Frequently Asked Questions

A golden visa is a residency permit granted in exchange for a qualifying investment — typically in real estate, government bonds, or investment funds. The term is informal; programs are formally named by each country (Portugal Golden Visa, Greece Golden Visa, UAE Golden Visa, etc.). Golden visas grant the right to live in the host country, access its healthcare and education system, and often travel within a broader region (such as the Schengen Area for European programs). After a defined residency period, most golden visa holders can apply for permanent residency and ultimately citizenship.

Citizenship by investment (CBI) grants a passport and full citizenship immediately upon approval — no prior or subsequent residency required. The investor receives the same rights as any national-born citizen, including the right to pass citizenship to future children. Residency by investment (RBI) grants the right to live in a country, with citizenship available only after a qualifying residency period (typically 5–10 years). CBI is faster and requires no physical presence; RBI usually leads to a stronger passport but demands patience. Caribbean and Pacific programs are predominantly CBI; European programs are predominantly RBI.

Thirteen programs have no minimum stay requirement at all: all CBI programs (Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Vanuatu, Turkey, Montenegro, Egypt, Nauru, Sao Tome, Sierra Leone, El Salvador) — citizenship is granted without any residency. Among RBI programs, Greece and Spain golden visas both have no minimum stay requirement for maintaining residency status. Portugal's Golden Visa requires only 7 days per year, which is effectively minimal. The UAE Golden Visa has no stay requirement — holders can remain outside the UAE without cancellation. By contrast, income-based residency permits (Portugal D7, Spain NLV) expect genuine residence of 183+ days per year.

Yes — all 62 programs tracked by Golden Visa Map permit family inclusion. At minimum, every program covers the primary applicant's spouse and dependent children. Most programs extend coverage to children up to age 18 or 21. Caribbean CBI programs offer the broadest family inclusion, typically covering parents, grandparents, and in some cases siblings. Malaysia MM2H covers children up to age 34 — one of the highest age cutoffs globally. Additional dependents increase the total cost but processing them under one application is significantly cheaper than separate applications. Check each program page for the specific age limits and eligible relationships.

Latvia's Golden Visa starts at EUR 50,000 in real estate (or EUR 35,000 in government bonds for lower-demand regions), making it the lowest capital threshold for a European residency program. It grants Schengen travel rights and a path to Latvian — and therefore EU — citizenship after 5 years. The next tier is Austria's Financially Independent Residence Permit at EUR 100,000, followed by Malta's Permanent Residence Programme at EUR 150,000. If income-based options are included (no capital required), Portugal's D7 visa, Spain's Non-Lucrative Visa, and Italy's Elective Residence Visa are cheaper still — they require proof of passive income rather than a lump-sum investment.

No. The minimum investment is the qualifying capital amount. Total landed cost includes government application fees (typically $5,000–$50,000 depending on program), due diligence fees (typically $5,000–$15,000 per adult applicant), legal and advisory fees ($10,000–$30,000), and per-dependent surcharges. For a family of four on a Caribbean CBI, total costs typically run 25–40% above the headline investment minimum. See the true cost research for a full breakdown across major programs.

Value depends on the investor's priorities. For pure cost, Nauru and Sao Tome and Principe offer citizenship from $90,000 but with limited passport strength (48–64 visa-free countries). For the best balance of cost and passport strength, Dominica ($200,000, 144 visa-free countries including Schengen) and Grenada ($235,000, 144 visa-free plus US E-2 access) rank highest. For European residency leading to a strong passport long-term, Greece (EUR 250,000 fund, no stay requirement, Schengen from day one) represents strong value. Turkey offers the only G20 passport through CBI at $400,000.

Processing times vary widely by program and country. The fastest CBI is Vanuatu's Development Support Program at 30–60 days. Caribbean CBI programs (Dominica, St Kitts, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada) typically process in 3–6 months. European golden visas range from 2–3 months (Greece, Cyprus, Latvia) to 12–18 months (Portugal, Malta citizenship). The US EB-5 faces multi-year backlogs. Processing begins from the date a complete application is submitted — incomplete applications reset the clock. Government-stated timelines are aspirational; actual times depend on application volume and due diligence complexity.

Vanuatu's Development Support Program (DSP) processes in 30–60 days from complete application, making it the fastest citizenship by investment program globally. Among Caribbean programs, Dominica and St Lucia typically complete in 3–4 months. Malaysia's Premium Visa Programme (an RBI program) processes in 4–6 weeks for residency — one of the fastest in Asia. For context, European golden visas for residency typically take 2–6 months, while citizenship through those same programs takes 5–10 additional years of qualifying residence.

Existing holders are generally protected under the rules in force when they applied. Portugal is the clearest example: when real estate was removed from the Golden Visa in October 2023, investors who had already applied under the real estate route were permitted to complete their applications. However, program changes can affect renewal terms, citizenship pathways, and processing costs. Programs that close entirely (as Malta's citizenship-by-naturalisation program was temporarily suspended) may require investors to transition to alternative routes. The practical protection: once you hold a valid residency card, the host country's administrative law typically protects your status. Programs can change what new applicants can do — they cannot retroactively cancel vested rights without compensation. Always maintain your qualifying investment for the program's required hold period.

European golden visas — in Portugal, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, and others — grant Schengen residency, meaning holders can travel freely within the 27-country Schengen Area. Caribbean CBI passports from Dominica, St Kitts, St Lucia, Antigua, and Grenada also grant visa-free Schengen entry (as visitors, not residents). Non-European programs outside the EU/Schengen zone (UAE, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore) do not grant Schengen access — holders would still need a Schengen visa unless their home passport already provides it.

Visa-free access means you can enter a country as a visitor without applying for a visa in advance, typically for 90 days out of every 180. A residency right means you are legally authorised to live there long-term — work, use public services, and stay indefinitely (subject to renewal). A CBI passport grants visa-free entry to dozens of countries but residency rights only in the issuing country. An RBI permit grants residency rights in the issuing country (and often broader regional travel rights) but does not change your visa status in third countries.

The application process varies by country but follows a consistent sequence: select the qualifying investment route, engage a licensed local immigration attorney or authorised agent, prepare the required documentation, submit the application with the applicable government and due diligence fees, and then make the qualifying investment — usually after conditional approval. Some programs (Caribbean CBI, Vanuatu) allow fully remote applications through licensed agents; others require in-person biometrics or at least one in-country visit. Processing is handled by a dedicated government unit in each country. Check the individual country page on Golden Visa Map for program-specific steps and agent requirements.

Core documents required across nearly all programs include: valid passport (typically with 12+ months remaining), certified proof of funds showing the investment amount is legally sourced, bank statements (usually 3–6 months), a clean criminal background check or police clearance certificate from your country of residence, and a medical certificate or health insurance policy. Many programs also require a sworn statement of net worth, source-of-wealth declaration, and a curriculum vitae. Caribbean CBI programs require a notarised birth certificate. European programs vary — some require proof of address or a tax residency certificate. Each dependent applicant typically needs their own documentation set. Always confirm the exact list with the issuing authority or your appointed agent, as requirements update periodically.

Rejection is uncommon for applicants who pass due diligence screening before submitting, but it does occur — most often due to undisclosed criminal history, source-of-funds issues, or sanctions exposure. Refund policies vary significantly: Caribbean CBI programs generally refund the investment amount but retain government application and due diligence fees (typically $10,000–$25,000 per adult). European programs that use escrow-held investments (e.g., fund subscriptions held pending approval) typically return the capital on rejection. Real estate purchases completed before approval are not refundable in the same way — this is a key reason most applicants invest only after receiving conditional approval. If rejected, some programs permit an appeal or reapplication with additional documentation. Ask your agent about the specific refund and appeal terms before submitting.

Every legitimate golden visa program conducts formal due diligence on all adult applicants. This involves background checks against international crime databases, sanctions lists (OFAC, EU, UN), and politically exposed persons (PEP) registers, as well as source-of-wealth verification. Caribbean CBI programs employ independent third-party due diligence firms and cross-reference with Interpol and national intelligence bodies. European programs rely on internal government review supplemented by national police records. Common disqualifiers include criminal convictions (especially financial crimes or anything carrying a sentence over a defined threshold), active sanctions, unresolved tax disputes with a foreign government, and misrepresentation on the application. Applicants from certain high-risk nationalities face additional scrutiny or outright exclusion from specific programs.

Yes — a golden visa or CBI citizenship can be revoked, though it is rare in practice when conditions are met. The most common grounds for revocation are: disposing of the qualifying investment before the mandatory hold period expires (typically 3–5 years for RBI, 3 years for most CBI programs), providing false information on the application, a subsequent criminal conviction, or sanctions designation. For RBI programs, failure to renew the permit on time can also cause lapse. EU programs cannot revoke citizenship granted by naturalisation on investment grounds alone once full citizenship is obtained — the European Court of Justice has ruled on this principle. CBI passports issued by sovereign island nations can be rescinded by government decree, though this is rare and politically sensitive. Maintain your qualifying investment for the full required period and keep your permit renewals current to protect your status.

Yes. Beyond the headline investment and government application fees, the total landed cost typically includes: legal and advisory fees ($10,000–$30,000 depending on firm and complexity), due diligence fees charged per adult applicant ($5,000–$15,000), document authentication and notarisation costs, translation fees for non-English documentation, biometric appointment travel if required, and per-dependent surcharges (often $5,000–$15,000 per dependent). For real estate routes, add property transfer taxes, notarial fees, and ongoing property maintenance costs. For fund routes, management fees on the fund investment continue for the hold period. A family of four applying for a Caribbean CBI program should budget 25–40% above the published investment minimum to cover all-in costs. The true cost research on Golden Visa Map provides a detailed breakdown across major programs.