Investor Visa

For entrepreneurs and investors seeking residency through business investment and capital contribution programs.

Investor visas, often called golden visas or business investment visas, grant residence rights to individuals who make qualifying investments in a country's economy. Unlike work visas tied to employment, investor visas provide residence based on capital contribution, business creation, or economic investment. Programs vary significantly by country in investment minimums, eligible investment types, and requirements for maintaining residence.

Investment visa categories serve different purposes: passive investment programs (real estate, government bonds, investment funds), active business investment (starting or acquiring businesses, creating jobs), entrepreneur and startup visas (innovative business ventures), significant investor programs (high-net-worth individuals making substantial investments). Each category has specific requirements regarding investment amount, business viability, job creation, and ongoing compliance.

Key benefits of investor visas: Residence rights for investor and immediate family members. Freedom to live, work, and study in host country. Access to healthcare, education, and social services. Potential pathway to permanent residence and citizenship. Visa-free or visa-simplified travel depending on program. Business and investment opportunities in target market.

Types of Investor Visa Programs

Real Estate Investment Programs (Golden Visas): Residence granted through qualifying real estate purchases. Portugal Golden Visa: Minimum investment €280,000-500,000+ depending on location and property type. Spain Golden Visa: €500,000+ real estate investment. Greece Golden Visa: €250,000+ (recently increased to €800,000 in Athens and major islands). Common features: No or minimal residence requirements, family inclusion, path to citizenship after 5-10 years. Considerations: Property must be maintained for minimum period, rental income permitted, property values and market conditions matter.

Government Bond and Investment Fund Programs: Residence through purchasing government bonds or approved investment funds. Portugal fund investment option: €500,000+ in qualifying investment funds. Malta residence bonds: €250,000-300,000 government bonds or approved investments. Typically passive investments with lower management burden. Less job creation requirement than active businesses. Fixed investment periods (often 5 years minimum). Capital returns upon program exit.

Active Business Investment Visas: Residence through establishing or acquiring business creating jobs and economic benefit. US EB-5 Immigrant Investor: $800,000-1,050,000 investment creating 10+ full-time jobs. UK Innovator Founder Visa: £50,000 for endorsed innovative business. Canada Start-Up Visa: Secured funding from designated organization. Australia Business Innovation and Investment: Varies by stream, A$1.25-2.5 million. Requirements include: Detailed business plans, viability assessments, job creation commitments, active management involvement.

Entrepreneur and Startup Visas: For founders of innovative, high-growth potential businesses. UK Innovator Founder: Innovative, viable, scalable business concept. Endorsement from approved body required. Lower investment than traditional business visas. Netherlands startup visa: €4,500+ capital, innovative business plan, facilitator partnership. Estonia e-Residency and Startup Visa: Digital business focus, EU market access. Focus on innovation, scalability, and economic contribution rather than pure capital amount.

High Net Worth Investor Programs: Substantial investments for high-net-worth individuals. Singapore Global Investor Program: S$2.5-10 million in approved options. Switzerland investor residence: Varies by canton, lump-sum taxation arrangements. Austria residence permits: Significant economic interest. Hong Kong Capital Investment Entrant Scheme: HK$30 million+ investment. Generally passive investment options, higher capital requirements, fewer conditions than active business programs.

Essential Requirements

1
Minimum investment amount
Varies by country and program type: €250,000-€800,000 for European golden visas, $800,000-$1,050,000 for US EB-5, £50,000-200,000+ for UK programs, varying amounts for other countries. Must be maintained for minimum period (typically 5 years). Investment must meet qualifying criteria for specific program.
2
Source of funds documentation
Comprehensive evidence proving legal origin of investment funds: Tax returns and income statements. Business ownership documentation and sale proceeds. Inheritance documentation with legal verification. Investment and asset sale records. Employment income history for accumulated wealth. Anti-money laundering compliance. Clean audit trails for fund transfers. Thorough due diligence on fund sources.
3
Business plan and viability (for active investments)
Detailed business plan including: Market analysis and competitive landscape. Financial projections (typically 3-5 years). Management team qualifications. Job creation plans and timeline. Economic impact assessment. Viability and sustainability evidence. For startups: Innovation and scalability demonstration. Product/service market fit. Growth strategy and milestones.
4
Clean criminal record
Police clearance certificates from all countries of residence. Background checks and security screening. Some countries require additional checks on family members. Serious criminal history typically disqualifies applicants. Financial crimes particularly scrutinized given investment nature.
5
Health insurance and medical requirements
Comprehensive health insurance covering family members. Medical examinations for some programs. Proof of adequate coverage to avoid public healthcare burden. Some countries require minimum coverage amounts.
6
Residence and physical presence (varies by program)
Golden visas: Often minimal or no residence requirement (Portugal, Spain allow absences). Active business visas: Usually require substantial presence for management. Citizenship pathways: Specific residence requirements (often 5-10 years with minimum days per year). Important to understand residence vs. tax residence implications.

Popular Investor Visa Programs

Portugal Golden Visa: €280,000-€500,000+ investment (real estate, funds, business). Minimal residence requirement (7-14 days per year). Path to citizenship after 5 years. Schengen area access. Popular for retirees and remote workers.

Spain Golden Visa: €500,000+ real estate or €1-2 million+ in other investments. Minimal residence requirement. Renewable every 2 years. Path to permanent residence after 5 years. Family inclusion.

Greece Golden Visa: €250,000-€800,000 real estate (higher in Athens/popular islands). No residence requirement. Renewable every 5 years. Schengen access. No direct path to citizenship (requires separate naturalization process).

US EB-5 Immigrant Investor: $800,000 (Targeted Employment Areas) or $1,050,000 standard. Create 10+ full-time jobs. Permanent residence (green card) upon approval. Path to citizenship after 5 years. Regional center and direct investment options.

UK Innovator Founder Visa: £50,000 investment in innovative, viable, scalable business. Endorsement required from approved body. 3-year visa, extendable. Path to settlement after 3 years if conditions met. Active business management required.

Canada Start-Up Visa: Secured commitment from designated organization (venture capital, angel investor, business incubator). No minimum investment amount (determined by investor). Permanent residence from start. Innovation and growth focus.

Job Creation Requirements

Many active investment programs require creating jobs for local workers. US EB-5: 10 full-time jobs for qualifying US workers. Must be direct employment (or indirect via regional center). Jobs must be maintained for required period. Detailed employment records and documentation. UK Innovator: Job creation considered in endorsement and settlement. Australia Business Innovation: Job creation varies by stream. Points-based assessment factors employment.

Job creation documentation: Employment contracts and payroll records. Tax withholding and social security contributions. Full-time equivalent (FTE) calculations. Sustained employment evidence (not temporary hiring for visa purposes). Annual reporting requirements in some programs. Failure to meet job creation can result in visa revocation.

Challenges in job creation requirements: Economic downturns affecting business viability. Difficulty hiring qualified workers in tight labor markets. Compliance burden of documentation and reporting. Timing issues between investment, business launch, and job creation deadlines. Risk of visa denial if job targets not met.

Path to Permanent Residence and Citizenship

Most investor visa programs offer pathway to permanent residence and eventual citizenship. Typical progression: Initial investor visa (1-3 years). Renewal based on maintaining investment and compliance (2-5 years). Permanent residence eligibility (usually after 5 years total). Citizenship application (varies: 5-10 years, some require language and integration tests).

Residence requirements for citizenship: Portugal: 5 years with minimal presence (averaging 7 days/year). Spain: 10 years continuous residence for citizenship. Greece: 7 years residence required (golden visa time doesn't count toward citizenship). US EB-5: 5 years permanent residence for citizenship eligibility. UK Innovator: Settlement after 3-5 years, citizenship after 6 years total. Important: Tax residence may differ from visa residence—consult tax advisors.

Citizenship by investment programs: Malta: €600,000-750,000+ donation plus real estate/rental. Direct citizenship after 1-3 years residence. St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, Dominica: Caribbean programs €100,000-200,000+ donations. Cyprus program suspended 2020. Turkey: $400,000 real estate investment. Grenada, St. Lucia: Various investment options. Note: EU citizenship programs face increased scrutiny. Some countries phasing out direct citizenship programs.

Compliance and Ongoing Requirements

Investment maintenance: Must keep investment for minimum period (typically 5 years). Cannot withdraw or liquidate early without visa implications. For real estate: Cannot sell property during maintenance period. For businesses: Must maintain operations and job creation. For bonds/funds: Capital must remain until program exit.

Reporting and documentation: Annual reporting on investment status. Financial statements for business investments. Employment records for job creation programs. Tax compliance in both home and host countries. Address changes and updates to authorities. Failure to report can jeopardize visa status.

Renewal requirements: Continued investment maintenance. No criminal convictions during residence. Continued health insurance. Business viability for active investments. Some programs require evidence of economic contribution. Physical presence requirements if any.

Due Diligence and Source of Funds

Proving legal source of funds is critical component of investor visa applications. Acceptable sources: Employment income (payslips, tax returns, employment contracts). Business ownership (company financials, tax filings, profit distributions). Real estate sales (sale contracts, capital gains documentation). Inheritance (wills, probate documents, inheritance tax records). Investments (brokerage statements, sale records). Loans (from banks, not suspicious sources).

Unacceptable or suspicious sources: Cash without clear origin. Recent large deposits without explanation. Funds from high-risk jurisdictions. Politically exposed persons (PEPs) without enhanced due diligence. Unexplained wealth beyond documented income. Complex corporate structures obscuring ownership. Authorities conduct thorough background checks and fund tracing.

Documentation best practices: Maintain comprehensive financial records (6-10 years). Establish clear paper trail for all fund movements. Use reputable banks and financial institutions. Obtain professional audits for complex financial situations. Be prepared to explain all wealth accumulation. Work with immigration attorneys and financial advisors experienced in investor visas. Transparency and documentation quality critical to approval.

Application Success Tips

Choose right program for your goals: Consider residence vs. citizenship timeline. Evaluate physical presence requirements vs. your lifestyle. Assess investment type comfort (passive real estate vs. active business). Research tax implications thoroughly. Consider family needs (education, healthcare access).

Work with qualified professionals: Immigration attorneys specializing in investor visas. Tax advisors familiar with cross-border taxation. Financial advisors for investment structuring. Due diligence specialists for fund documentation. Real estate professionals (for property investment programs).

Prepare comprehensive documentation: Start gathering financial records early (process takes months). Obtain professional translations of non-English documents. Get certified copies and notarizations as required. Create detailed timeline of wealth accumulation. Organize documents logically for smooth application.

Understand total costs beyond minimum investment: Legal and professional fees ($20,000-100,000+). Due diligence and background check costs. Application and processing fees. Health insurance and medical examinations. Travel costs for application process. Potential tax liabilities. Ongoing compliance and renewal costs.

Research program stability: Some countries have changed programs (increased minimums, restricted eligibility). Monitor policy changes and program suspensions. Consider political and economic stability. Evaluate long-term residency and citizenship prospects. Consult recent program participants about experience.