Golden Visa – Guidelines and Requirements

The golden visa is not just a ticket for free movement but also opens many other doors for new opportunities in residency, education, and healthcare worldwide. Through this article, we will explore in detail this program, from principles to requirements, and how it turns the dream of becoming a global citizen into reality.

What is a golden visa?

The golden visa is a special immigration program for wealthy individuals who want to invest in a new country in exchange for residency rights or even citizenship. Through the purchase of real estate or a significant monetary investment, the investor not only gains the opportunity to live in their dream country but also opens up other benefits such as high-quality education and healthcare services for themselves and their family.

What countries offer golden visa?

The world is expanding with many opportunities for international investors. Below is a list of countries with golden visa programs:

Golden visa requirements

To access the opportunity for residency or citizenship through the golden visa, investors need to meet a series of specific requirements. Below are the top prerequisite conditions:

• Personal financial ownership: You must be the owner of the investment amount, with the ability to prove the legitimate source of that money.
• Maintain the investment: The investment must be maintained for at least the minimum required period of the country you are investing in.
• No criminal record: This ensures that you are a trustworthy individual with no legal history that could hinder the visa issuance.
• Financial ability to support yourself and family: Even if you do not intend to live there, you must prove the financial capability to sustain life for yourself and accompanying family members.

In addition to the above conditions, each country with a golden visa program will set specific and supplementary requirements depending on the type of investment. These conditions are just the most basic requirements that investors need to be aware of.

How to apply for a golden visa?

When it comes to apply for golden visa, investors worldwide have many options to meet the requirements and personal goals. Below are the top viable options:

• Purchasing real estate: This is quite a popular choice, with countries offering the residence permit for investors program typically requiring a minimum investment from $200,000 to over $2 million.
• Investing capital in companies: Investing capital in the shares of local companies is another option, helping to boost the economy of that country.
• Investing in government bonds or public debt: Some countries allow investment in public debt or government bonds as a qualifying investment form.
• Creating job opportunities: Investing in a business with the condition of creating a certain number of jobs for citizens of that country.
• Contributions to scientific innovation or technology: Some countries highly value contributions to the fields of science and technology, seeing it as a basis for issuing a golden visa.

Quickest way to citizenship by golden visa

Among a plethora of golden visa program options, Portugal stands out as a beacon, offering the quickest and most convenient path to citizenship. With Portugal’s residence permit for investors program, investors only need five years to qualify for citizenship, a significantly shorter period compared to other countries. This is particularly attractive as it does not require you to continuously live in the country throughout the process. This flexibility facilitates international investors to maintain their mobile lifestyle while expanding their residency and citizenship rights. Portuguese citizenship not only opens the door to a high-quality living country but also allows investors to move freely within the Schengen area.

How long is a golden visa valid?

The validity of a golden visa is a deciding factor for investors wanting to turn their investment into an opportunity for residency or citizenship in another country. Typically, this visa is valid from 1 to 2 years, with the possibility of indefinite renewal, depending on the regulations of each country. This creates a flexible pathway for those who want to become permanent residents or citizens after 5–10 years, based on living in that country.

Renewing a golden visa paves the way for a transformative journey, offering investors and their kin a plethora of advantages such as the right to live in a new country, the liberty to travel, and privileged access to health and education services. This serves not only as a safeguard for their tomorrows but also as a foundation for assimilating and flourishing within a novel society.

Can family be included in the golden visa application?

When you decide to pursue the opportunity for residency through the golden visa program, the good news is that you are not alone. In fact, pursuing this path unlocks possibilities for the whole family unit, encompassing spouses or partners, offspring who rely on their parents, and even the elders in the family, allowing them all to share in the privileges of living and moving freely. More than showcasing the program’s adaptability and benevolence, it underscores the vital aspect of keeping familial ties intact. For individuals seeking an enhanced life for their loved ones, this route is decidedly worth contemplation.