
| Portugal | After 5 Years Residency |
| Hungary | After 8 Years Residency |
| Greece | After 7 Years Residency |
| Malta | After 5 Years Residency |
Conclusion
European countries offering residency to nationals from non-EU countries consider RBI programs as an important FDI source. In return, investors get certain benefits that upgrade their lifestyle, help them expand their business, and qualify for European Union citizenship. Which program suits your requirements depends on your ultimate goal of getting residency in an EU country. By considering the above-mentioned factors, you can choose a relevant RBI program that is beneficial for your goals. It is important to choose an experienced, reliable, and trustworthy residency by investment expert who can handle your application. Before giving your confidential information and money, make sure that the claims of Golden Visa expert are real.
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