Looking to obtain second citizenship or investment residency abroad as a Plan B? Discover the best Citizenship and Residency by Investment Programs for 2021, or contact us now for a free consultation.

The Greek Golden Visa Program’s rise in the CBI space has been meteoric, with the programme proving very popular among Chinese investors, in particular. A key benefit of the Greek programme is the fact that both commercial and residential properties can be purchased, or a combination of the two, as long as the total investment totals €250,000 or more. Inclusive of professional service fees, the total initial cost associated with obtaining a Greek Golden Visa comes to approximately €300,000, making it one of the EU’s most affordable Golden Visa Programmes. And given the recent property boom experienced in the country, an investment in Greek property may well make decent financial sense too.

The Spanish Golden Visa Program, as with the Portuguese program, has increasingly been under criticism from more nationalistic leaning political forces in these countries.

While the programs offer many similar features, the Spanish investor program requires a minimum investment of €500,000 or more, whereas the Portuguese program makes provision for property investments from only €280,000 in lower density areas.

Your spouse and dependent family members can be included in this residency application, making it an excellent Plan B destination. Yet for these seeking to settle abroad and optimise their worldwide taxation obligations, there are a number of more tax friendly alternatives to consider.

The Maltese CIP Program, formally known as the Malta Individual Investor Program (and referred to as the MIIP or Malta IIP) is one of the most acclaimed programs of its kind. Established in 2014, the program offers applicants the ability to acquire EU citizenship in one of the most stable EU economies.

The application procedure is formally managed by Identity Malta, a government agency. The program’s investment requirement for a single applicant is threefold:
1. A contribution to Malta’s national economic development fund (€650,000)
2. The purchase of Maltese stocks or bonds (€150,000)
3. The acquisition of a property in Malta (€350,000) in high density areas.

For a married couple, the donation requirement goes up to €675,000. The investment component must be maintained for a period of 5 years or more.

Italy’s version of the Golden Visa is an Investor Visa Residency Program available to non-EU investors. The program enables applicants and their families to acquire in Italy for an initial period of 2 years, after which the visa can be renewed for an additional 3 years. After 5 years, the visa is valid indefinitely.

In order to obtain the Italy Investor Visa, you’ll need to choose one of the following investment pathways:

1. Make an investment of €500,000 or more in an innovative Italian startup
2. Invest €1 million in a philanthropic initiative to the benefit of Italian citizens
3. Invest €1 million in an Italian Limited Liability Company (LLC).
4. Invest €2 million in Italian governmental bonds.

Processing can be done in approximately 30 days, and there is no need to make the investment before your official government approval or rejection is received; a declaration of your commitment on the use of funds is typically sufficient when applying.

As of July 2019, the Kazakhstan Residency By Investment Program has not yet been launched. According to reports by leading publications in the investment migration space, the program, once launched, will help drive foreign investment into Kazakhstan with a view to position the country as one of the worlds top 30 most developed nations by 2050.

Kazakhstan’s emigration and tax regime shows strong correlations with that of Dubai, which also offers free trade zones. The investment requirement has not been confirmed yet, however it is understood that it will likely be between $100,000 and $200,000. Economic residents would instantly enjoy the rights associated with permanent residency, including access to health insurance services, retirement benefits and social security.

The tax regime in Kazakhstan is expected to be a key draw card of the program: According to the tax regulations associated with the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), foreign investors with Kazakhstan residency would only be taxed on their local income; not on their worldwide income. Yet with the tax rate in the AIFC being 0%, foreign investors could take up permanent residency, start a business and pay no taxes whatsoever.

Simply complete the below form and one of our in-country experts on property and residency applications will contact you for a free consultation.