Citizenship-by-investment: The freedom to live, work, invest and travel

Gain Portuguese residency for you and your family

We have been at the forefront of GVP applications since the programme's inception and are the GVP market leaders. The steps can be complex, but we have key partnerships with legal advisers and consultants in Portugal across all critical areas.

Golden Visa Portugal: Qualifying criteria

There are four routes to qualify for in the Golden Residence Permit Programme. Our experts can help pick the right one for you depending on your unique circumstances.

While there are a number of investment options that could qualify you for the Golden Visa, the three most popular routes are:

Irish Immigrant Investor Programme: Qualifying criteria

As of the 15 February 2023, the IIP is officially closed. However, the government has allowed a final window for investors to lodge last submissions up until the end of the year.  

Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP): Qualifying criteria

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme was originally launched in 2015 as the Malta Residency and Visa Programme and is today one of the most sought-after and successful residence-by-investment programmes across the globe.

1. Real estate

   Upon receipt of the residency approval in principle, the investor is required to have a physical address in Malta. For the first five years of residency, the real estate requirements are as follows:

• Via property purchase:

Minimum investment of €350,000 (reduced to €300,000 for properties purchased in Gozo and the South of Malta)

• Via property lease:

Minimum annual property rental of €12,000 (reduced to €10,000 for properties rented in Gozo and the South of Malta)

2. Government contribution

   The investor is required to make a non-refundable contribution to the Maltese government of €40,000 to cover programme administrative costs and then further non-refundable government contribution of €28,000, if the investor is purchasing property, or €58,000 if the investor is pursuing a property lease.

3. Charitable donation

   A €2,000 charitable donation/philanthropic donation must be made to a Maltese organisation as proof of genuine links and ties to Malta.

4. Net-wealth requirement

   The main applicant is required to possess capital/assets of not less than €500,000 of which €150,000 must be in financial assets. The net wealth must be retained for life and documentation to support this will be required at each residency card renewal.

Malta ESDI: Qualifying criteria

The Malta ESDI investment requirements are made up of four key criteria:

1. Real estate

Prior to lodging the initial application for residency, the investor is required to have a physical address in Malta. The address must be retained throughout the residency period and for the first five years after the Maltese citizenship has been granted. The real estate requirements are as follows:

• Via property purchase: Minimum investment of €700,000
• Via property lease: Minimum annual property rental of €16,000
2. Government contribution

The investor is required to make a non-refundable contribution to the Maltese government as follows:

• Main applicant: €600,000 (standard timeline) or €750,000 (expedited timeline)
• Dependant family members: €50,000
3. Charitable donation

A €10,000 charitable donation/philanthropic donation must be made to a Maltese organisation as proof of genuine links and ties to Malta.

4. Residence

The main applicant and all dependants must have held legal temporary residency in Malta, with proof of genuine links to Malta, prior to being eligible to proceed with a citizenship application. This residency can be retained, largely through absence, and the programme offers two different timelines:

• Standard timeline: residency to be retained for a minimum of 36 months.
• Expedited timeline: residency to be retained for a minimum of 12 months.

Greek Golden Visa qualifying criteria

Real estate investment

As of 1 August 2023, there are two different qualifying price categories of real estate investment for the Greek Golden Visa:

• Minimum investment of €500,000 in prime areas (central, northern and southern suburbs of Athens, the city of Thessaloniki, and the islands of Mykonos and Santorini)
• Minimum investment of €250,000 in all other areas of Greece and on all other islands

There are, however, no restrictions as to the type of property you can buy and so investors can purchase residential and/or commercial properties and can even buy land. In addition to this, property usage is not limited and so it is possible to enjoy leisure use of the property, opt for short term rentals or put a long-term tenant in place.

It is important to note that the property does need to be held indefinitely in order to retain residency rights.

Outside of prime areas, an investor can choose to purchase multiple properties to meet the €250,000 minimum investment threshold, or they can purchase real estate in excess of the minimum threshold in order to run multiple family Golden Visa applications off of the same property, i.e., one investment at €500,000 could support two family applications.

Differing itself from other global residency and citizenship-by-investment programmes, the Golden Visa investment does not have to be purchased solely in the name of the main applicant but can be owned 50/50 with a spouse.

Green card through investment

The EB-5 visa rewards investors and their family (spouse and dependants under the age of 21) with a green card (permanent residence). As the application process can be complex, and the investment project selection of paramount importance, we assure that you receive credible legal advice and provide full guidance on this journey.

EB-5 citizenship-by-investment: Qualifying criteria

For the EB-5 programme there are two qualifying investment options. Our immigration specialists can help you choose the one that’s right for you.

1. Passive investment

   The most popular of the two options, a passive investment requires a minimum of $800,000 to be made into a Regional Center in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), which is an investment that is managed by the Regional Centre and is pre-approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

   This investment must also create 10 full-time employment opportunities for US workers.

2. Active investment

   You are required to make a minimum investment of $1,050,000 in a new or existing commercial enterprise that was established after 29 November 1990. If you’re investing in a TEA, your minimum investment will be $800,000.

   Your investment must create at least 10 direct jobs for US workers and you must play an active role in the day-to-day management or policy formation of the enterprise.

Grenada citizenship-by-investment: Qualifying criteria

To qualify for citizenship, the main applicant must be over 18 years of age, meet the due diligence requirements and be able to meet one of the following options:

1. Investment

   A minimum amount of $220,000 for the purchase of an approved business or property from a government-approved real estate project. You must hold the shared ownership property for a minimum of five years at which time you are able to sell it onward to  another CBI investor.

   There is an additional government contribution of $50,000 for a family of up to four persons. Each additional dependant incurs a $25,000 contribution, with the exception of dependent parents ($50,000) and siblings older than 18 ($75,000).

2. Donation

   You can make a one-time non-refundable donation, starting at a minimum amount of $150,000 for a single applicant. This donation will go to the National Transformation Fund (NTF), a government fund created with the aim of developing the economy of Grenada.

Mauritius residency-by-investment: Qualifying criteria

The Mauritius investment programme permits the investor and family members to obtain long-term residency status.

Real estate investment

1. Minimum property investment of $375,000 in a project within the Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) – existing IRS projects usually compromise of a variety of luxury residential properties, such as villas, townhouses, penthouses, apartments, duplexes and serviced plots of land, which are attached to a leisure and/or commercial space such as a golf course, a marina a restaurant, or a boathouse.
2. Minimum property investment of $375,000 in a project within the Real Estate Scheme (RES) – RES projects are typically smaller than IRS projects and must be on a freehold land (less than 10 hectares) and usually also compromise of luxury residential properties such as villas, penthouses, duplexes and apartments.
3. Minimum property investment of $375,000 in a project within the Real Development Scheme (PDS) – the PDS is more flexible than both the IRS and the RES in terms of size and type of property. It was designed to bring greater social and economic benefits to localised communities. Projects and properties within the PDS are subject to strict environmental and ecological impact regulations.
4. Minimum property investment of $375,000 in a project within the Smart City Scheme (SCS) – SCS projects comprise residential units such as villas, penthouses, duplexes, and apartments within any of the Smart Cities. The Smart City concept was designed to promote a balance of work, life and play. Smart Cities consist of large-scale mixed-use developments in cosmopolitan urban areas with smart technology, state of the art connectivity, smart modern transportation options and pioneering innovation at their core. Residential estates offer substantial and environmentally friendly living.

There are no restrictions as to property usage, so it is possible to enjoy leisure use of the property, opt for short-term rentals or put a long-term tenant in place.

It is important to note that the property does not have to be held indefinitely to retain residency rights.

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188): Qualifying criteria

1. Business Innovation Stream (subclass 188A)

   This visa is for those wanting to establish a business in Australia or develop and manage an existing one. You must have already owned a successful business that had a turnover of at least AUD 500,000 in two out of the four fiscal years immediately before applying. You must be under the age of 55 and also have a total net personal and business worth of at least AUD 800,000.

2. Investor Stream (subclass 188B)

   To qualify for this visa, you must be under the age of 55 and have had a successful career in business ownership or investment management. Before the visa is granted you must make a designated investment of at least AUD 1,5 million into an Australian state or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.

3. Significant Investor Stream (subclass 188C)

   This visa does not have an upper age limit. To qualify for this visa, you must invest at least AUD 5 million into complying significant investments in Australia and wish to maintain business and investment activity in Australia.

4. Premium Investor Stream (subclass 188D)

   To qualify for this visa, you need to invest at least AUD 15 million into complying premium investments in Australia and must maintain business and investment activity in Australia.

5. Entrepreneur Stream (subclass 188E)

   To qualify for this visa, you must be under the age of 55 and have a funding agreement from a third party for at least AUD 200,000 to undertake a complying entrepreneur activity.

Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888): Qualifying criteria

1. Business Innovation Stream (subclass 888A)

   This permanent visa lets you continue to own and manage a business in Australia. To apply for the subclass 888 visa under this stream, you must:

• Hold the 188 Provisional visa in the Investor Stream for the four years prior to making your application
• Have maintained a designated Australian investment for at least four years
• Have lived in Australia for two of the past four years

2. Investor Stream (subclass 888B)

   This permanent visa lets you continue your investment and business activity in Australia. To apply for the 888 visa under this stream, you must:

• Hold the 188 Provisional visa in the Investor Stream for the four years prior to making your application
• Have maintained a designated Australian investment for at least four years
• Have lived in Australia for two of the past four years

4. Significant Investor Stream (subclass 888C)

   This permanent visa allows you to continue maintaining your investment and business activity in Australia. To apply for the 888 visa under this stream, you must:

• Hold the 188 visa in the Significant Investor Stream
• Have held a complying investment for at least four years
• Have lived in Australia for 160 days in the past four years

6. Premium Investor Stream (subclass 888D)

   For you to be able to apply for the Premium Investor Stream of the 888 visa, you must:

• Have held a Provisional 188 visa in the Premium Investor Stream for at least one year and be nominated by the Commonwealth government
• Have held a complying premium investment continuously for at least one year

7. Entrepreneur Stream (subclass 888E)

   To apply for the 888 visa under this stream, you must:

• Have held your Provisional 188 visa in the Entrepreneur Stream for at least four years prior to making an application
• Have evidence that demonstrates a successful record of your entrepreneurial activities in Australia