Program comparison

Compare Investment Residency Programs

Evaluate 33 investment residency and citizenship pathways by eligibility, minimum investment, processing time, visa type, and route to citizenship. Choose a destination by lifestyle first.

Portugal
Popular
🇵🇹

Portugal

Europe

Golden Visa

Investor Residency

Popularity92%

Portugal's Golden Visa grants residency through real estate or fund investment with a path to citizenship after 5 years.

Min. Investment

€500,000

Processing

6–12 months

EU residency
Schengen access
Low stay requirement
Citizenship path in 5 years
Malta
EU Passport
🇲🇹

Malta

Europe

Citizenship by Investment

Citizenship

Popularity78%

Malta's MEIN program offers EU citizenship through a combination of contribution, property, and bonds.

Min. Investment

€600,000

Processing

12–36 months

EU passport
Visa-free to 180+ countries
Full citizenship
Citizenship path in 1 year
Greece
Affordable
🇬🇷

Greece

Europe

Golden Visa

Investor Residency

Popularity85%

Greece offers one of Europe's most affordable golden visa programs through real estate investment.

Min. Investment

€250,000

Processing

3–6 months

Lowest EU threshold
Schengen access
Fast processing
Citizenship path in 7 years
UAE
Fast Track
🇦🇪

UAE

Middle East

Investor Residency

Investor Residency

Popularity88%

The UAE offers multiple residency pathways for investors, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals with tax-free living.

Min. Investment

AED 750,000

Processing

1–3 months

0% income tax
Fast processing
Business hub
Canada
Startup
🇨🇦

Canada

North America

Startup Visa

Entrepreneur Visa

Popularity74%

Canada's Startup Visa targets innovative entrepreneurs with backing from a designated Canadian organization.

Min. Investment

No minimum

Processing

12–16 months

No investment minimum
PR on arrival
Path to citizenship
Citizenship path in 3 years
Singapore
Asia Hub
🇸🇬

Singapore

Asia Pacific

Global Investor Programme

Investor Residency

Popularity71%

Singapore's GIP grants permanent residency to established business owners and investors with a strong track record.

Min. Investment

SGD 2.5M

Processing

6–9 months

Asia financial hub
World-class infrastructure
Strong passport
Citizenship path in 2 years
Spain
Lifestyle
🇪🇸

Spain

Europe

Golden Visa

Investor Residency

Popularity80%

Spain's Golden Visa offers EU residency through real estate investment with no minimum stay requirement.

Min. Investment

€500,000

Processing

2–4 months

EU residency
Schengen access
No stay requirement
Citizenship path in 10 years
Cyprus
Fast Track
🇨🇾

Cyprus

Europe

Permanent Residency

Investor Residency

Popularity67%

Cyprus offers fast-track permanent residency for investors in real estate with a low-tax Mediterranean lifestyle.

Min. Investment

€300,000

Processing

2–3 months

Fast approval
EU residency
Low tax environment
Citizenship path in 7 years
New Zealand
Premium
🇳🇿

New Zealand

Oceania

Active Investor Plus

Investor Residency

Popularity55%

New Zealand's Active Investor Plus visa targets high-net-worth individuals seeking residency in a stable, English-speaking country.

Min. Investment

NZD 5M

Processing

6–12 months

Clean environment
Strong rule of law
English-speaking
Citizenship path in 5 years
Barbados
Remote Work
🇧🇧

Barbados

Caribbean

Welcome Stamp

Digital Nomad Visa

Popularity62%

Barbados Welcome Stamp lets remote workers and entrepreneurs live and work from the island for up to 12 months.

Min. Investment

USD 2,000/yr fee

Processing

1–2 weeks

12-month remote work visa
Tropical lifestyle
Fast approval
Italy
Startup
🇮🇹

Italy

Europe

Startup Visa

Entrepreneur Visa

Popularity69%

Italy's Startup Visa targets non-EU entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas, offering a streamlined entry process.

Min. Investment

€50,000

Processing

3–6 months

EU access
Innovative ecosystem
Low threshold
Citizenship path in 10 years
Australia
Premium
🇦🇺

Australia

Oceania

Business Innovation & Investment

Entrepreneur Visa

Popularity66%

Australia's Business Innovation and Investment visa targets entrepreneurs and investors seeking to establish or develop business in Australia.

Min. Investment

AUD 800,000

Processing

12–24 months

World-class lifestyle
Strong economy
English-speaking
Citizenship path in 4 years
Isle of Man
Startup
🇮🇲

Isle of Man

Europe

Innovator Visa

Entrepreneur Visa

Popularity48%

The Isle of Man Innovator Visa welcomes entrepreneurs with innovative, viable, and scalable business ideas in a low-tax Crown Dependency.

Min. Investment

£50,000

Processing

3–6 months

Low tax jurisdiction
UK Crown Dependency
Innovative business focus
Citizenship path in 5 years
United Kingdom
Startup
🇬🇧

United Kingdom

Europe

Innovator Founder Visa

Entrepreneur Visa

Popularity76%

The UK Innovator Founder Visa is designed for experienced entrepreneurs seeking to establish an innovative, viable, and scalable business in the UK.

Min. Investment

£50,000

Processing

3–8 months

World-class startup ecosystem
London fintech hub
Path to settlement
Citizenship path in 5 years
United Kingdom
Fast Track
🇬🇧

United Kingdom

Europe

Global Talent Visa

Skilled Worker Visa

Popularity83%

The UK Global Talent Visa is for leaders or potential leaders in academia, research, arts, culture, or digital technology.

Min. Investment

No minimum

Processing

3–8 weeks

No job offer required
Flexible work rights
Fast-track endorsement
Citizenship path in 5 years
Italy
Remote Work
🇮🇹

Italy

Europe

Digital Nomad Visa

Digital Nomad Visa

Popularity72%

Italy's Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers and freelancers to live and work in Italy for up to one year, renewable annually.

Min. Investment

Income threshold

Processing

1–3 months

12-month renewable
EU base
Rich culture & lifestyle
Ireland
Fast Track
🇮🇪

Ireland

Europe

Critical Skills Employment Permit

Skilled Worker Visa

Popularity70%

Ireland's Critical Skills Employment Permit fast-tracks residency for highly skilled workers in sectors facing talent shortages.

Min. Investment

Salary-based

Processing

1–2 months

EU access
English-speaking
Thriving tech sector
Citizenship path in 5 years
United Kingdom
Popular
🇬🇧

United Kingdom

Europe

Skilled Worker Visa

Skilled Worker Visa

Popularity81%

The UK Skilled Worker Visa allows sponsored workers to live and work in the UK across a wide range of eligible occupations.

Min. Investment

Salary-based

Processing

3–8 weeks

Broad sector eligibility
Sponsor-backed route
Path to ILR
Citizenship path in 5 years
St Kitts & Nevis
Established
🇰🇳

St Kitts & Nevis

Caribbean

Citizenship by Investment

Citizenship

Popularity79%

St Kitts & Nevis operates the world's oldest citizenship by investment programme, granting full citizenship through a government fund contribution or approved real estate purchase.

Min. Investment

USD 250,000

Processing

3–6 months

Oldest CBI programme
Visa-free to 150+ countries
No residency requirement
Citizenship path in 0 years
Antigua & Barbuda
Affordable
🇦🇬

Antigua & Barbuda

Caribbean

Citizenship by Investment

Citizenship

Popularity74%

Antigua & Barbuda's CBI programme offers one of the Caribbean's most affordable routes to full citizenship, with options spanning a national development fund, real estate, or business investment.

Min. Investment

USD 230,000

Processing

3–6 months

Visa-free to 150+ countries
Family-friendly programme
Low investment threshold
Citizenship path in 0 years
Grenada
US E-2 Access
🇬🇩

Grenada

Caribbean

Citizenship by Investment

Citizenship

Popularity77%

Grenada's CBI programme is the only Caribbean scheme whose passport holders qualify for a US E-2 investor visa, making it a uniquely powerful gateway for US market access.

Min. Investment

USD 235,000

Processing

4–6 months

E-2 Treaty with USA
Visa-free to 140+ countries
No residency requirement
Citizenship path in 0 years
Vanuatu
Fastest CBI
🇻🇺

Vanuatu

Oceania

Development Support Programme

Citizenship

Popularity68%

Vanuatu's Development Support Programme is the world's fastest citizenship by investment route, delivering full citizenship in as little as 30 days with zero personal income tax.

Min. Investment

USD 130,000

Processing

30–60 days

World's fastest CBI
No tax on income or capital gains
Visa-free to 90+ countries
Citizenship path in 0 years
Fiji
Island Living
🇫🇯

Fiji

Oceania

Investor Residency

Investor Residency

Popularity52%

Fiji's investor residency programme offers a straightforward pathway to permanent residency and eventual citizenship in one of the Pacific's most sought-after island destinations.

Min. Investment

FJD 125,000

Processing

3–6 months

Tropical island lifestyle
Low cost of living
English-speaking
Citizenship path in 5 years
Samoa
Emerging
🇼🇸

Samoa

Oceania

Investor Residency

Investor Residency

Popularity44%

Samoa's investor residency programme provides a low-threshold entry into Pacific residency, with a clear path to citizenship for investors contributing to the island's developing economy.

Min. Investment

USD 100,000

Processing

3–6 months

Affordable entry point
Pacific community lifestyle
Growing tourism economy
Citizenship path in 5 years
Dominica
Best Value
🇩🇲

Dominica

Caribbean

Citizenship by Investment

Citizenship

Popularity73%

One of the world's longest-running and most cost-efficient CBI programmes. Dominica delivers a credible second passport with a remote process and a tax regime with no personal income, wealth or inheritance tax for non-residents.

Min. Investment

USD 200,000

Processing

2 months

2-month review — fastest in Caribbean
No income, wealth or inheritance tax
Visa-free to 140+ countries
Citizenship path in 0 years
St. Lucia
Multi-Route
🇱🇨

St. Lucia

Caribbean

Citizenship by Investment

Citizenship

Popularity70%

St. Lucia's flexible CBI programme offers three credible investment routes — donation, real estate, or qualifying business projects — with fast remote processing and strong visa-free reach including the EU and UK.

Min. Investment

USD 240,000

Processing

3–6 months

3 investment routes: donation, real estate, business
Visa-free to 140+ countries incl. EU & UK
Lowest business-investment threshold in the region
Citizenship path in 0 years
Türkiye
E-2 Access
🇹🇷

Türkiye

Europe

Citizenship by Investment

Citizenship

Popularity76%

Türkiye's real-estate-based citizenship programme offers one of the most predictable approval profiles globally. Its strategic location bridging Europe and Asia, combined with US E-2 treaty access, makes it one of the most versatile CBI programmes available.

Min. Investment

USD 400,000

Processing

4 months

Real estate route with strong market yields
US E-2 Investor Visa treaty access
Bridges Europe and Asia
Citizenship path in 0 years
Nauru
New 2026
🇳🇷

Nauru

Oceania

Economic & Climate Resilience Programme

Citizenship

Popularity58%

Nauru's Economic and Climate Resilience Programme is the newest credible citizenship programme in the global market, offering the lowest investment threshold of any established CBI scheme with visa-free access to key Asian hubs and the UK.

Min. Investment

USD 105,000

Processing

3–4 months

Lowest investment threshold in global CBI market
Visa-free to UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, UK & Ireland
New 2026 programme — early-mover advantage
Citizenship path in 0 years
Hungary
EU Tax Haven
🇭🇺

Hungary

Europe

Guest Investor Programme

Investor Residency

Popularity69%

Hungary's Guest Investor Programme offers one of the longest permit durations on the market — 10-year permanent residency with the right to extend — combined with the EU's most favourable tax framework and full Schengen mobility.

Min. Investment

€250,000

Processing

4 months

10-year permanent residency permit
EU tax haven — most favourable tax code in the EU
Full Schengen access
Citizenship path in 8 years
Monaco
Ultra Premium
🇲🇨

Monaco

Europe

Residency Programme

Investor Residency

Popularity61%

Monaco's residency programme is among the most prestigious in the world, offering zero personal income tax, unmatched lifestyle and security, and a path to citizenship after 10 years for those ready to make a substantive physical and capital commitment to the Principality.

Min. Investment

€1,000,000+

Processing

3–6 months

0% personal income tax
World's highest wealth concentration per capita
Citizenship possible after 10 years of residence
Citizenship path in 10 years
United States
Green Card
🇺🇸

United States

North America

EB-5 Investor Visa

Investor Residency

Popularity82%

The EB-5 is the only US residency programme that awards a Green Card directly by investment, with the unique strategic feature that the main applicant can be a child — making it one of the most powerful instruments for long-term education and family planning around US presence.

Min. Investment

USD 800,000

Processing

4–8 months

Only US programme awarding a Green Card by investment
Main applicant can be a child — strategic for education planning
Full US residency with no employment sponsor required
Citizenship path in 5 years
Austria
Most Prestigious
🇦🇹

Austria

Europe

Citizenship by Exceptional Contribution

Citizenship

Popularity65%

Austria's citizenship by exceptional economic contribution is among the most prestigious European routes, granting full EU citizenship — including settlement rights across the EU and Switzerland — via an individually evaluated contribution to the Austrian economy.

Min. Investment

Case-by-case

Processing

12–24 months

Top-5 global passport — visa-free to 190+ destinations
Full EU citizenship with settlement rights across EU & Switzerland
Hereditary status passed to children and future generations
Citizenship path in 0 years
Ireland
Fast EU PR
🇮🇪

Ireland

Europe

Immigrant Investor Programme

Investor Residency

Popularity72%

Ireland's Immigrant Investor Programme is one of the fastest credible routes to an EU passport, granting permanent residency after just 2 years of qualifying business investment and full citizenship in 5 — with unique combined access to both the EU single market and the United Kingdom.

Min. Investment

€100,000

Processing

6–12 months

Permanent residency in just 2 years
EU passport after 5 years — visa-free to 190+ countries
Unique combined access to EU single market and the UK
Citizenship path in 5 years

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