Residency by investment is the right to live in another country, granted in return for an investment there. You keep your own nationality and your own passport. What you gain is a second home that your family is entitled to use, whenever you choose to.
What you receive
A residence card for you and the family members on your application. It gives you the right to live in the country, and usually to send your children to school there and to use its healthcare.
If the country is in the Schengen Area, the card also lets you visit the other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180, without applying for a visa each time.
It is not citizenship. You do not receive a passport, and you do not gain the right to live or work in other countries.
How you qualify
Each country sets its own routes. The most common are:
- buying or renting property;
- investing in approved funds;
- a contribution to the government or a donation;
- a bank deposit or government bonds;
- investing in, or starting, a business.
Every programme also asks for a clean record, funds you can show the source of, and health insurance.
How much time you must spend there
Less than most people expect. Many programmes are designed for families who are not ready to move.
| Programme | Time you must spend there | Travel across Schengen |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | About 7 days a year | Yes |
| Greece | None | Yes |
| Malta | None | Yes |
| Hungary | None | Yes |
| Italy | None to keep the permit | Yes |
| Latvia | None; no annual registration visit | Yes |
| Cyprus | One visit every 2 years | No |
| United Arab Emirates | None | No |
| Panama | About one visit every 2 years | No |
| United States | You must live there | No |
How long it lasts
Most residence cards are issued for a few years and renewed for as long as you keep to the conditions, such as holding the investment or keeping a home in the country. A few are permanent from the start. Always ask what you must still hold when the time comes to renew.
Does it lead to citizenship?
It can, but never automatically. Most countries ask for many years of residence, and often for time actually spent living there and a language test. Portugal now asks for ten years. Greece asks for seven years of really living in the country. Our article Portugal now asks for ten years shows how much this can change.
Choose a residence programme for the residence. Treat citizenship as a possibility, not a promise.
What it costs beyond the investment
The investment is only part of the cost. Allow for government fees, professional fees, taxes on any property, health insurance and the cost of renewals. Each family member usually adds to the total. What permanent residence in Malta really costs works through one programme line by line.
Who it suits
- Families who want a second home, or a base in Europe, without moving yet.
- Parents thinking about where their children will study and live.
- People planning where to retire.
- Anyone whose country does not allow a second citizenship, since residence leaves your nationality untouched.
Three things to check first
- How much time must we spend there? It ranges from none at all to living there full time.
- What must we keep in order to renew? Ask what happens if you sell the investment.
- Who can be included, and until what age? The rules for adult children and parents differ from one programme to the next.
Figures are indicative and reviewed on 5 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
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