Golden Visa Countries List: Where Investors Can Buy Residency or Citizenship

Golden visas are residency or citizenship programs granted in exchange for qualifying investments, such as real estate, government bonds, business creation, or direct contributions.

They have become popular among high-net-worth individuals seeking global mobility, tax benefits, or a secure base abroad.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of all countries currently offering golden visas or similar investor residency and citizenship programs in 2025.

It will cover the most established European destinations, the citizenship-by-investment hubs of the Caribbean and Pacific, investor pathways in the Americas, and the growing number of options across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

My contact details are hello@adamfayed.com and WhatsApp +44-7393-450-837 if you have any questions.

The information in this article is for general guidance only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice, and is not a recommendation or solicitation to invest. Some facts may have changed since the time of writing.

Golden Visa Countries in Europe

• Cyprus — Offers permanent residency through Regulation 6(2). Requires a minimum €300,000 investment (in real estate, Cypriot company shares, or investment funds) plus proof of stable annual income. Immediate family can be included.
• Greece — Golden Visa updated under Law 5100/2024. Minimum investments: €800,000 in property in high-demand areas (Athens, Thessaloniki, popular islands), €400,000 in less populated regions, and €250,000 for specific projects such as conversions or listed building renovations.
• Hungary — Reopened its Guest Investor Program in 2024. Options include €250,000 in real estate fund units, €500,000 in residential property, or a €1 million public donation. Grants a renewable 10-year residence permit.
• Italy — Investor Visa for Italy offers residence for investments starting at €250,000 in an innovative startup, €500,000 in an Italian company, €1 million as a philanthropic donation, or €2 million in government bonds. Initial visa valid for two years.
• Latvia — Grants temporary residence permits to investors. Options include investing in a Latvian company (minimum ~€50,000, plus state fees), real estate, or bank deposits/securities. Permits are renewable.
• Malta — Runs the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP). Requires property purchase or long-term rental, a government contribution, and a charitable donation. Spouses and dependents can be included.
• North Macedonia — Announced a citizenship-by-investment scheme (€200,000 donation or €400,000 business investment with jobs), but implementation has been inconsistent and approvals remain unclear.
• Portugal — The popular Golden Visa (ARI) no longer accepts real estate or passive capital transfers. Qualifying investments now include regulated funds, research projects, cultural contributions, and business/job creation.
• Serbia — Allows residence by investment, typically through real estate purchase or company formation. Temporary permits can lead to permanent residence and eventual citizenship.
• Spain — The government ended its real estate–based golden visa in April 2025. Other investor residence routes may remain, but the flagship property option has been withdrawn.
• Andorra — This microstate offers a residence permit for investors who make a minimum investment of €400,000 in Andorran assets, such as real estate, business, or financial products. There is also a required €50,000 deposit with the Andorran Financial Authority. The program has become popular due to Andorra’s attractive tax regime.
• Luxembourg —  Luxembourg has a residence by investment program that allows investors to obtain a permit by investing in a company or depositing a significant amount of capital in a financial institution. The investment amount is typically high and the program is geared toward high-net-worth individuals.
• Monaco — Monaco offers a residence permit to non-EU/EEA nationals who can demonstrate financial self-sufficiency. This requires depositing at least €500,000 in a bank account in Monaco and purchasing or renting property in the principality. The program is more of a residency for the financially independent than a classic golden visa but serves a similar function for the ultra-wealthy.
• Turkey — Turkey has a well-known citizenship-by-investment program, which is a faster path to a passport than most golden visas. A foreigner can acquire Turkish citizenship by purchasing real estate worth at least $400,000 USD and committing to hold it for three years. This is a significant program that was not on the list.

Golden Visa Countries in the Americas

• United States — The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program grants permanent residency (a green card) to investors who put at least $1,050,000 into a US business, or $800,000 if the investment is in a targeted employment area (rural or high-unemployment). The investment must create or preserve at least ten full-time jobs for US workers. Applicants first receive conditional residence, which can be converted into permanent residence after two years if requirements are met.
• Canada — The federal Immigrant Investor Program was closed in 2014, but investment pathways remain under provincial initiatives. The most notable is the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP), traditionally requiring an investment of CAD 1.2 million into a government-backed vehicle plus proof of significant net worth. The QIIP has been suspended and revised multiple times, and only limited Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) now provide entrepreneur or investor residency options. It has recently reopened with a new set of requirements
• Panama — Has several residency programs for investors, including the Friendly Nations Visa and the Qualified Investor Visa. The Qualified Investor Visa requires an investment of at least $300,000 USD in real estate or a securities investment of the same amount.
• Costa Rica — Costa Rica offers a residence permit for investors, known as the Inversionista visa. It requires a minimum investment of $150,000 USD in a business, real estate, or other qualifying projects.
• Brazil — Brazil offers an investor residency visa for foreign nationals who invest in a Brazilian company or real estate. The required investment amount is subject to change but is often tied to a certain value in Brazilian Reals.

Golden Visa Countries in the Caribbean & West Pacific

• Antigua and Barbuda — Offers citizenship by investment starting at $100,000 through a government donation, or higher via real estate or business investment. Requires five days of residence in the country over five years.
• Dominica — One of the most affordable programs. Citizenship is granted through a $100,000 donation to the Economic Diversification Fund or approved real estate investment of at least $200,000. No residency requirement.
• Grenada — Citizenship available through a $150,000 donation or $220,000+ real estate investment. Unique among Caribbean programs for offering access to the U.S. E-2 visa treaty, which allows residence in the United States for investors.
• Saint Kitts and Nevis — The longest-running program (since 1984). Citizenship via $250,000 donation to the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) or real estate investment of at least $400,000. Known for fast processing times.
• Saint Lucia — Citizenship available from $100,000 donation to the National Economic Fund or real estate investment of at least $200,000. Also offers a government bond investment option.
• Vanuatu — Citizenship-by-investment program in the South Pacific, requiring a $130,000 donation (single applicant) to the government. Marketed for its rapid processing and visa-free access to many countries, though its EU access has been restricted in recent years.
• The Bahamas — Provides permanent residency for foreign investors who purchase real estate valued at at least $750,000, with accelerated consideration for properties above $1.5 million. Does not automatically lead to citizenship.
• Anguilla — Offers permanent residence through property investment of $750,000 or business investment of $400,000+. Permanent residence can lead to British Overseas Territories citizenship and eventually a UK passport.
• Cayman Islands — Long-term residence available through property ownership (starting at around KYD 2 million / $2.4 million) and payment of significant annual fees. High-value investors can qualify for indefinite residence, though full British Overseas Territories citizenship requires further steps.

Golden Visa Countries in the Middle East and Africa

• United Arab Emirates (UAE) — Long-term Golden Visa (up to 10 years) available to investors, typically through AED 2 million+ in property. Covers spouse, children, and even parents; renewable.
• Egypt — Citizenship possible via one of four routes: non-refundable US$250,000 donation; US$300,000 property purchase; US$350,000 business investment plus US$100,000 donation; or a US$500,000 bank deposit held locally.
• Jordan — Offers citizenship or five-year residency depending on investment. Options include starting from US$750,000 in job-creating businesses or higher levels in bonds and deposits, subject to government approval.
• Oman — Investor Residency Programme grants 5-year permits for OMR 250,000 investments and 10-year permits for OMR 500,000, via real estate, bank deposits, or company ownership.
• Qatar — Grants renewable residency for property purchases from QAR 730,000 (~US$200k). Property worth QAR 3.65 million+ can unlock permanent-style residency benefits.
• Mauritius — Investors can qualify for residency by buying approved real estate worth US$375,000+ (valid as long as the property is held) or via an investor occupation permit (typically US$50,000 capital in a local company).
• Namibia — Offers a residence-by-investment route tied to real estate purchases. Minimum US$365,000 investment in designated developments (such as President’s Links Estate) qualifies for a 5-year renewable residence permit. After about seven years of residence, applicants can seek permanent residency.
• Sierra Leone — Provides unusually direct access to both residency and citizenship. The GO-FOR-GOLD scheme grants permanent residency for US$65,000 plus a 1 kg gold donation. Citizenship is available through two donation routes: US$100,000 (heritage track for those of African descent) or US$140,000 (general applicants), processed within 2–3 months.
• Seychelles — Grants residency to investors contributing at least US$1 million in approved real estate or business projects. Long-term residents can apply for citizenship after a qualifying period, though this route is less commonly used compared with other offshore destinations.

Golden Visa Countries in the Asia-Pacific

• Singapore — The Global Investor Programme grants permanent residence to wealthy entrepreneurs. Requires either S$10m investment in a business, S$25m into a GIP-approved fund, or a single-family office with S$200m AUM (≥S$50m in Singapore).
• Hong Kong —Recently revived its Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) in 2024. The program allows foreigners to gain residency by investing a minimum of HK$30 million (approximately US$3.8 million) in approved assets, which include stocks, bonds, and private equity funds. Real estate investments are included but has a cap of HK10 million and applies only to non-residential properties.
• Thailand — Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa has different tracks with different requirements. For wealthy global citizens for instance requires US$1m in assets, US$80k annual income, and US$500k investment in Thai government bonds, FDI, or real estate. Valid for 10 years with tax incentives.
• Indonesia — Has a new Golden Visa program, officially launched in 2023. This is distinct from other visas and is specifically aimed at high-net-worth individuals. An individual can get a 5-year visa with an investment of US$350,000 in government bonds, shares, or mutual funds.
• Malaysia — The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) visa has been in place for many years, allows foreigners to reside in the country on a long-term, renewable basis. Requires a fixed deposit ranging from MYR 700,000 (approx. USD 150,000) to MYR 4.7 million (approx. USD 1 million) for a visa lasting 5 to 20 years. The program also has age and liquid asset requirements.
• New Zealand — The Active Investor Plus visa now requires NZ$5m–15m, depending on investment type. Weighting favors direct investments over passive assets.
• The Philippines — Special Investor’s Resident Visa (SIRV) is a form of investor residency. It requires a minimum investment of US$75,000 in an approved business or a Philippine corporation. This visa grants the holder and their dependents the right to reside in the Philippines indefinitely, provided the investment is maintained. It also allows multiple entries and exists as an alternative to the popular Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV), which is geared toward retirees.
• Vietnam — Investor Visa (DT Visa) is not a passive investment scheme but grants long-term residency to those who invest in a business in the country. There are different tiers based on the investment amount, from a minimum of VND 3 billion (approximately US $120,000 for a one−year visa, up to a minimum of VND 100 billion (approximately US $4 million) for a five-year visa.
• Japan —Offers an Investor/Business Manager visa, which is a popular route to residency. It requires a minimum investment of ¥5 million (approximately US$32,000) to establish a business in Japan. However, it is an active investor visa, meaning the applicant must manage or operate the business, and it requires a comprehensive business plan and the creation of jobs. It is not a passive investment program. Recent reports indicate that the minimum investment will be increased to ¥30 million in late 2025.
• South Korea — Has its own Investor Residency program, which grants the F-2 visa (residence) to investors. The Public Business Investment Immigration System requires a minimum investment of KRW 1.5 billion (approximately US$1.1 million) in a public fund. If the investment is maintained for five years, it can lead to permanent residency. A special category for retirees over 55 is available with a lower investment threshold.

Special Investor Residency Alternatives

• Austria — Does not operate a classic golden visa. Wealthy foreigners may apply for a settlement permit (without work rights) if financially self-sufficient, or pursue business routes under the Red-White-Red Card framework.
• Montenegro — Its citizenship-by-investment program closed at the end of 2022. Foreigners can still obtain residence permits through property ownership or company formation.
• Switzerland — Does not have a branded golden visa, but non-EU nationals can obtain residence via lump-sum taxation agreements with individual cantons, provided they are not employed in Switzerland.
• Germany — No golden visa program. Residence can be granted to entrepreneurs under §21 of the Residence Act if the business serves economic interests and creates jobs.
• United Kingdom — The Tier 1 Investor Visa closed in 2022. Existing holders may extend or apply for settlement, but new applications are not accepted.
• France — While not a traditional golden visa, France offers the Talent Passport for investors. This program provides a four-year renewable residence permit to individuals who make a direct investment of at least €300,000 in a French company and create or preserve jobs. This is a business-focused route rather than a passive investment one.
• Mexico — Does not brand its scheme as a golden visa, but investors can obtain Temporary Residence by demonstrating income, assets, or through certain qualifying investments. Property ownership worth above a set threshold (currently around MXN 6 million) or significant bank/investment deposits can qualify. After four years of temporary residence, applicants may transition to permanent residence.
• Cambodia — Allows expedited naturalization with more than a US$245,000 donation or US$305,000 investment in government projects. Less transparent and less predictable than mainstream CBI programs.
• Maldives —  Recently introduced an investor visa program that offers foreign nationals a long-term residency permit in exchange for a significant investment. Not yet in effect.
• Taiwan —While not a traditional golden visa in the sense of a passive investment, Taiwan’s Employment Gold Card is a significant pathway to long-term residency. It’s a four-in-one card that combines a visa, an open work permit, an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), and a re-entry permit.
• Australia — The Significant Investor Visa (Subclass 188) and broader Business Innovation & Investment Program closed to new applicants in July 2024. No new golden visa option is currently available.

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