Golden visa in Europe, a comparison

Making an international investment is a decision that can take into account many different aspects.

To begin with, it is very important to be certain that the ROI (Return on Investment) generated will be good. But there are also many other things to consider. People often invest internationally to broaden diversification and decrease investment risk between global markets and companies.

Definitely one of the most important factors in investing is the different requirements and facilities that a country gives investors to reside freely in that country. Many countries in Europe have taken this into account by offering a programme called Golden Visa, which allows foreigners to become European residents or citizens by investing large amounts of money in a given country.

Several EU and Schengen countries have Golden Visa programmes aimed at foreign investors, aiming to encourage international investment with their own versions of the Golden Visa programme.

 

What is a gold visa and why acquire it?

A gold visa is a permit intended for foreign nationals who are interested in entering European territory for the purpose of making a significant capital investment, if this is the case, they may apply for a stay visa or, if applicable, an investor residence visa. It is linked to investment capacity and is usually aimed at wealthy individuals.

Golden visa immigration programmes allow foreigners to become residents by purchasing property in the country, making a large investment or a donation.

Getting a residence permit, permission for your whole family, permission to work in most countries or being able to travel on a visa to other countries (some in the Schengen zone) in Europe is also a decisive factor for someone considering investing a large amount of money in a foreign country.

The most popular European Golden Visa programs are

Other countries such as Italy, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom and Ireland also offer the opportunity to acquire a Golden Visa.

But what is a Golden Visa? The Golden Visa is a residency programme for international investors in exchange for an investment in the real estate market. The basic requirement is to invest a certain amount of money, which depends on the country. It is the opportunity to obtain a visa for investment (the amount and type of investment depends on the country), which allows you to avoid the difficulties often involved in obtaining residence permits in most countries of the world.

The golden visa is a programme established in many countries that allows people to obtain citizenship or residence in that territory in exchange for a certain economic investment in that territory, which can normally take the form of the acquisition of real estate above a certain value depending on the country. This visa makes it possible to avoid the difficulties often involved in obtaining residence permits in most countries in the world.

And how much does it cost? The range of prices, as well as the nature of the investment, some most accessible than others, vary considerably.

The range of prices starts as low as €250,000 and may be as expensive as €2,000,000 for a citizenship. While the nature of the investment also affects the prices, being the cheapest those accepting investment in real estate, while the most expensive are those requiring to expend in public debt and national companies.

 

Which country has the best Golden Visa opportunities in Europe?

The Golden Visa offers many options, so before making a decision, it is important to analyse which countries have been the most successful in encouraging foreign investors to invest in the countries.

The top five Golden Visa programs are:

  1. Portugal
  2. Spain
  3. Malta
  4. Cyprus
  5. Greece

Among these, Greece is the cheapest country to invest in, and Athens, despite its economic hardship, continue to be a beautiful and attractive city. A Golden Visa can be obtained by investing more than €250,000 in real estate, and allows to travel the Schengen area.

While Spain is a highly attractive country for international investment, with an economy that is recovering, and real estate prices getting back to its old glory, which can make it a very good deal, and it costs an investment of more than €500,000 in real estate.

The island of Cyprus also offers the possibility of real estate investment for €275,000; but they also offer an interesting alternative for a citizenship by investing €2,000,000 in luxury property purchase as well as construction of projects of residential and commercial nature.