Golden Visa

A golden visa is a residence permit granted to foreign nationals who make a qualifying investment in a host country, such as purchasing real estate, making a capital transfer, or creating jobs. Popular programmes have been operated by Portugal, Spain, Greece, and the UAE. Unlike citizenship by investment, a golden visa confers residency rather than citizenship, though it may provide a pathway to naturalisation after a qualifying period. Several EU countries have tightened or cancelled their golden visa programmes following concerns about money laundering and housing affordability.