International mobility has opened a lot of doors to students and professionals worldwide. It’s a good opportunity to obtain new skills and competences and broaden one’s horizons. International mobility solutions such as residency and citizenship by investment can be curated depending on one’s situation and requirements. In Orience, we advise our client with programs that best suit their needs and expectations. Assistance is also given to them in terms of administrative and legal procedures in the process of settling in a new destination.
Citizenship via investment
Citizenship by investment is a process of obtaining a second citizenship with no required physical residency or residency period. You can obtain nationality in the destination country through investment like real estate, another asset investment or through donation to the state. The program also gives access to countless destinations without the need for a visa. Also called “golden passports” it is usually partnered with possible tax advantages. The process of citizenship via investment is faster than traditional immigration process making it a better choice. Among the countries that have citizenship by investment program are Vanuatu and the Caribbean countries: Dominica, Grenada and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Vanuatu Program
Vanuatu offers the fastest program for citizenship through investment which only takes 45-60 days. With an investment raning from $130,000-$180,000, you can choose between
- Development Support Program ( DSP) – with honorary citizenship or
- Vanuatu Contribution Program ( VCP).
Vanuatu passport has access to a total of 129 countries , including countries in Europe and the United States, without the need for additional visas. The program is perfect for entrepreneurs who are constantly on the move and for travelers who loves exploring different countries in search of beautiful landscapes and best gastronomy. Businessman can take advantage of Vanuatu’s favorable tax system. With no foreign income taxe, international companies are exempted to pay taxes for the first 20 years and are only required to pay $300 annual tax.
Caribbean Programs
For Grenada, Article 15 of the Citizenship by Investment Law of 2013, grants permanent residence and naturalization to the applicants after making investments that contribute to the development of the state. The application process is between two to four months. The applicant will give non-reimbursable contribution to the National Fund for Development and finance a real estate property approved by the Granada government.
The Dominican Citizenship program aims to generate sustainable economic growth by creating employment for citizens. Sections 8 and 20 of the Citizenship Act and Article 101 of its constitution states that applicants may be granted citizenship by making an investment through the following options:
- contribute to the Economic Diversification Fund
- invest in real estate development projects approved by the government.
Applicants can obtain Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investing capital in the economic development of the country. The applicants relative may also avail a national passport. Other option of naturalization are:
- contribution to the development of the local sugar industry
- investment in a real estate property approved by the government.
Residency via investment
Residency by investment is a process of obtaining permanent residency visa from another country by purchasing a house there or making a relatively large investment or donation. Investors often avail of this program. Investment options ranges from €250,000. As the individual and his family members acquire their second passport, they can become legal residents after residing in the country for a required amount of time. Also known as “golden visas”, these has been popular due to perks such as freedom of movement in Schengen and access to the EU free market. European Union countries mostly offer the program which includes Spain, Greece and Portugal. These countries have stable and secure location which is also a good choice for business project or retirement. Families will surely enjoy favorable tax regimes, global mobility, financial security and high-quality education.
Golden Visa Spain
The Spanish Residency by Investment Program is also known as Spanish Golden Visa. The program is known for its speed and simplicity. It was crafted by the government with its aim to strengthen the economy through foreign direct investment.
There are various options in getting the Golden Visa of Spain. The applicant may choose among the following options:
- purchasing property (real estate) worth 500,000 euros or more
- buying shares of a Spanish company
- possessing Spanish public debt (2 million euros or up)
- investing in business that develops the Spanish territory that generates employment, contribute to the scientific and technological advance of the country, or has a minimum impact socio-economically.
After being granted with the Golden Visa, the holder and his family can convert it to residence permit for investors and get two year valid residence permit that can be renewed indefinitely. They are now allowed to live in Spain. After two years living in Spain, they are eligible for permanent residence and can apply for Spanish nationality. As for travelling, they can visit all Schengen Zone countries visa-free for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Another benefits of the Spanish Golden visa are acess to Spain’s health and education system.
Golden Visa Greece
The Golden Visa Greece can be obtained by simply buying properties in Greece at the same time obtain a residence permit both for the applicant and his family. The investment options are the following:
- real estate of €250,000 – to be maintained by the owner for a minimum period of 5 years
- real estate lease of €250,000 – or a timeshare, maintained by the owner for a minimum period of 5 years.
With this visa, they can live and work in Greece while accessing free health care and avail of the country’s prestigious educational system. The golden visa holder will also have access in 26 Schengen cities without the need for an additional visa. After 7 years of residency with paid taxes, the holder can now apply for a Greek passport.
Golden Visa Portugal
The Golden Visa Portugal program offers citizenship by acquiring a residence permit through an investment in a property in Portugal. Portugal is recognized at the top of the Annual Global Retirement Index 2020 for affordable lifestyle, with high level of security and professional quality in medical care available in the country. The visa holders can also access 2 of the 10 best European universities. They are also lucky to be able to easily visit Lisbon, the center of a digital and technological startup.
The applicant can choose between real estate investment program or capital funds program. Investment ranges from 350,000 euros -500,000 euros both in real estate and in creating jobs in a Portuguese company. The applicant can choose among the following job creation : company already registered in Portugal, small or medium-sized Portuguese companies, artistic activities and national cultural heritage or accredited institutions for scientific or technological research. The program must be held for a minimum of 5 years from the date the residence permit is granted. The applicant and his family are also required to stay in Portugal for a minimum of 7 days during their first year, and 14 days after each 2-year period. They must ensure to renew the certificate at the end of the first and third year in order to obtain permanent residence after 5 or 6 years. With the Golden Visa Portugal, the applicants and his/her family can now travel in France, Germany and Norway without additional visa. Later after receiving their permanent residency, they can now travel to 185 countries with the seventh most valuable passport in the world.