Secure EU residency with a Golden Visa
Since the Brexit transition period came to an end in December 2020, UK nationals no longer have the freedom of movement rights that came with being an EU member state. This has left many Brits feeling frustrated that they cannot relocate to Europe as easily as they could before.
However, with our Golden Visa programmes, you can secure EU residency via investment in property. This avenue also opens up the possibility of citizenship after you meet the onward residency requirements.
We have several programmes available to this end in several countries across the EU. Options exist for all UK nationals looking to move to Europe, and can be tailored to most budgets. This is also the case for almost all other nationalities in the world, including South Africans, Egyptians, Lebanese, Jordanians etc.
If you are looking to secure EU residency, the ideal first step would be to book in a free consultation with us. We will go through your circumstances and objectives, and discuss the available Golden Visa programmes that may be suitable to you.
Exploring your options
The Portuguese Golden Visa
Portugal is a very attractive option for expats seeking EU residency, and ultimately citizenship. The Portuguese Golden Visa programme requires a property investment that starts at just €280,000 – making it one of the most accessible programmes available. What’s more, we offer a fully managed service to ensure you achieve an attractive rental yield and can use the property when meeting residency requirements. We are even able to offer a guaranteed buy-back scheme after you obtain citizenship, should you wish to exit your investment.
The requirements for you to be physically present in Portugal are also very low, at just one week per calendar year. If you are seeking EU residency at an accessible price point and with high flexibility on where to base yourself in Europe, the Portugal Golden Visa may just be the answer. In fact, many of our clients obtaining a Portuguese Golden Visa prefer to use it to base themselves elsewhere in the EU – such as Spain, France or Italy.
One other advantage of this programme is the comparatively easy access to full citizenship (and a Portuguese passport). After 5 years of qualifying residency, and after passing a basic language test, you can have access to the 5th-ranked passport in the world. What’s more, Portugal operates a dual-citizenship programme – so you do not have to renounce your birth nationality to claim it.
Our Portuguese Golden Visa programme is highly flexible, with low barriers to entry. This is a very popular option for UK expats that are looking to relocate to Spain without having to meet the onerous requirements of the Spanish Golden Visa programme (see below).
Feel free to book a call with us to find out more about the Portuguese Golden Visa and dual citizenship opportunities.
The Spanish Golden Visa
Much has been made of the Spanish Golden Visa in recent years, as Spain remains the #1 destination for UK expats looking to relocate abroad. Whilst it has considerably higher eligibility criteria than similar programmes, it remains an interesting proposition for those looking to settle in Spain with the minimum of fuss.
The minimum property investment required for the Spanish Golden Visa is €500,000 – and you will only become eligible for citizenship after 10 years of tax residency (where you have spent more than 6 months per year in the country). A language test is also a requirement, and dual citizenship is not offered. To become Spanish citizen, you must renounce your current nationality. This is an obstacle for many.
However, if you have the means and the desire to base yourself permanently in Spain, the Spanish Golden Visa may be for you.
The Greek Golden Visa
Greece has become a major European business centre in recent years, and remains one of the world’s top holiday destinations – and a destination of choice for many expats looking to retire in the Sun.
Greece also offers the most cost-efficient residency programme in the EU, which starts at a property investment of just €250,000. You will, however, need to contract a health insurance policy that covers you whenever you are in Greece, and remain in the country for at least 6 months per calendar year.
Greek citizenship is available after 5 years of residency in the country and, like Portugal, offers the possibility of dual citizenship. The residency requirements of 6 months per year do, however, limit your flexibility in terms of place of primary residence.
The Maltese Golden Visa
The Maltese archipelago consists of 3 islands: Malta, Gonzo and Comino. To qualify for a Golden Visa here, you must make a property investment of at least €350,000 (or take out a lease of €16,000+ per year), in addition to making a sizeable non-refundable donation to the country. As a result, this is a less-travelled route to EU residency.
However, Malta offers citizenship after a qualifying period of 5 years, with no physical visits required to qualify. It also offers dual citizenship. If money is no object and you are looking for EU residency with no requirements to remain in your country of official residence, then Malta may be a viable option for you.
The Cypriot Golden Visa
The 3rd largest island in the Mediterranean, Cyprus boasts an interesting geographical position as the gateway to three continents. With stunning landscapes, a favourable taxation system for certain demographics, and close proximity to Africa, Asia and Europe, it is a compelling country for many expats.
The Cypriot Golden Visa requires a property investment of €300,000+ in addition to a sizeable non-refundable donation to the country. You must also make (refundable) deposits into Cypriot banks of €30,000 per year for a minimum of 3 years, with 100% of this money originating overseas. These qualification requirements put the Cypriot Golden Visa out of reach for many – but those that walk this path have the option of citizenship after 7 years. Dual citizenship is, again, offered.
We also offer Golden Visa or Residency/Citizenship Via Investment options to other parts of the world. These include the USA, Canada, Montenegro, Turkey, Antigua, St. Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, Vanuatu and even the United Kingdom. Get in touch to learn more about these other options.
For a more detailed look at all these Golden Visa programmes (in addition to the others available worldwide), you can download our free guide using the form below:
