Residence and citizenship

What it is

The ARI regime, in force since 8 October 2012, gives third-country nationals a temporary residence permit for investment activity without needing a residence visa. Holders may live and work in Portugal, travel in the Schengen Area without a visa, bring family members, and later apply for permanent residence or naturalisation. Since Law 56/2023 the investment may not go, directly or indirectly, into real estate.

Investment options

• €500,000 in Portuguese non-real-estate investment funds with at least 5 years' maturity and 60% in Portuguese companies
• €500,000 to found or recapitalise a Portuguese company, creating 5 permanent jobs or keeping 10 for 3 years
• €500,000 for research by public or private scientific institutions (€400,000 in low-density areas)
• €250,000 for artistic production or the recovery of national cultural heritage through public bodies
• Creation of at least 10 jobs (8 in low-density areas)

Requirements

• Third-country national; the regime does not apply to Portuguese, EU, EEA, Andorran or Swiss nationals
• Legal entry and stay in Portugal, a valid passport and health cover
• Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or residence, issued within the last 3 months
• Sworn statement to keep the investment for at least 5 years
• Proof of no tax or social security debt, and payment of the analysis fee

Steps and timeline

Make the investment, then register the application, and any family reunification requests, on AIMA's ARI Portal and upload the documents. AIMA reviews the file and issues a temporary permit valid for 2 years from issue. Renewals are filed through AIMA's Renewals Portal. AIMA does not publish a processing time: ask us.

What it is

Greece grants third-country nationals a permanent residence permit for investors (type B.5) under Article 100 of the Migration Code (Law 5038/2023), as replaced by Law 5100/2024. It is valid for 5 years and renewable for equal periods while the property stays in the holder's full ownership. It does not give a right to work. Applications are filed online with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

Investment options

• €800,000: Attica, Thessaloniki regional unit, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with over 3,100 residents
• €400,000: all other areas of Greece
• At €400,000 and €800,000: one property only, with at least 120 m² of main space if built
• €250,000: one commercial or industrial building converted to residential use before applying
• €250,000: one listed building for restoration; it may not be sold before full restoration
• Long-term leases of hotel or tourist residences, or timeshares, at the same values

Requirements

• Legal entry into Greece on any visa, or legal stay in Greece
• Full price paid before applying, by bank transfer, crossed cheque or card through a Greek provider
• Notary certificate on the purchase and the payment details
• Private health insurance covering Greece
• No short-term rental or subletting of the property; breaches lead to revocation and a €50,000 fine

Steps and timeline

Buy and pay for the property in full, then apply online through the Ministry of Migration and Asylum's e-services with the required documents and biometrics. The law sets 2 months from a complete file for the permit to be issued, and the national procedures registry lists a 50-day processing period. Family members receive permits that expire with the investor's.

What it is

Article 26-bis of the Consolidated Immigration Act (Legislative Decree 286/1998) admits foreign nationals outside the annual quotas when they invest or donate in Italy. A government committee issues clearance (nulla osta), the consulate issues an investor visa, and the police headquarters issues a 2-year permit. Holders have the same rights as self-employed residents.

Investment options

• €2,000,000 in Italian government bonds, held for at least 2 years
• €500,000 in shares of an Italian company or venture capital fund, held for at least 2 years
• €250,000 in an innovative start-up entered in the special section of the Companies Register
• €1,000,000 donation to a public-interest project in culture, education, immigration, research or heritage

Requirements

• Own at least €2,000,000 (bonds route) or €1,000,000 (other routes), available and transferable to Italy
• Certification that the funds are of lawful origin
• Written undertaking to invest or donate within 3 months of entering Italy
• Means of support in addition to the investment funds
• Travel document valid at least 3 months beyond the visa

Steps and timeline

Apply online to the Investor Visa for Italy committee for clearance (nulla osta). With it, the consulate issues an investor visa. Make the investment or donation within 3 months of entry and apply for the permit. Renewal requires proof that the funds were invested in time and remain invested. The law sets no processing time: ask us.

What it is

Established in 2016 and run by the Residency Malta Agency, the MPRP grants nationals of non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss countries the right to stay and reside permanently in Malta, with visa-free Schengen travel for 90 days in any 180-day period. It combines a property requirement, a government contribution, an NGO donation and an administrative fee. It is distinct from citizenship.

Investment options

• Purchase of a qualifying residential property in Malta or Gozo for at least €375,000
• Or lease of a qualifying residential property for at least €14,000 a year
• Keep the qualifying property for 5 years, then continue to hold a residential property in Malta
• Government contribution of €37,000 and a €2,000 donation to a registered local NGO

Requirements

• Capital assets of €500,000 (€150,000 financial) or €650,000 (€75,000 financial)
• Stable and regular resources to support the family without social assistance
• Clean criminal record and multi-tier due diligence on everyone in the application
• Health insurance covering Malta and other European countries
• Not from a sanctioned country as announced by Residency Malta

Steps and timeline

Applications must be submitted through a Licensed Agent. Everyone included, as well as donors, benefactors and business associates, goes through due diligence. The €60,000 administrative fee is non-refundable. Applicants may apply for temporary residence when they apply. The agency does not publish a processing time: ask us.

What it is

Under Regulation 6(2) of the Aliens and Immigration Regulations, the Migration Department grants an Immigration Permit through an expedited procedure to third-country nationals who invest at least €300,000 and show secure income. The current criteria are the 4th revision, in force since 2 May 2023. Holders may not take employment in Cyprus, except as directors of a company they invested in.

Investment options

• A house or apartment bought first-hand from a development company, at least €300,000 plus VAT
• Other real estate such as offices, shops or hotels, totalling €300,000; resales are accepted
• €300,000 in the share capital of a Cypriot company with a physical presence and at least 5 employees
• €300,000 in units of Cypriot collective investment organisations investing in Cyprus
• Each adult non-dependent child adds €300,000: €600,000 for one child, €900,000 for two

Requirements

• Secure annual income of €50,000, plus €15,000 for a spouse and €10,000 per minor child
• Investment funds transferred to Cyprus from abroad
• Clean criminal records for the applicant and spouse, renewed every 3 years
• Annual proof that the investment is kept, and health insurance if not covered by GESY
• No employment in Cyprus, except as a director of the company invested in

Steps and timeline

Submit the application and documents in person at the Migration Department, or through an authorised representative, by appointment. The department estimates about 2 months from a complete application. After approval, holders living abroad must take up residence in Cyprus within 1 year.

What it is

Latvia's new Immigration Law, adopted on 20 August 2026 and in force since 15 September 2026, keeps a temporary residence permit for foreigners who invest in the share capital of a Latvian company, by founding one or increasing its capital. Permits now run for up to 2 years. The real estate and subordinated bank deposit routes were abolished, and a new €150,000 state fund route is not yet available.

Investment options

• €50,000 in a company with up to 50 employees and turnover or balance sheet up to €10 million
• In that case, up to 10 foreign investors per company, each investing €50,000 and paying €10,000
• €100,000 in a company with over 50 employees and turnover or balance sheet above €10 million
• €150,000 for 5 years in a state alternative investment fund manager: not yet available, as the fund does not exist

Requirements

• The smaller company must pay at least €40,000 a year in taxes while the permit is valid
• The larger company, with its Latvian subsidiaries, must pay at least €100,000 a year in taxes
• The company must have no tax debt above €150
• Documents for a first permit in Latvian or English; for a repeat permit in Latvian

Steps and timeline

Make the investment, pay €10,000 to the state budget and apply to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP). The maximum review time is 4 months from submission. Permits can be requested again while the conditions are met. EU long-term resident status, now the only form of permanent residence, needs at least 5 years' residence on a temporary permit.

What it is

Under Act XC of 2023, Hungary grants a guest investor residence permit to third-country nationals whose investment is in the national economic interest. It starts with a guest investor visa, valid up to 6 months; the permit is issued after the investment is made. Holders may work and run a business without restriction and need not spend a minimum time in Hungary.

Investment options

• At least €250,000 in units of a real estate fund registered by the Hungarian National Bank, held at least 5 years
• The fund must hold at least 40% of its net asset value in Hungarian residential real estate
• Fund units are kept in a securities sub-account blocked for at least 5 years
• Or a donation of at least €1,000,000 to a higher education institution run by a public trust

Requirements

• Third-country national without EEA free movement rights
• Legal stay in Hungary on a guest investor visa, or visa-free where allowed
• Proof of accommodation in Hungary: ownership, lease, hosting or a paid booking
• Report any change to the investment data within 5 days
• On extension, fund units must still be held; donors need no new investment

Steps and timeline

Apply for a guest investor visa, enter Hungary and make the investment. Then apply for the residence permit through the Enter Hungary platform. The authority's administrative time is 21 days, not counting the time to submit proof of the investment or missing documents. Family members apply for family reunification permits of up to 10 years.

What it is

The Innovator Founder visa is for people setting up and running an innovative business in the UK. The business must be innovative, viable and scalable, and an approved endorsing body must endorse it. It replaced the Innovator visa. Besides their own business, holders may take other work at RQF Level 3 or above, but not employment with another business under a contract of service.

Investment options

• No set minimum investment amount
• New business: show your endorsing body enough funding and where it comes from
• Business already endorsed for an earlier visa: no investment funds needed
• Settlement needs 2 of 7 criteria, such as £50,000 invested, £1,000,000 annual revenue or 10 full-time jobs

Requirements

• Endorsement from an approved endorsing body (endorsement £1,000; each progress meeting £500)
• Progress meetings with the endorsing body at 12 and 24 months
• English at level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening
• At least £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, unless in the UK for 12 months or more
• Aged 18 or over

Steps and timeline

Have your business idea assessed and endorsed by an endorsing body, then apply with the endorsement letter. The visa is granted for up to 3 years. Under current rules you can apply for settlement after 3 years if your endorsing body confirms at least 2 achievement criteria. The government announced settlement reforms on 2 November 2026 that apply at the point of application; their start date is not yet published.

What it is

The EB-5 programme grants a US green card to investors who put capital into a new commercial enterprise that creates at least 10 full-time jobs for qualifying US workers. The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 set the current amounts for petitions filed on or after 15 March 2022. The amounts will be adjusted for inflation for petitions filed on or after 1 January 2027, and every 5 years after that.

Investment options

• Standard: US$1,050,000 in a new commercial enterprise
• Reduced: US$800,000 in a targeted employment area or an infrastructure project
• Direct investment, filed on Form I-526 (standalone investor)
• Investment through a regional center, filed on Form I-526E
• Visas set aside each year: 20% rural, 10% high unemployment, 2% infrastructure

Requirements

• Capital invested in a new commercial enterprise
• At least 10 full-time jobs (35 hours a week) for qualifying employees
• In a regional center, up to 90% of the jobs may be indirect
• An immigrant visa must be available before you can become a permanent resident

Steps and timeline

File Form I-526 or I-526E. If a visa is available, Form I-485 can be filed with it or later; otherwise apply for an immigrant visa abroad on Form DS-260. You and your dependants then hold conditional permanent residence for 2 years. File Form I-829 in the 90 days before the second anniversary to remove the conditions. Naturalisation is possible after 5 years as a permanent resident.

What it is

The E-2 Treaty Investor visa lets a national of a country that has a qualifying treaty with the United States enter to develop and direct a US enterprise in which they have invested a substantial amount of capital. It is temporary (nonimmigrant) status that can be extended, with no limit on the number of extensions, while the enterprise and investor continue to qualify.

Investment options

• Invest in starting a new US enterprise or buying an existing one
• The investment must be substantial and sufficient to ensure the enterprise's successful operation
• The lower the cost of the enterprise, the larger the share of it the investment must cover
• Uncommitted or revocable funds in a bank account are generally not counted as an investment

Requirements

• Nationality of a treaty country
• The US enterprise must be at least 50% owned by nationals of the treaty country
• A real and operating commercial enterprise
• The enterprise must earn more than a living for you and your family, or have a significant economic impact
• Intent to leave the US when E-2 status ends

Steps and timeline

Apply at a US embassy or consulate, generally in the country where you live: complete Form DS-160, pay the visa application fee, prepare evidence that the enterprise meets the E-2 rules, and attend an interview. Employees applying as executive, manager or essential staff also file Form DS-156E. On entry you can be admitted for up to 2 years; extensions are requested from USCIS.

What it is

The Québec Investor Program selects investors for permanent immigration to Québec. Under the Canada-Québec Accord, Québec selects business immigrants and the federal government decides admissibility and issues permanent residence. As of 9 November 2026, Québec accepts applications at any time, with no maximum number of applications.

Investment options

• C$1,000,000 invested for a five-year term through a financial intermediary
• C$200,000 financial contribution to Investissement Québec Immigrants Investisseurs inc.
• The intermediary makes both payments within 120 days of the Ministère's request

Requirements

• Net worth of at least C$2,000,000 of lawful origin, which may be shared with a spouse
• Spoken French at level 7 or higher, with results less than 2 years old
• At least 2 years of management experience in the 5 years before applying
• A democratic and Québec values attestation within 60 days of being asked
• Application forms in French, sent by mail with the fee

Steps and timeline

Mail the application with the fee to the Ministère. If Québec issues a notice of intention to select, apply for a federal work permit within 6 months and complete a 12-month stay in Québec within 2 years of the permit being issued. After the Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ), the federal government assesses admissibility and issues permanent residence.

What it is

Panama's Qualified Investor programme, created by Executive Decree 722 of 2020 and updated by Executive Decree 17 of 8 September 2026, grants permanent residence through a special, expedited migration procedure. The funds must belong to the applicant, come from abroad and have a traceable origin. The investment must be held for at least 5 years, with annual proof to the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI).

Investment options

• New property bought at first sale: at least US$300,000
• Resale (secondary market) property: at least US$500,000
• Securities through the Panamanian securities market: from US$500,000
• Fixed-term deposit at a private bank: US$750,000
• Fixed-term deposit made directly at Banco Nacional de Panamá or Caja de Ahorros: US$500,000

Requirements

• Investment funds owned by the applicant, of foreign origin, with traceable source and ownership
• Hold the investment for at least 5 years and prove it to MICI each year
• Visit Panama at least once every 2 years to keep the residence

Steps and timeline

Make the qualifying investment and file the residence application with the National Migration Service (SNM). The migration decision is due within 30 business days of the SNM receiving the complete file. After 5 consecutive years of residence with the investment still in force, the investor may apply for Panamanian nationality by naturalisation, subject to the constitutional and legal requirements.

What it is

The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence permit that needs no sponsor. Investors qualify through UAE property worth at least AED 2,000,000, or through public investments such as a deposit, fund holding or company capital of at least AED 2,000,000. Holders can sponsor family members and may stay outside the UAE for more than the usual six months without losing their residence.

Investment options

• One or more UAE properties worth at least AED 2,000,000 in your name; financing from an approved local bank is allowed
• Off-plan units worth at least AED 2,000,000 from an approved local developer
• A deposit of at least AED 2,000,000 with an investment fund or national bank
• A company with capital of at least AED 2,000,000, or a partner share of that value
• A company paying at least AED 250,000 a year in federal taxes, or a matching partner share

Requirements

• Public investment capital must be fully owned by the investor and not come from a loan
• Proof of the source and ownership of the capital
• Valid health insurance for the investor and family members
• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• In Dubai, a lien is placed on the qualifying property for the permit's validity

Steps and timeline

Apply to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or, in Dubai, to the GDRFA, with proof of the investment. Applicants outside the UAE can receive a six-month multiple-entry visa, renewable for six more months, to complete the process. GDRFA lists 5 working days for the investor golden residence; ICP lists 2 days for the real estate investor entry permit.

What it is

The Global Investor Programme, run by Contact Singapore, a division of the Economic Development Board (EDB), grants Singapore permanent residence to investors with a substantial business track record who intend to drive their business and investment growth from Singapore. Applicants qualify under one of four profiles and choose an investment option.

Investment options

• Option A: at least S$10,000,000 in a new business or the expansion of an existing one, with a 5-year plan
• Option B: S$25,000,000 in a GIP-select fund that invests in Singapore-based companies
• Option C: a Singapore single family office with at least S$200,000,000 in assets
• Option C: at least S$50,000,000 transferred to Singapore and deployed in EDB-specified investments

Requirements

• Established business owner: 3 years' track record and company turnover of at least S$200,000,000 a year
• Next generation business owner: family holds at least 30% of a company with S$500,000,000 turnover
• Founder of a fast growth company valued at S$500,000,000 or more and backed by reputable VC or PE firms
• Family office principal: 5 years' track record and S$200,000,000 net investible assets (Option C only)
• The company must be in an industry on the EDB list

Steps and timeline

Pay the application fee, submit the forms to EDB and attend an interview. If you qualify, ICA issues an Approval-in-Principle valid for 6 months, in which you make the investment. After verification, ICA issues Final Approval and you formalise permanent residence within 12 months. EDB says processing takes about 12 months. The 5-year Re-Entry Permit is renewed if the investment, jobs and residence conditions are met.

What it is

The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, launched on 1 March 2024, lets investors live in Hong Kong by investing in permissible assets without running a business. The New CIES Office under Invest Hong Kong assesses assets and investments, and the Immigration Department decides on visas and stay. Applicants must be 18 or over and hold net assets of at least HK$30,000,000 throughout the 6 months before applying.

Investment options

• Shares and debt securities listed in Hong Kong and traded in HKD or RMB
• Certificates of deposit in HKD or RMB, capped at HK$3,000,000
• Eligible SFC-authorised funds, real estate investment trusts and investment-linked assurance schemes
• Real estate capped at HK$15,000,000 in total, of which residential up to HK$10,000,000
• Residential property must be one property with a transaction price of at least HK$30,000,000
• HK$3,000,000 in the CIES Investment Portfolio, overseen by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation

Requirements

• Foreign nationals, Chinese nationals with permanent residence abroad, Macao residents or Chinese residents of Taiwan
• Nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea are excluded
• Investments made on or after 1 March 2024, verified with a practising certified public accountant
• Able to support yourself and dependants without relying on the investment returns or work in Hong Kong
• No adverse immigration record

Steps and timeline

Apply to the New CIES Office for a Net Asset Assessment, then to the Immigration Department. With Approval-in-Principle you may enter as a visitor for up to 180 days to make the investment. Once the New CIES Office verifies it, Formal Approval grants up to 24 months' stay, followed by extensions of up to 3 years while the portfolio is maintained. Permanent residence is possible after 7 years.

What it is

Active Investor Plus grants New Zealand residence to investors who transfer funds to New Zealand and hold them in acceptable investments. Since 1 April 2025 there are two categories: Growth, for higher-risk investments such as managed funds and direct investment in New Zealand businesses, and Balanced, which also allows listed equities, bonds and property developments. There is no English language requirement.

Investment options

• Growth: at least NZ$5,000,000 for 36 months in direct investments or managed funds accepted by Invest New Zealand
• Growth: philanthropy can make up to 20% of the total
• Balanced: at least NZ$10,000,000 for 60 months
• Balanced: direct investments, managed funds, listed equities, bonds, property developments and philanthropy
• Each extra NZ$1,000,000 in Growth investments (not philanthropy) cuts the time requirement by 14 days, up to 42

Requirements

• Investment funds earned or acquired lawfully
• Good health, shown by a chest X-ray and medical examination
• Police certificates for everyone in the application aged 17 or over
• Meet the fit and proper person requirements
• Partner: genuine and stable relationship, living together for at least 12 months

Steps and timeline

Apply online. Immigration New Zealand issues 80% of approvals in principle within 11 weeks. You then have 6 months to transfer and invest the funds (a further 6 months in some cases), and a work visa can be issued for this. Evidence of investment is due at 24 months and at the end of the investment period. You can apply for a permanent resident visa after 36 months (Growth) or 60 months (Balanced).

What it is

The Occupation Permit (Investor) is a combined work and residence permit for non-citizens who register with the Economic Development Board (EDB) and invest in a Mauritian business. The 2026/27 Budget revised the criteria to a US$100,000 minimum initial investment with turnover targets. Buying qualifying property and the new Golden Visa are separate residence routes run with the EDB.

Investment options

• Option 1: US$100,000, transferred into the company's Mauritian bank account within 60 days of the permit
• Option 2: an innovative project submitted to the EDB, or registration with an accredited incubator
• Separate route: buying qualifying residential property for at least US$375,000 gives a residence permit
• Separate route: Golden Visa, with a US$1,000,000 commitment in qualifying sectors within 12 months

Requirements

• Certified bank statement from your country of origin showing proof of funds
• Business turnover of at least MUR 5,000,000 from the third year of registration
• For renewal, annual turnover of at least MUR 8,000,000 from the fifth year
• Dependants may not engage in gainful activity

Steps and timeline

Apply online through the National E-Licensing System (NELS). After checks by the EDB and the Passport and Immigration Office, a joint committee chaired by the Prime Minister's Office assesses the application and issues an Approval in Principle valid for 90 days. The permit runs for up to 10 years. After 5 years as an investor with turnover of MUR 15,000,000 a year (or MUR 75,000,000 over 5 years), a 20-year permanent residence permit is possible.

Spain

Organic Law 1/2025 emptied articles 63 to 67 of Law 14/2013, ending investor visas and residence permits from 3 April 2025; valid permits keep their term.

Ireland

The Immigrant Investor Programme closed to new applications at close of business on 15 February 2023; approved projects were unaffected.

Netherlands

The residence permit for wealthy foreign nationals (foreign investors) was abolished by a decree of 9 April 2024, in force from 17 April 2024.

Portugal

• Law 56/2023 of 6 October 2023 changed the ARI regime so that the investment may no longer go, directly or indirectly, into real estate.
• Organic Law 1/2026, in force from 19 May 2026, raised naturalisation to 10 years' legal residence (7 for CPLP and EU nationals).

Greece

Law 5100/2024 of 5 April 2024 raised Golden Visa property thresholds to €800,000 or €400,000 by area, keeping €250,000 for conversions and listed buildings.

Latvia

The new Immigration Law, in force from 15 September 2026, ended residence permits for real estate buyers and subordinated bank deposits.

Luxembourg

On 14 October 2026 the Chamber of Deputies adopted Bill 8586, repealing the investor residence permit; existing permits stay valid until expiry.

Canada

IRCC paused the Start-up Visa Program on 30 June 2026 and is not accepting new applications; applications accepted before then are still processed.

United States

On 12 November 2026 the Gold Card was not open for petitions: trumpcard.gov takes registrations and a US$15,000 fee per person, and USCIS says it will notify registrants when Form I-140G can be filed online.

United Kingdom

The UK closed the Tier 1 (Investor) visa to all new applicants with immediate effect on 17 February 2022.

Australia

The Business Innovation and Investment Program, including the Significant Investor stream, closed permanently to new applications on 31 July 2024.

New Zealand

On 1 April 2025 New Zealand replaced the NZ$15,000,000 Active Investor Plus minimum with Growth (NZ$5,000,000) and Balanced (NZ$10,000,000) categories and removed the English requirement.

Hong Kong

For property purchases completed from 17 September 2025, the New CIES counts real estate up to HK$15,000,000 and lowers the single residential property minimum from HK$50,000,000 to HK$30,000,000.

Panama

Executive Decree 17 of 8 September 2026 updated the Qualified Investor programme, setting US$500,000 for resale property and adding a US$500,000 deposit option at Banco Nacional de Panamá or Caja de Ahorros.

Mauritius

The 2026/27 Budget (June 2026) revised the investor Occupation Permit to a US$100,000 minimum initial investment with turnover targets and introduced a Golden Visa for a US$1,000,000 investment.

What it is

The programme is run by the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Unit. Citizenship is granted to applicants who make a prescribed contribution or real estate investment, through authorised agents only. Mandatory interviews and fingerprinting were introduced in 2025. The Unit's December 2025 update announced a mandatory genuine-link requirement, including physical presence and residency, and a 2026 move away from contribution-based routes.

Investment options

• Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC): US$250,000 for the main applicant or a family of up to four
• Public Benefit Option: US$250,000 in a unit of an approved public benefit project, paid to the Unit
• Approved development real estate: from US$325,000, held at least 7 years before resale
• Private real estate: US$325,000 condominium unit or share, or US$600,000 single-family home, held 7 years

Requirements

• Application only through an agent on the official list; no direct applications to the Unit
• Due diligence on the main applicant and every dependant aged 16 or over
• Mandatory interview and fingerprinting
• Investment made only after the approval-in-principle letter

Steps and timeline

1. Choose an authorised agent from the official list. 2. Complete the forms and documents through the agent. 3. The Unit runs due diligence and the interview, then issues an approval-in-principle letter. 4. Make the investment and pay the post-approval fees. 5. Receive the certificate of citizenship. The Unit says the process generally takes 3 to 6 months; for the Public Benefit Option, 120 to 180 days from acknowledgement.

What it is

Dominica's programme is run by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU). The investment is either a non-refundable contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund or the purchase of real estate in an approved project. Applications are accepted only through authorised agents. Since 19 July 2023 the UK has required visas from Dominican nationals, citing the operation of the scheme.

Investment options

• Economic Diversification Fund: US$200,000 for a single applicant, US$250,000 with up to three dependants
• Approved real estate: at least US$200,000, held 3 years from grant (5 years if resold to another applicant)
• Real estate government fee: US$75,000 single applicant, US$100,000 with up to three dependants

Requirements

• Application only through an authorised agent
• Mandatory interview for all applicants aged 16 or over, US$1,000 per interview
• Due diligence on the main applicant and dependants aged 16 or over; enhanced checks may apply
• Certificate of naturalisation fee: US$500 per person

Steps and timeline

1. Choose an authorised agent. 2. The agent submits the application. 3. Due diligence and interview; the CBIU then issues approval in principle, a delay or a denial. 4. After approval in principle, pay the investment. 5. On proof of payment, the CBIU issues the certificate of naturalisation. The CBIU says the process typically takes 3 to 4 months from submission to approval in principle.

What it is

The programme is run by the Citizenship by Investment Unit under the Citizenship by Investment Act 2013. Applications are submitted only by licensed agents. The current amounts were set by the Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Regulations 2024. In December 2025 the US placed partial entry restrictions on nationals of Antigua and Barbuda, citing citizenship by investment without residency.

Investment options

• National Development Fund: US$230,000 contribution for a single applicant or a family
• Approved real estate: at least US$300,000, not resold for 5 years
• Business: US$1,500,000 single investor, or US$5,000,000 joint with at least US$400,000 each
• University of the West Indies Fund: US$260,000 for a family of at least six

Requirements

• Application submitted by a licensed agent
• 10% of the government processing fee paid on submission, the balance after approval
• Passport fee: US$300 per person; 5-year renewal fee US$1,000 (18 and over) or US$500
• At least 5 days in the country within 5 calendar years of registration

Steps and timeline

1. Choose a licensed agent. 2. The agent submits the forms and documents, with 10% of the government processing fee. 3. The Unit runs due diligence. 4. After the approval letter, pay the balance of the fees and make the investment. 5. Register as a citizen and apply for a passport. The Unit does not publish a processing time.

What it is

Grenada's programme was established in February 2014 under the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Act 2013 and is run by the Investment Migration Agency (IMA). The Citizenship by Investment Committee recommends each application and the Minister of Citizenship decides. Grenada allows dual citizenship. In September 2026 the IMA commissioned an independent review of the programme.

Investment options

• National Transformation Fund: US$235,000 for a single applicant or a family of up to four
• Approved real estate project: minimum US$270,000, plus a US$50,000 government fee
• Real estate is only allowed in a select number of government-approved projects

Requirements

• Main applicant aged 18 or over, in good health, with funds from a lawful source
• Mandatory interview, US$1,000 per person aged 17 or over
• Medical and police certificates; documents in English and legalised
• Application through an authorised international marketing agent and a local agent

Steps and timeline

1. Choose an authorised international marketing agent. 2. Prepare forms, medical and documents; reserve any property by sale and purchase agreement. 3. The local agent submits to the CBIC Executive Office; interview. 4. Vetting, CBIC recommendation and the Minister's decision. 5. Make the contribution or complete the purchase, receive the certificate of registration, then apply for a passport. The IMA says approval comes within 60 business days.

What it is

Saint Lucia's programme is run by the Citizenship by Investment Unit. Applications go only through licensed authorised agents. An enhanced applicant interview and identity verification process applies to applications received from 4 September 2023. After the grant is notified, the applicant pays the qualifying investment, takes the oath of allegiance and receives a certificate of registration.

Investment options

• National Economic Fund: US$240,000 for the applicant with up to three qualifying dependants
• Approved real estate: US$300,000, plus administration fees from US$30,000
• Enterprise project: US$250,000 with up to three dependants, plus administration fees
• National Action Bond: US$300,000, non-interest bearing, held 5 years, plus a US$50,000 fee
• Larger enterprise options: US$3,500,000 alone or US$6,000,000 joint, plus US$50,000

Requirements

• Application through a licensed authorised agent
• Due diligence on applicants above 16, including law enforcement and third-party checks
• Interview and identity verification for applications received from 4 September 2023
• Oath of allegiance before an attorney-at-law, consular officer, honorary consul or notary

Steps and timeline

1. Apply through a licensed authorised agent. 2. Due diligence, including law enforcement and third-party checks. 3. On notice of the grant, pay the qualifying investment. 4. Sign the oath of allegiance. 5. Receive the certificate of registration; the agent then applies to the Immigration Department for a passport. The Unit gives about 90 days to the grant of citizenship.

What it is

Under Article 12 of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, foreigners who make a qualifying investment may acquire citizenship by decision of the President. Each investment is certified by the relevant public authority before the citizenship application. The real estate threshold is US$400,000, with a 3-year no-sale annotation on the title deed.

Investment options

• Real estate: US$400,000, title deed annotated not to be sold for 3 years
• Fixed capital investment: US$500,000, certified by the Ministry of Industry and Technology
• Bank deposit: US$500,000 kept for 3 years, certified by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency
• Government bonds, or real estate or venture capital fund shares: US$500,000 held 3 years
• Private pension: US$500,000 kept in the private pension system for 3 years
• Employment: jobs for at least 50 people, certified by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security

Requirements

• Real estate: municipal market value document, earthquake insurance and a 3-year no-sale declaration
• Certificate of eligibility from the certifying authority
• Application form VAT-4, biometric photos, passport, civil status and birth documents
• Documents proving family ties for a spouse and children, and the fee receipt

Steps and timeline

1. Make the investment; for real estate, complete the title deed at the Land Registry with the 3-year no-sale annotation. 2. Obtain the certificate of eligibility from the certifying authority. 3. Apply to the provincial governorship in Türkiye or a Turkish consulate abroad, which prepares the citizenship file. 4. Citizenship is granted by Presidential decision. No official processing time is published.

Malta

On 29 April 2025 the EU Court of Justice ruled in case C-181/23 that Malta's 2020 investor citizenship scheme is contrary to EU law.

Cyprus

Cyprus suspended its investor citizenship scheme and stopped taking new applications on 1 November 2020.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria abolished its investor citizenship scheme with effect from 5 April 2022.

Montenegro

Montenegro formally terminated its citizenship by investment programme on 31 December 2022 and has only processed earlier applications since.

Moldova

Moldova abolished its citizenship-for-investment programme on 1 September 2020, at the EU's request.

Vanuatu

On 12 December 2024 the EU Council removed Vanuatu from the EU visa-exempt list over its investor citizenship schemes; the exemption had been suspended since 2022.

Dominica and Vanuatu

From 19 July 2023 the UK requires visas from nationals of Dominica and Vanuatu, citing abuse of their citizenship by investment schemes.

Eastern Caribbean (five states)

• From 1 July 2024 Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia set US$200,000 as the minimum for any citizenship by investment option.
• On 18 September 2025 the five states signed the agreement creating a regional regulator (ECCIRA); once in force it requires 30 days' presence in the first 5 years and interviews.
• On 19 December 2025 the European Commission said the five Eastern Caribbean schemes are a potential ground for suspending visa-free travel to the Schengen area.

Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica

On 16 December 2025 the US placed partial entry restrictions on nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, citing citizenship by investment without residency.

St Kitts and Nevis

In December 2025 the Citizenship Unit announced a mandatory genuine-link requirement and a 2026 transition away from contribution-based routes.

What it is

Italy recognises citizenship passed down by blood. Since Decree-Law 36/2025 and its conversion Law 74/2025, a person born abroad who holds another citizenship is treated as never having acquired Italian citizenship unless one of the exceptions in Article 3-bis of Law 91/1992 applies. In April 2026 the Constitutional Court rejected the main challenges to these limits.

Who qualifies

• A parent who holds, or held at death, only Italian citizenship
• A grandparent who holds, or held at death, only Italian citizenship
• A parent who lived in Italy for 2 continuous years after becoming Italian and before your birth
• Applicants whose complete file, or confirmed appointment, was lodged by 23:59 Rome time on 27 March 2025
• Applicants whose court case was filed by 23:59 Rome time on 27 March 2025

Documents

• Birth certificate of the Italian parent or grandparent, issued by the Italian comune within 6 months
• Long-form birth certificates of every descendant in the line, including you, apostilled and translated
• Marriage certificates of the Italian ancestor and of every descendant in the line
• Death certificates in the line, where applicable
• Proof the ancestor never naturalised abroad, or the naturalisation record if they did
• Proof the ancestor held only Italian citizenship, such as certificates of non-naturalisation

Steps and timeline

Apply by appointment at the Italian consulate for your place of residence, or at the comune if you live in Italy. Court applications filed after 27 March 2025 are subject to the same limits. A separate declaration for children who were minors when the decree took effect carries a €250 contribution. Processing times are not published centrally: Ask us.

What it is

People born outside Ireland whose Irish citizen parent was also born outside Ireland do not become Irish automatically. They become Irish citizens once their birth is entered on the Foreign Births Register, kept by the Department of Foreign Affairs, and can then apply for an Irish passport. Anyone with a parent who was an Irish citizen born on the island of Ireland is already Irish and does not need to register.

Who qualifies

• People born abroad with a grandparent born on the island of Ireland, whose parent was also born abroad
• People born abroad whose parent was an Irish citizen at their birth, though not born in Ireland
• People whose parent became Irish by Foreign Births Registration or naturalisation before their birth
• Adopted applicants and adoptive lines, with extra documents

Documents

• Online application form, printed, signed and witnessed
• Your original civil birth certificate and, if applicable, marriage or change of name document
• Original civil birth and marriage certificates of the Irish citizen parent and the Irish-born grandparent
• Certified copies of current photo ID for you, your parent and grandparent, or death certificates
• 2 original proofs of address and 4 colour photographs
• A baptismal certificate if the grandparent was born before 1864

Steps and timeline

Complete the online application form, have it witnessed, then post it with the original documents. There is no public office. Applications are processed in strict date order and currently take approximately 12 months. You become an Irish citizen once entered on the register, and original certificates are returned by recorded mail.

What it is

Polish citizenship passes by descent, so many people born abroad are already Polish without knowing it. A voivode (provincial governor) can issue a decision confirming that you hold, or have lost, Polish citizenship. The confirmation is the usual first step before applying for a Polish passport.

Who qualifies

• Anyone who has, or had, Polish citizenship
• A person or body with a legal interest in, or duty to obtain, the confirmation
• People abroad whose line runs through Polish parents or grandparents who did not lose citizenship

Documents

• Application in Polish with personal data of you, your parents and your grandparents
• Civil records showing the Polish origin of your parents or grandparents: birth, marriage, baptism
• Documents on any change of name
• Original valid ID, for verification
• Your full birth certificate listing your parents, if born outside Poland
• Polish translations of all foreign-language documents

Steps and timeline

Apply to the voivode for your current or last place of residence in Poland, or to the Masovian voivode if you never lived there. From abroad, apply through the Polish consul, who forwards the file. The voivode has 6 months to decide, which can be extended. A refusal can be appealed within 14 days.

What it is

Hungary offers naturalisation on preferential terms to people whose ancestor was a Hungarian citizen or who are likely to be of Hungarian origin. The main condition is Hungarian language: the officer receiving the application checks it in conversation, and all official communication and forms are in Hungarian. Citizenship is acquired on the day of the oath.

Who qualifies

• Descendants of a Hungarian citizen, or people likely to be of Hungarian origin
• Former Hungarian citizens (renaturalisation)
• Applicants aged 14 or over who can hold a two-way conversation in Hungarian
• Applicants with a clean criminal record and no pending criminal case under Hungarian law
• Applicants whose naturalisation poses no threat to public or national security

Documents

• Application form under Section 4(3) and (3a) of Act LV of 1993
• Handwritten CV, for applicants over 18
• Birth and marriage certificates with certified Hungarian translations
• Civil, church or archive records proving each ancestor's Hungarian citizenship
• Ancestors' military books, work books or school certificates showing name, place and date of birth
• Valid photo identity document

Steps and timeline

Apply in person, by appointment, at a Hungarian consulate or a government office in Hungary. If approved, the President issues a naturalisation certificate and you are invited to take the oath. The oath must be taken within 1 year of the first invitation, and a Hungarian identity card is handed over on that day. Processing time: Ask us.

What it is

Germany restores citizenship to former citizens deprived of it on political, racial or religious grounds between 30 January 1933 and 8 May 1945, and to their descendants. Section 15 extends this to people who lost or could not acquire it through persecution. Section 5 lets people who missed German citizenship through former sex-discriminatory rules acquire it by declaration. Those already German by descent can have it established.

Who qualifies

• Former citizens deprived of citizenship 1933 to 1945 on political, racial or religious grounds, and descendants
• People who gave up or lost citizenship before 26 February 1955 through persecution, and descendants
• People excluded from acquiring citizenship by marriage, legitimation or naturalisation in that period
• Children of German mothers born 1949 to 1974, and others excluded by sex-based rules (Section 5)
• Descendants of a person entitled under Section 5

Documents

• BVA application form (Application A for 16 and over, AK for children) and Annex VA on ancestors
• Certified copy of your current passport or identity document
• Birth or descent certificates and marriage certificates linking you to the relevant ancestor
• Documents on any change of name, adoption or paternity
• Former German documents and evidence of the persecution, if available
• Sworn translations and officially certified copies

Steps and timeline

Applicants living abroad apply to the Federal Office of Administration (BVA), directly, online or through a German mission. Section 5 declarations must reach the BVA by 19 August 2031, and citizenship is acquired on the day of receipt. Naturalisation takes effect when the certificate is handed over. Processing time: Ask us.

What it is

Children of a Spanish father or mother are Spanish by origin. People whose father or mother was originally Spanish and born in Spain can opt for Spanish nationality at any age. People born abroad to a parent or grandparent who was originally Spanish can apply for nationality by residence after only 1 year of legal residence. The Democratic Memory Law route closed to new applications in October 2025.

Who qualifies

• Children of a Spanish father or mother (Spanish by origin, Article 17)
• Children of a parent who was originally Spanish and born in Spain, with no age limit (Article 20.1.b)
• People born abroad to a parent or grandparent originally Spanish, after 1 year of residence (Article 22.2.f)
• Applicants over 14 must swear allegiance to the King and obedience to the Constitution

Documents

• Written application to the consular Civil Registry for your place of residence
• Passport or identity document; the Spanish parent's DNI where the option relies on them
• Full birth record of the applicant and parents; the Spanish parent's from the Spanish Civil Registry
• Marriage and family records, and any paternity recognition documents
• Proof of residence in the consular district

Steps and timeline

Options are declared in person before the Civil Registry of the Spanish consulate for your residence, followed by the oath, the choice of a civil law regime and registration. The Article 20.1.b option has no time limit. The grandchild route is a residence application after 1 year of legal residence, with proof of good civic conduct and integration. Processing time: Ask us.

What it is

People born abroad with at least one grandparent who is Portuguese by origin and never lost that nationality can declare that they want to be Portuguese and are then Portuguese by origin. Since Organic Law 1/2026 took effect on 19 May 2026, the declaration requires the conditions in Article 6(1)(c) to (h), including knowledge of the language, culture, history and national symbols.

Who qualifies

• At least one grandparent of Portuguese origin who has not lost Portuguese nationality
• A declaration that you want to be Portuguese, with effective ties to the Portuguese community
• Knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, history, symbols, rights and duties
• No final prison sentence over 3 years for listed serious crimes; no security threat or EU or UN sanctions
• Great-grandchildren: naturalisation after 5 years' legal residence in Portugal (Article 6(8))

Documents

• Your birth certificate, full copy, apostilled or consular-legalised, with certified translation
• Birth certificate of the parent who is the child of the Portuguese grandparent
• Birth certificate of the Portuguese grandparent, unless registered in Portugal
• Criminal records from your countries of birth, nationality and residence since age 16, translated
• Signed declaration for acquisition of Portuguese nationality

Steps and timeline

File the declaration at a nationality desk, the Central Registry Office in Lisbon, a civil registry or a Portuguese consulate, by post, or online through a lawyer or solicitor. Declarations before consular officers must be made in person. Registration has constitutive effect. Applications pending on 19 May 2026 follow the previous law. Processing time: Ask us.

What it is

Article 10 of the Code of Greek Citizenship lets foreign nationals of Greek descent who live abroad acquire Greek citizenship by naturalisation. The Greek consulate checks two things in turn: undisputed Greek ethnic origin, as a formal condition, and Greek national consciousness, as a substantive condition. The Ministry of Interior decides, and citizenship is acquired at the oath.

Who qualifies

• Foreign nationals of Greek ethnic origin who live outside Greece
• Applicants who can show Greek national consciousness at a consular interview
• Applicants without a final conviction for the serious offences listed in the Code in the past 10 years
• Minor unmarried children become Greek automatically when the parent takes the oath

Documents

• Application lodged in person at the competent Greek consulate
• Records proving Greek origin: ancestors' municipal or consular registrations, family history
• Proof of relatives' Greek citizenship and consular passports, where available
• Foreign marriage certificate, apostilled and officially translated, if married
• Birth certificates of minor children, for their registration
• Receipts for the €100 application fee and €30 consular fee

Steps and timeline

The consul checks the file and holds an interview, then sends a report and the original documents to the Ministry of Interior. After police checks, a decision is issued and a summary published in the Government Gazette. The oath must be taken within 1 year of publication. The Ministry estimates 18 months overall, varying by case.

What it is

People who held Lithuanian citizenship before 15 June 1940, and their descendants, have an indefinite right to reinstate it, wherever they live. Those who were exiled or left Lithuania before 11 March 1990, and their children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren, do not have to renounce their other citizenship. Applications are made online through the MIGRIS system.

Who qualifies

• People who held Lithuanian citizenship before 15 June 1940
• Their children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren
• Dual citizenship: those exiled, or who left, before 11 March 1990, and their descendants
• Note: Lithuania was restored on 16 February 1918; earlier emigrants may not have been citizens

Documents

• Valid passport
• Proof the ancestor held citizenship before 15 June 1940: pre-1940 passport, service or civil records
• Proof of exile or departure from Lithuania before 11 March 1990
• Birth certificates linking you to the pre-1940 citizen, and any name change documents
• Official Lithuanian translations; apostille on foreign documents and notarised copies

Steps and timeline

Submit the application with all supporting documents through MIGRIS (www.migracija.lt). If you choose to show originals at an embassy, the Migration Department first reviews the uploads and then asks you to visit within 4 months. Archives can supply missing pre-1940 proof. The embassy does not give timelines: Ask us.

What it is

The UK Ancestry visa is a residence route, not citizenship. It lets eligible Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK live and work in the UK for 5 years. After 5 continuous years you may extend for a further 5 years or apply for indefinite leave to remain, which can be used to apply for British citizenship.

Who qualifies

• Commonwealth citizens, British overseas citizens, BOTCs, BN(O)s and citizens of Zimbabwe
• Aged 17 or over, able and planning to work in the UK
• Enough money to support and house yourself and dependants without public funds
• A grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or in Ireland before 31 March 1922
• A grandparent born on a UK-registered or UK government ship or aircraft

Documents

• Current passport or other valid travel document
• Your full birth certificate and those of the parent and grandparent the claim is based on
• Evidence you plan to work in the UK, such as job offers or a business plan
• Bank statements dated within 31 days showing you can support yourself and dependants
• Name change, adoption and tuberculosis test documents where they apply

Steps and timeline

Apply online from outside the UK, no earlier than 3 months before travel; a decision usually comes within 3 weeks. You cannot switch into this visa from another UK visa. After 5 continuous years, with no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months, you may apply for settlement; a standard decision usually takes 6 months.

What it is

Since 1 January 2020, an emigrant and the emigrant's descendants can acquire Croatian citizenship by naturalisation without meeting points 2 to 4 of Article 8(1) of the Croatian Citizenship Act, which include 8 years' residence and the language and culture test. An emigrant is a person who left Croatia before 8 October 1991 intending to live abroad permanently.

Who qualifies

• Emigrants who left Croatia before 8 October 1991 intending to live abroad permanently
• Members of the Croatian people who left the former states that included Croatia
• Descendants of those emigrants, and the foreign spouse of an emigrant or descendant
• Excluded: those who left under an international treaty or renounced Croatian citizenship

Documents

• Application form and questionnaire, and a CV
• Birth register extract and, if married, marriage register extract
• Certificate of citizenship and a certified copy of a valid identity document
• Foreign certificate of no criminal record, issued within the last 6 months, with translation
• Proof of the emigration and of your relationship to the emigrant
• Legalisation or apostille of foreign public documents

Steps and timeline

If you do not live in Croatia, apply at a Croatian diplomatic mission or consular post. The Ministry of the Interior decides. You become a Croatian citizen on delivery of a positive decision, are entered in the Register of Citizens and obtain a certificate of citizenship from the registry office. Processing time: Ask us.

What it is

Former Czech or Czechoslovak citizens who lost their citizenship by 31 December 2013 can regain it by a simple written declaration. Since 6 September 2019 their children and grandchildren can make the declaration too, whether or not the former citizen does. There is no deadline, and Czechia allows dual and multiple citizenship.

Who qualifies

• Former Czech or Czechoslovak citizens who lost citizenship by 31 December 2013
• Their children and grandchildren, including minors through their legal representatives
• Descendants must not hold Slovak citizenship on the day of the declaration
• Excluded: loss under Decree 33/1945 or the 1946 Czechoslovakia and USSR treaty on Transcarpathia

Documents

• Written declaration under Section 31, in free form
• Your birth certificate and marriage, partnership, divorce or death records as relevant
• Birth and marriage certificates of your parents and, if needed, your grandparents
• Proof of the date and manner in which the parent or grandparent lost citizenship
• Sometimes proof of when and how a foreign citizenship was acquired

Steps and timeline

Make the declaration at the regional authority for your last permanent residence in Czechia (in Prague, a district office), or at Úřad městské části Praha 1 if you never lived there. Abroad, make it at a Czech embassy, which forwards it. The office usually notifies the result within 60 days. There is no time limit.

Italy

• Decree-Law 36/2025 of 28 March 2025, converted by Law 74 of 23 May 2025, limited descent claims by people born abroad with another citizenship to those with an Italian parent or grandparent.
• On 30 April 2026 the Constitutional Court (judgment 63/2026) rejected the Turin court's challenges to the new limits, partly as inadmissible and partly as unfounded.
• The consolidated text of Decree-Law 36/2025 now sets 31 May 2029, not 31 May 2026, as the deadline for the transitional declaration for minors.

Spain

The Democratic Memory Law (Ley 20/2022) route closed to new appointment requests at 23:59 on 22 October 2025; files lodged in time are still being processed.

Portugal

• Organic Law 1/2024 of 5 March 2024 required Sephardic applicants to have lived legally in Portugal for at least 3 years.
• Organic Law 1/2026, in force from 19 May 2026, revoked the Sephardic naturalisation route (Article 6(7)); applications pending on that date follow the previous law.
• From 19 May 2026 grandchildren must also meet the language, culture, civic and criminal-record conditions of Article 6(1)(c) to (h).

Croatia

The window for adults over 21 born abroad to a Croatian parent to register under Article 5(2), extended to 3 years from 1 January 2020, has passed.