Two families each buy an apartment in Athens at the same price. One simply owns the property. The other \u2014 if the investment is made under the right program and the application is approved \u2014 also gains residence rights for the whole family, along with visa-free travel within the Schengen Area<\/strong>. The difference lies in how the investment is made, and that is the principle behind Schengen residency by investment.<\/p>\n Invest the right way \u00b7 Travel on your own terms \u00b7 Prepare ahead, without relocating<\/p>\n IMM Group Editorial Team \u00b7 Updated August 2026<\/p>\n 0<\/p>\n Schengen countries open to holders of a Greek or Maltese residence permit<\/p>\n 0<\/p>\n days of stay in the other Schengen countries, in any 180-day period<\/p>\n 0<\/p>\n residency and citizenship by investment programs in Europe that closed entirely between 2022 and 2025<\/p>\n 0<\/p>\n shortest holding period among the programs covered in this article<\/p>\n No need to relocate<\/p>\n Most programs do not require investors to relocate immediately after approval.<\/p>\n The figures above cover only the programs featured in this article.<\/p>\n 01 The fundamentals<\/p>\n The same price and the same purchase documents, yet a different legal outcome for each family.<\/p>\n The paperwork looks nearly identical: the same sale and purchase agreement, the same title transfer, the same title deed.<\/p>\n The difference lies in how the investment is made. One family simply owns the property. The other \u2014 if it meets the program requirements \u2014 also gains grounds to apply for residency or citizenship under the laws of the host country.<\/strong><\/p>\n Sale and purchase agreement \u00b7 Title transfer \u00b7 Title deed<\/p>\n Same amount of money, two different legal outcomes<\/p>\n Each country sets its own conditions, often very specific about property type, location, size, seller, and valuation method. Outside those parameters, the investment remains a legitimate asset but does not provide grounds for an application.<\/p>\n 02 The path of an application<\/p>\n Step 03 is the decisive one \u2014 only investments that meet the program’s requirements can serve as the basis for an application.<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n Assess your family’s goals<\/p>\n Residency, citizenship, or asset diversification?<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Choose the country and investment route<\/p>\n Invest in line with your goals and the program’s requirements.<\/p>\n Decisive step<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Invest in line with program requirements<\/p>\n Two properties or investments may look alike, but only those that meet the rules can serve as the basis for an application.<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Apply and obtain the associated rights<\/p>\n Once approved, the investor receives residency or citizenship along with the corresponding rights.<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Ready for future plans<\/p>\n Your family has one more option when needs arise for education, business, living abroad, or travel.<\/p>\n Residency or citizenship is subject to each program’s requirements, the outcome of the eligibility assessment, and the decision of the competent authority. Processing times may vary by country and by individual case.<\/p>\n 03 Scope of travel<\/p>\n The scope depends on 2 factors: whether the issuing country is part of the Schengen Area, and whether the outcome is a residence permit or a passport.<\/p>\n What you receive<\/p>\n Where you can travel<\/p>\n How long you can stay<\/p>\n Greek residence permit<\/p>\n 29 Schengen countries<\/p>\n Greece: for the validity of the residence permit. In other Schengen countries: up to 90 days in any 180-day period.<\/p>\n Malta permanent residence permit<\/p>\n 29 Schengen countries<\/p>\n Malta: for the validity of the residence permit. In other Schengen countries: up to 90 days in any 180-day period.<\/p>\n Cyprus permanent residence permit<\/p>\n Cyprus<\/p>\n Stay in Cyprus as set out in the permit. Travel to Schengen countries requires meeting separate entry rules.<\/p>\n Grenada passport<\/p>\n 29 Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and many other destinations<\/p>\n The permitted length of stay depends on each country’s rules.<\/p>\n Turkish passport<\/p>\n Many countries outside Europe<\/p>\n Entry to the Schengen Area still requires meeting the visa rules in force.<\/p>\n The value of each document lies not in the card or passport itself, but in the scope of travel and residence it provides.<\/p>\n Short-term travel rights are not residence rights<\/p>\n To live long term or work in France, Germany, or any other country, the holder must still meet that country’s own immigration rules. Visa-free lists and requirements such as electronic travel authorizations can change, so check them before every trip.<\/p>\n 04 The real value of travel rights<\/p>\n It is not about faster paperwork. It is about 3 limits that a short-stay visa cannot get past.<\/p>\n 01<\/p>\n This cap applies to every Schengen short-stay visa, regardless of visa type or number of entries. A family that wants to spend more than half the days of the year in Europe \u2014 for school, for work, for the season \u2014 has only one route: residency status.<\/p>\n 02<\/p>\n All Schengen border crossings now operate the Entry\/Exit System (EES), a biometric system that records fingerprints and facial images and automatically tallies the days third-country nationals spend in the area. The 90\/180 cap is now enforced more strictly than before.<\/p>\n 03<\/p>\n Bank accounts, tax identification numbers, lease agreements, disputes with tenants, major repairs, changes to local rules \u2014 each may require an unplanned trip and enough time on the ground to see it through.<\/p>\n Time spent in the country under a residence permit does not count toward the 90-day cap in any 180-day period. This is a difference in kind, not a matter of convenience.<\/p>\n 05 Comparison<\/p>\n Compare the 2 columns below to see which legal outcome the investment leads to.<\/p>\n Buying in line with program requirements<\/p>\n Buying as an ordinary transaction<\/p>\n What both routes have in common<\/p>\n Holding, transferring, or using the asset follows the laws of the country where it is located, whether or not the investment is tied to a program.<\/p>\n 06 Program categories that fit<\/p>\n Each program has its own conditions and benefits. Choose your goal first, then compare individual options.<\/p>\n Tab 01<\/p>\n You want residency<\/p>\n Tab 02<\/p>\n You want second citizenship<\/p>\n Residency category<\/p>\n All 3 lead to a legal residence status in Europe, but they differ in travel scope and maintenance obligations.<\/p>\n Program<\/p>\n Minimum investment<\/p>\n What you receive<\/p>\n Strengths<\/p>\n Which families it suits<\/p>\n What to know beforehand<\/p>\n Greece<\/p>\n \u20ac800,000 (approximately US$896,000) in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with more than 3,100 residents; \u20ac400,000 in the rest of the country. Minimum 120 m\u00b2. Heritage restoration route: \u20ac250,000<\/p>\n Investor residence permit, renewable while the investment is held. Greece is in the Schengen Area<\/p>\n No minimum stay requirement<\/p>\n You want to own European real estate and travel within the Schengen Area<\/p>\n Does not include the right to work as an employee. Short-term rentals are not permitted<\/p>\n Cyprus<\/p>\n \u20ac300,000 plus VAT for a new-build home bought directly from the developer, along with proof of income from abroad<\/p>\n Permanent residence permit with no expiry date. Cyprus is an EU member state<\/p>\n Light presence requirement: one visit every 2 years<\/p>\n You want permanent residence status in a European Union member state<\/p>\n Not yet part of the Schengen Area. The main applicant and spouse must undertake not to take up paid employment<\/p>\n Malta<\/p>\n Purchase from \u20ac375,000 or lease from \u20ac14,000 per year, plus fees and mandatory contributions<\/p>\n Permanent residence permit under the MPRP (Malta Permanent Residence Programme). Malta is in the Schengen Area<\/p>\n Offers a lease option as well as purchase<\/p>\n You want permanent residence in a Schengen country with a lower total capital outlay<\/p>\n Requires proof of net worth and ongoing compliance with program conditions<\/p>\n Citizenship category<\/p>\n Two programs that grant citizenship directly, differing most clearly in travel scope and how long the investment must be held.<\/p>\n Program<\/p>\n Minimum investment<\/p>\n What you receive<\/p>\n Strengths<\/p>\n Which families it suits<\/p>\n What to know beforehand<\/p>\n Grenada<\/p>\n National Transformation Fund (NTF) contribution from US$235,000, or investment in an approved project from US$270,000, plus administrative fees<\/p>\n Citizenship for the investor and eligible family members, with broad dependent eligibility, including qualifying parents and grandparents<\/p>\n The widest travel scope in this group: 29 Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, China, Singapore<\/p>\n For those who prioritize second citizenship and broad travel access<\/p>\n The European Commission has asked for the program to be phased out by June 1, 2028 \u2014 see the note below<\/p>\n T\u00fcrkiye<\/p>\n US$400,000 in real estate, with a 3-year no-sale annotation on the title deed<\/p>\n Citizenship for the main applicant, spouse, and minor children<\/p>\n Capital held for 3 years, the shortest in this group. No residence required before or after naturalization<\/p>\n Seeking citizenship through real estate investment with a short holding period<\/p>\n No visa-free Schengen access. Children aged 18 or over can be included in the application only with a medical report confirming they cannot support themselves<\/p>\n A development to factor in \u2014 Grenada<\/p>\n On June 25, 2026, the European Commission wrote to 5 Eastern Caribbean countries, including Grenada, asking them to set out a roadmap for ending their citizenship by investment programs by June 1, 2028. The program is still accepting applications, and visa-free Schengen access remains in effect at the time of writing. This is an ongoing process, not a settled outcome.<\/p>\n Three different legal statuses. A residence permit, a permanent residence permit, and citizenship are not interchangeable. Whether each is granted or maintained depends on the conditions of the specific program and the rules of the country concerned.<\/p>\n 07 Is this a fit for you?<\/p>\n Answer the 4 questions below, then compare with the results table.<\/p>\n 01<\/p>\n Are your family’s assets currently concentrated mainly in one country and one currency?<\/p>\n 02<\/p>\n Does your family plan to study, do business, seek medical treatment, retire, or spend extended time abroad?<\/p>\n 03<\/p>\n Does your family need to travel frequently to a particular country or region?<\/p>\n 04<\/p>\n Is your family prepared to keep the investment in place for the period the program requires?<\/p>\n 3 or more \u201cyes\u201d answers<\/p>\n This is a good time to start. First, decide whether your main goal is permanent residence or citizenship, then compare the relevant options.<\/p>\n 1\u20132 \u201cyes\u201d answers<\/p>\n Your needs are taking shape; more information is needed to identify the right option.<\/p>\n No \u201cyes\u201d answers yet<\/p>\n If you have no need yet, you can keep track of policy changes for future reference.<\/p>\n These results are for reference only, to help you gauge how relevant the programs may be to you at this time.<\/p>\n Securing these documents can take anywhere from a few months to more than a year. Preparing early gives your family more options when a need arises.<\/p>\n Applications are assessed under the rules in effect at the time of filing, not when you first start researching. Each time a program closes, the options available to families who prepare later narrow further.<\/p>\n Set the right expectations, make the right decision<\/p>\n Full analysis<\/p>\n Continue with the detailed sections below: 3 questions to clarify first, the travel scope of each type of document, the 2022\u20132025 policy context, each program IMM Group currently advises on, a table of investment holding periods, and frequently asked questions.<\/p>\n This article starts with your family’s goals and then maps them against each program. For each program in the final section, we cover 2 things: which families it may suit, and what to weigh before deciding.<\/p>\n Two families each buy an apartment in Athens at the same price. The documents they sign are almost identical: a sale and purchase agreement, a title transfer, a title deed.<\/p>\n The first family owns the property. The second family, if the investment meets the program’s requirements, also gains grounds to apply for residency for the whole family under the laws of the host country.<\/p>\n The difference lies in how the investment is made, not in the amount spent. Each country sets its own conditions, often very specific about property type, location, size, seller, and valuation method.<\/p>\n Some examples of these differences:<\/p>\n If the investment fails to meet any one of these conditions, the property is still a legitimate asset owned by the family. The difference is that it does not provide grounds to apply for residency or citizenship.<\/p>\n Two factors are unfolding at the same time, in opposite directions.<\/p>\n On the investor side<\/strong>, our advisory work shows more and more families raising this question earlier than they used to. This is an observation from our advisory practice, not a finding drawn from any statistical dataset.<\/p>\n One way to gauge how concentrated your family’s assets are: if a single policy change or a single bout of currency volatility at home would be enough to significantly affect the whole family’s financial plan, your assets may be heavily concentrated in one place.<\/p>\n On the host-country side<\/strong>, the number of programs is shrinking. Between 2022 and 2025, 7 residency or citizenship by investment programs in Europe closed entirely and no longer accept new applications under any route \u2014 the full list appears below. An eighth program, Portugal’s, did not close but removed real estate from its eligible investment options. Each time a program closes, the options available to families who prepare later narrow a little further.<\/p>\n This has happened through successive rounds of policy changes rather than overnight. Countries typically announce changes and apply them to applications filed after the effective date.<\/p>\n Applications are assessed under the rules in effect at the time of filing, not the rules in effect when you first looked into the program.<\/p>\n So once your family has settled on its goals, it is essential to recheck the requirements in force while the application is being prepared.<\/p>\n Moving part of your assets outside a single country, a single legal system, and a single currency is a portfolio-structuring decision. At a smaller scale, the question usually comes down to which asset class to choose. At a larger scale, where the assets are held \u2014 including which legal system governs them and which currency they are denominated in \u2014 becomes worth weighing as well.<\/p>\n This decision has both advantages and trade-offs, and we set out both in full.<\/p>\n On the plus side, those assets no longer share the same market cycle, legal system, and currency as the rest of your portfolio.<\/p>\n On the other side of the ledger, an overseas investment brings additional factors: currency movements that can cut both ways, the cost of managing assets remotely, and liquidity that is typically lower than that of a comparable asset at home.<\/p>\n This is where the biggest difference lies.<\/p>\n If you own real estate without any accompanying legal status, you remain a foreign national in the eyes of that country’s law. Your ownership is protected, but it confers no additional rights.<\/p>\n With residency rights, your relationship with the host country changes. Permit holders may live there and access healthcare and education as residents, subject to conditions that vary by country. Crucially for managing your assets, entering the country no longer depends on a separate visa decision each time.<\/p>\n One point is worth clarifying from the outset, as it is easily misunderstood. An investment-based residence permit is not the same as the right to work as an employee in the issuing country.<\/strong> The degree of restriction differs markedly between the 2 countries below.<\/p>\n In Greece<\/strong>, permit holders can be listed as shareholders, hold management positions in a company, and receive dividends; local salaried employment is subject to separate rules.<\/p>\n In Cyprus<\/strong>, the restriction is considerably tighter. Applications under Regulation 6(2) (the Cyprus regulation governing permanent residence for investors) require the main applicant and spouse to sign a declaration that they will not take up salaried employment in Cyprus. Permit holders may earn passive income and hold shareholder or director roles within the limits the program allows. Families who intend to take up salaried employment in Cyprus should consider a different route.<\/p>\n This is often seen as a secondary benefit. In practice, travel scope varies considerably between programs and affects both personal plans and asset management. The next section covers this in detail.<\/p>\n Travel privileges are the most visible part of a new residence permit or passport. What they amount to in practice depends on 2 factors: whether the issuing country is part of the Schengen Area, and whether the outcome is a residence permit or a passport. This section looks at each type in turn.<\/p>\n The table below summarizes the travel scope of each type of document, updated as of July 2026:<\/p>\n What you receive<\/p>\n Where you can travel<\/p>\n How long you can stay<\/p>\n Greek residence permit<\/p>\n 29 Schengen countries<\/p>\n Greece: for the validity of the residence permit. In other Schengen countries: up to 90 days in any 180-day period<\/p>\n Malta permanent residence permit<\/p>\n 29 Schengen countries<\/p>\n Malta: for the validity of the card. In other Schengen countries: up to 90 days in any 180-day period<\/p>\n Cyprus permanent residence permit<\/p>\n Cyprus<\/p>\n Stay in Cyprus is governed by the terms of the permit. Travel to Schengen countries requires meeting separate entry rules<\/p>\n Grenada passport<\/p>\n 29 Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and many other destinations<\/p>\n Length of stay depends on each country’s rules<\/p>\n Turkish passport<\/p>\n Many countries outside Europe<\/p>\n Entry into the Schengen Area still requires meeting current visa rules<\/p>\n The Schengen Area currently comprises 29 countries, following Bulgaria and Romania’s full accession on January 1, 2025. Of these, 25 are European Union member states and 4 are non-EU countries: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Holders of a residence permit issued by a Schengen country may travel throughout the area under Article 21 of the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement.<\/p>\n Since April 10, 2026, all Schengen border crossings have operated the Entry\/Exit System (EES), the bloc’s biometric entry and exit system. It records fingerprints and facial images and automatically tallies the days third-country nationals spend in the area, replacing passport stamps. The 90\/180-day cap is therefore enforced more tightly than before. Under Article 6(2) of the Schengen Borders Code, time spent under a residence permit or long-stay visa does not count toward that cap \u2014 a key distinction between a residence permit and a multiple-entry tourist visa.<\/p>\n Three points are worth distinguishing clearly.<\/p>\n Travel rights differ from residence rights.<\/strong> A Greek residence permit allows short stays in France, but does not carry the right to work or settle in France. If your family plans to live long term in another Schengen country, you must still meet that country’s own immigration rules.<\/p>\n Both are in Europe, but the scope of travel can differ widely.<\/strong> A Greek residence permit opens up the 29 Schengen countries. A Cyprus permanent residence permit currently applies only in Cyprus. Both countries are European Union members; the difference is that Cyprus is not yet part of the Schengen Area at the time of writing. This is worth clarifying from the earliest stage of research, especially for families who prioritize travel within the Schengen Area.<\/p>\n A passport and a residence permit offer different scopes.<\/strong> A Grenada passport allows entry to the Schengen Area, to the United Kingdom for stays of up to 6 months per visit, and to China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Since January 2025, Grenadian citizens have needed an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before traveling to the United Kingdom. A Turkish passport, although it represents full citizenship, does not currently qualify for visa-free travel to the Schengen Area; Turkish citizens still apply for a European visa under current rules, and as of 2026 the visa liberalization process between T\u00fcrkiye and the European Union has not been completed.<\/p>\n One procedural reform works in applicants’ favor. Under European Commission Implementing Decision C(2025) 4694, signed on July 15, 2025, Turkish citizens are considered for Schengen visas on a cascading basis: those who have lawfully used 2 visas in the previous 3 years are considered for a 6-month multiple-entry visa, then successively for 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year visas if they continue to use them lawfully and reapply on time. This is a procedural reform of visa issuance, not visa-free travel.<\/p>\n The value of the T\u00fcrkiye program lies in citizenship for the investor and eligible family members, and in the relatively short holding period for the investment.<\/p>\n On the E-2 nonimmigrant treaty investor visa to the United States through Grenada citizenship, 3 points need to be stated accurately. First, E-2 is not a pathway to U.S. immigration<\/strong>. Second, under Public Law 117-263, Section 5902(b), signed into law on December 23, 2022, a person who obtained treaty-country citizenship through investment must have been domiciled \u2014 that is, have their principal legal home \u2014 in that country for a continuous period of at least 3 years before becoming eligible to apply. Domicile is a concept of intent to remain and legal ties; it does not mean continuous physical presence. Third, visa issuance rests with the U.S. government and depends on the outcome of each individual case review. This should be assessed case by case by a U.S. immigration attorney.<\/p>\n A practical approach: before comparing programs on travel criteria, list the countries your family expects to visit over the next 5 years, then check each program against that list. The total number of visa-free destinations a passport offers often does not fully reflect the actual needs of a specific family.<\/p>\n Travel rights are often understood as a matter of procedural convenience. The 6 situations below show that their value also lies in being able to respond when plans change.<\/p>\n Your child’s graduation.<\/strong> Graduation schedules may be confirmed at short notice or change from the original plan. With the right documents already in hand, your family can arrange the trip around the school’s schedule.<\/p>\n Family emergencies.<\/strong> Situations such as a relative needing medical care, or needing to be there in person to complete a formality, often cannot be planned weeks in advance.<\/p>\n Last-minute trips.<\/strong> Not every trip is planned months ahead. Having your documents in place gives you more flexibility about when to leave.<\/p>\n Medical treatment.<\/strong> Your family can schedule examinations or treatment around the provider’s calendar, rather than depending on visa processing times.<\/p>\n Signing and completing formalities in the host country.<\/strong> A real estate transaction abroad does not end with payment. Depending on the country, the process may include registering the title transfer at the land registry, opening a local bank account, and obtaining a tax identification number. Many banks’ know-your-customer (KYC) procedures still require the account holder to appear in person at least once.<\/p>\n Where the investor cannot be present, these steps are usually handled through a power of attorney. Depending on where it is executed, the document may require consular legalization or, between countries that are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille. One condition should be noted: under Article 12 of the Convention, existing member states may object to a new member’s accession within 6 months of receiving notification; between the acceding country and an objecting country, consular legalization still applies as before. Check the list of countries where the apostille applies at hcch.net before preparing documents. A power of attorney is valid only within the scope stated in the document; matters arising outside that scope require a new document.<\/p>\n Asset transactions.<\/strong> When you need to be present to review, sign, or complete a transaction, being able to travel on your own schedule lets your family work around the actual timeline.<\/p>\n Between purchase and sale lies a much longer phase: the holding period. A rental property may give rise to disputes with tenants, major repairs, or changes in local rules on rental conditions. This is where a residence permit stands apart from a short-stay visa: not just in the ability to enter, but in being able to enter when needed and stay long enough to get the job done.<\/p>\n Travel rights do not increase the value of a property. Their value lies in giving you room to act on decisions concerning the asset and your family’s plans.<\/p>\n The 4 questions below help you assess whether now is the right time for you.<\/p>\n Answer<\/p>\n Next step<\/p>\n 3 or more \u201cyes\u201d answers<\/p>\n This is a good time to start exploring programs. First, determine whether your main goal is permanent residence or citizenship, then compare the corresponding options.<\/p>\n 1\u20132 \u201cyes\u201d answers<\/p>\n The need may already be taking shape, but more information is needed to identify the right option. A comparison of programs \u2014 requirements, holding period, scope of travel \u2014 will be useful at this stage.<\/p>\n No \u201cyes\u201d answers yet<\/p>\n If you have no immediate need, you can follow policy changes for reference when the need arises.<\/p>\n The result above is for reference only, to help you gauge how relevant it is to explore these programs at this time.<\/p>\n In our advisory practice, we commonly see the 6 objectives below, and a single family’s case often involves 2 or 3 of them at once:<\/p>\n One point is worth clarifying early: most programs covered in this article do not require investors to relocate immediately after approval. Greece sets no minimum stay requirement, Malta does not require residence, T\u00fcrkiye requires no residence either before or after naturalization, and Cyprus requires entry at least once every 2 years. This is preparation in advance, not relocation.<\/strong><\/p>\n Two cases deserve separate attention. The E-2 visa route to the United States through Grenada citizenship requires domicile in Grenada for a continuous period of at least 3 years. And as set out below, if your family plans to naturalize in a European country later, physical residence requirements still apply.<\/p>\n Holding deposits or securities abroad diversifies your assets but confers no legal status. Applying for visa after visa meets travel needs but builds no asset.<\/p>\n It is also worth comparing the other investment routes within the same programs. Many countries grant residence status through approved investment funds, government bonds, or setting up a business. These routes lead to a residence permit as well. The difference lies in the form the capital takes: on the financial routes, it sits in fund units or bonds; on the real estate route, it sits in an asset the family can use, rent out, and pass down through the generations.<\/p>\n The host country’s law attaches a legal status to a specific type of asset, within a specific scope. Outside that scope, the investment remains a legitimate property holding; it simply provides no basis for an application.<\/p>\n The other side of the picture should also be set out in full. Property bought under a program carries restrictions that ordinary property does not. In Greece, Golden Visa property may not be let on a short-term, home-sharing basis; only long-term leases are permitted. A breach leads to revocation of the residence permit and an administrative fine of \u20ac50,000 per property. This restriction applies to property purchased under the criteria of Law 5100\/2024; property purchased before the law took effect is subject to different rules, so each case must be checked against its purchase date. In T\u00fcrkiye, the title deed is annotated with a 3-year transfer restriction. These are the conditions that allow the investment to serve as the basis for an application.<\/p>\n One point worth noting: 2 properties with the same price in Greece can still produce 2 different outcomes if one of them is located in an area subject to a higher investment threshold. Choosing the right property matters as much as determining the right investment amount.<\/strong><\/p>\n This is often not fully understood, and clarifying it early helps a family identify the right group of programs to explore.<\/p>\n Some investors assume that holding a residence permit for enough years will eventually lead to citizenship. In practice, the 2 are governed by separate sets of rules. A family that holds a residence permit for many years without actually living in the country will find that, when it comes to meeting naturalization requirements, it is essentially starting from zero.<\/p>\n The key distinction lies in how time is counted. An investment-based residence permit is a legal residence status. What does not count toward a naturalization application is time not actually spent residing in the country<\/strong>. Because the program sets no minimum stay requirement, a permit holder can maintain status for years while rarely being present in the issuing country, and that period does not count. Whether time spent holding an investment-based residence permit counts varies by country and must be checked individually. Beyond residence requirements, naturalization applications in European countries also involve language proficiency and other integration requirements.<\/p>\n From there, the right group of programs becomes clear.<\/strong> If the goal is citizenship within a defined timeframe, the group to explore is citizenship-by-investment programs \u2014 Grenada and T\u00fcrkiye, covered below. If the goal is residence rights and property in Europe, the European programs are a better fit, with the caveat that residence rights do not automatically lead to citizenship.<\/p>\n Points to distinguish<\/p>\n Actual rules<\/p>\n Time holding a permit vs. naturalization requirements<\/p>\n Naturalization requirements are based on actual residence, not on how long the permit has been held<\/p>\n Scope of a residence permit issued by a Schengen country<\/p>\n The permit grants residence in the issuing country; in other Schengen countries, it allows short stays only<\/p>\n Right to work in the issuing country<\/p>\n An investment-based residence permit does not equate to the right to work as an employee. Cyprus is stricter than Greece: the main applicant and spouse must commit not to engage in paid employment<\/p>\n Use of program property<\/p>\n Some programs set their own limits, such as the rules on short-term rentals in Greece<\/p>\n Transferring the asset and the effect on status<\/p>\n In residence programs, maintaining the investment is a condition for keeping status; in citizenship programs, citizenship already granted does not depend on continued ownership after the commitment period<\/p>\n The list of available programs is narrower than it was 5 years ago, especially for real-estate-linked routes. The contraction has occurred in both groups: citizenship and residence.<\/p>\n Citizenship-by-investment programs within the European Union.<\/strong> Cyprus ended its citizenship-by-investment program on November 1, 2020. On December 4, 2025, the Cyprus Parliament repealed the provision allowing the Council of Ministers to grant citizenship by exception. As for Malta, on April 29, 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in Case C-181\/23 that the country’s citizenship-by-investment program was incompatible with European Union law; Malta enacted Act XXI of 2025, published in the Official Gazette on July 24, 2025, abolishing that program framework. The Cyprus milestone falls outside the 2022\u20132025 window covered below, because the country’s citizenship program ended in 2020.<\/p>\n Residence programs.<\/strong> The United Kingdom closed the Tier 1 (Investor) route at 16:00 on February 17, 2022. Ireland closed the Immigrant Investor Programme on February 15, 2023. The Netherlands abolished its program for foreign investors, effective April 17, 2024. Spain abolished its investor residence route under Organic Law 1\/2025, no longer accepting new applications from April 3, 2025.<\/p>\n Citizenship programs outside the European Union.<\/strong> Bulgaria abolished its citizenship-by-investment route, with the law published in the Official Gazette on April 1, 2022. Montenegro ended its citizenship-by-investment program on December 31, 2022.<\/p>\n In total, 7 programs closed permanently in the 4 years from 2022 to 2025:<\/p>\n Portugal is a separate case: narrowed, not closed.<\/strong> Law 56\/2023, effective October 7, 2023, removed real estate from the list of eligible investments. Fund investment, job creation, scientific research, and cultural project routes still accept new applications. For families whose goal is real estate, Portugal is closed; for families willing to accept a financial route, it remains an option.<\/p>\n The list above does not include Cyprus, because the country’s citizenship program ended in 2020. Nor is this a complete list for all of Europe.<\/p>\n Every program still in force has been through at least one round of adjustment. Greece raised its investment thresholds under Law 5100\/2024 but kept the program running, while retaining a lower-threshold route for heritage buildings and change-of-use property, regardless of location. Cyprus maintains its permanent residence program. Malta maintains its permanent residence program and consolidated its fee structure under Legal Notice 146 of 2025. In the Caribbean, 5 countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States agreed on a common minimum investment threshold effective July 1, 2024.<\/p>\n Each time a program closes, the list of options for families preparing later narrows a little further.<\/p>\n It is worth being clear-eyed about one point: no group of programs is immune to policy change, including those tied to real assets. Spain, and Portugal’s real estate route, are cases in point. So rather than asking which program is the most stable, a more practical question is this: if the program changes, in what form would the family’s capital remain? This is why we favor routes where the main capital sits in an asset held in the investor’s name. When policy changes, ownership of the asset stays with the family, and the asset’s value continues to move with the market.<\/p>\n The programs below are still in force, have clear legal outcomes, and each has a route tied to a real asset held in the investor’s name. Malta and Grenada also offer routes that do not create an asset \u2014 the lease option and the contribution route, respectively \u2014 covered in their own sections.<\/p>\n Every program involves background vetting and checks on the source of wealth. Whether residence rights or citizenship are granted depends on each program’s requirements, the outcome of the eligibility assessment, and the decision of the competent authority. Processing times can vary between countries and from case to case. Investment amounts, fees, and application requirements are adjusted from time to time, so they should be discussed directly, with an updated comparison at the time you get in touch.<\/p>\n The table below sets out the minimum investment for an application to qualify. This is the investment capital only; it does not include background vetting fees, government fees, legal costs, or notarization costs \u2014 the total actual cost of an application is higher than this figure.<\/p>\n Program<\/p>\n Minimum investment (as of July 2026)<\/p>\n Source<\/p>\n Greece<\/p>\n \u20ac800,000 across the entire Attica region, the Thessaloniki regional unit, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with more than 3,100 residents; \u20ac400,000 in the rest of the country. The property must be at least 120 m\u00b2 and the investment must be concentrated in a single property. The heritage building or change-of-use route: \u20ac250,000, available nationwide with no geographic restriction.<\/p>\n Article 64 of Law 5100\/2024; stegasi.gov.gr<\/p>\n Cyprus<\/p>\n \u20ac300,000 plus VAT, for new housing purchased directly from a licensed developer. This route also requires proof of annual income from foreign sources: \u20ac50,000 for the main applicant, plus \u20ac15,000 for a spouse, plus \u20ac10,000 for each dependent child.<\/p>\n Regulation 6(2), Cyprus Ministry of Interior \u2014 mip.gov.cy<\/p>\n Malta<\/p>\n Purchase property from \u20ac375,000 or lease from \u20ac14,000 per year. Plus a \u20ac60,000 administrative fee, \u20ac7,500 per dependent, a \u20ac37,000 government contribution that applies to both the purchase and lease options, and a \u20ac2,000 charitable donation. A minimum net worth of \u20ac500,000 is required, of which at least \u20ac150,000 must be liquid financial assets.<\/p>\n Legal Notice 146 of 2025 \u2014 residencymalta.gov.mt<\/p>\n Grenada<\/p>\n A National Transformation Fund (NTF) contribution from US$235,000, or investment in a government-approved project from US$270,000 plus administrative fees. The common minimum investment floor set by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States is US$200,000, effective July 1, 2024.<\/p>\n cbi.gov.gd; pressroom.oecs.int<\/p>\n T\u00fcrkiye<\/p>\n US$400,000 or the equivalent value, as determined by a valuation process designated by the competent authority, with a 3-year transfer restriction annotated on the title deed.<\/p>\n invest.gov.tr<\/p>\n Figures are current as of July 2026. Investment amounts and fees are adjusted periodically; please ask for the latest figures when you contact us.<\/p>\n Greece \u2014 a Schengen member with no minimum stay requirement<\/strong><\/p>\n Greece issues a residence permit to investors, renewable as long as the investment is maintained, with no minimum stay requirement. The property is held in the investor’s name. Investment thresholds vary by area: \u20ac800,000 across the entire Attica region, the Thessaloniki regional unit, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with more than 3,100 residents; \u20ac400,000 in the rest of the country. The property must be at least 120 m\u00b2, and the investment must be concentrated in a single property rather than split across several.<\/p>\n There is also a separate route at \u20ac250,000 for heritage buildings and properties converted to residential use, available nationwide with no geographic restriction. This route is less often recommended because it comes with construction obligations and a hard deadline \u2014 and, for the same reason, it faces less competition. For change-of-use properties, the conversion must be completed before filing<\/strong> the residence permit application. For heritage buildings, the owner may not sell the property until restoration is complete. The actual total cost is therefore higher than the nominal investment amount, and construction costs should be budgeted from the outset.<\/p>\n Greece is part of the Schengen Area, so the residence permit allows short stays in other Schengen countries, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.<\/p>\n May suit: families who want to own property in Europe, need to travel within the Schengen Area, and have no immediate plans to relocate.<\/p>\n Worth weighing if: the family intends to work as employees in Greece; plans to operate the property as a short-term rental; or expects a fixed timeline for recovering capital, since the investment must be maintained for as long as the residence permit is held.<\/p>\n Cyprus \u2014 indefinite permanent residence in the European Union, and a development still unfolding<\/strong><\/p>\n Cyprus issues a permanent residence permit with no expiry date under Regulation 6(2) (the regulation governing permanent residence for investors in Cyprus). On the residential property route, the minimum investment is \u20ac300,000 plus VAT, for new housing purchased directly from a developer. The application includes proof of annual income from foreign sources, scaled to the number of family members, along with an obligation to submit periodic evidence that the investment is maintained. The property is held in the investor’s name. Presence requirements are minimal: at least one entry into Cyprus every 2 years. The program requires the main applicant and spouse to sign a declaration that they will not take up salaried employment in Cyprus.<\/p>\n On travel access, Cyprus is a European Union member but not yet part of the Schengen Area<\/strong> as of this writing. A Cyprus permanent residence permit therefore does not yet carry short-stay rights within the Schengen Area.<\/p>\n Cyprus’s Schengen bid has passed the European Commission’s technical evaluation and is now at the stage of awaiting a political decision. The European Commission adopted its report on Cyprus’s readiness in July 2026 and is expected to refer it to the Council of the European Union in September 2026. The decision on accession rests with the Council and requires unanimity among the states that fully apply Schengen within the Council. No date has been set. The Council’s decision and the lifting of internal border controls are 2 separate milestones.<\/p>\n If this process is completed, Cyprus permanent residence permits would in principle fall under the common Schengen framework. Whether permits already in circulation would be recognized directly or would need to be reissued, and the effective date, would be determined by Cyprus and the Council at that time. This is a development still unfolding, not a settled outcome<\/strong>, and it should be treated as a reference point rather than the main basis for a decision.<\/p>\n May suit: families who prioritize property ownership and permanent residence status in a European Union member state, and who accept the obligation to enter Cyprus once every 2 years.<\/p>\n Worth weighing if: travel within the Schengen Area is the top priority at this time.<\/p>\n Malta \u2014 a program that allows leasing alongside the purchase option<\/strong><\/p>\n Malta grants permanent residence under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP). Investors choose between purchasing property from \u20ac375,000 or leasing from \u20ac14,000 per year, maintained for at least 5 years, together with the mandatory fees and contributions set out in Legal Notice 146 of 2025, and must demonstrate a minimum net worth of \u20ac500,000, of which at least \u20ac150,000 must be in liquid financial assets. The program has no residency requirement. Malta is part of the Schengen Area.<\/p>\n If the lease option is chosen, that outlay is an expense and does not build an asset. In return, the total capital required is significantly lower than under the purchase option.<\/p>\n May suit: families who want permanent residence status in a Schengen country with a lower total capital outlay, and who accept that the property outlay may be an expense rather than an asset.<\/p>\n Worth weighing if: the main goal is to diversify assets internationally \u2014 in that case, only the purchase option meets the objective.<\/p>\n Grenada \u2014 the broadest travel access in this group<\/strong><\/p>\n Grenada grants citizenship to the applicant and eligible dependents in a single application. Grenada’s definition of dependents is broader than T\u00fcrkiye’s, covering eligible parents and grandparents. The program has 2 routes that differ in nature: investment in a government-approved real estate project from US$270,000 plus administrative fees, or a contribution to the National Transformation Fund (NTF) from US$235,000. The contribution is non-refundable and does not build an asset \u2014 but it remains a reasonable choice for families whose goal is citizenship and for whom preserving the capital is not a priority.<\/p>\n A Grenada passport allows entry to the 29 Schengen countries; to the United Kingdom for stays of up to 6 months per visit, with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) required before the flight; and to China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Grenada also has a bilateral investment treaty with the United States, which provides the basis for E-2 visa eligibility, subject to the 3 points discussed above.<\/p>\n One development to factor in: on June 25, 2026, the European Commission wrote to 5 countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States \u2014 Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia \u2014 requesting a roadmap to phase out their citizenship-by-investment programs before June 1, 2028. At the time of writing, Grenada’s program is still accepting applications, and Grenada citizens still enjoy visa-free access to Schengen under Regulation (EU) 2018\/1806. This is a process still unfolding, not a settled outcome.<\/p>\n The most recent precedent is Vanuatu: on November 8, 2022, the Council of the European Union decided to suspend in full its visa waiver agreement with that country, ending visa-free travel for Vanuatu nationals with effect from February 4, 2023, citing risks from its citizenship-by-investment program. This does not mean Grenada will follow the same path, but it shows that the June 1, 2028 date is a real milestone, not a formality. For families considering the Grenada route, this is a reason to build filing timing into the plan rather than leave it open.<\/p>\n May suit: families whose goal is a second citizenship and who need travel access to multiple regions, including Europe, the United Kingdom, and China.<\/p>\n Worth weighing if: the main goal is access to the United States. E-2 is a nonimmigrant visa and requires at least 3 years of continuous domicile in Grenada \u2014 a legal-ties requirement that families should have a U.S. immigration attorney assess separately before building it into their plans.<\/p>\n T\u00fcrkiye \u2014 the shortest investment holding period in this group<\/strong><\/p>\n T\u00fcrkiye requires a minimum investment of US$400,000 in real estate. The program grants citizenship to the applicant, spouse, and minor children. Children aged 18 and over may only be included if there is medical confirmation of an inability to support themselves; there is no extended dependent category based on financial dependence. A child who turns 18 while the application is being processed is assessed by their age on the filing date. The applicant’s parents are not eligible to join under this route \u2014 unlike Grenada, where eligible parents and grandparents may participate.<\/p>\n The property value must be determined through a valuation process designated by the land registry authority. Investors commit to holding the asset for 3 years, with a transfer restriction annotated directly on the title deed. This is the shortest holding period among the programs covered in this article. The program has no residency requirement, either before or after naturalization.<\/p>\n On travel access, a Turkish passport does not currently have visa-free access to Schengen, so the program’s strength lies outside Europe.<\/p>\n May suit: families who want citizenship through real estate investment with a relatively short holding period, and whose capital remains in an asset that can be transferred after 3 years.<\/p>\n Worth weighing if: travel within the Schengen Area is the top priority, or the application includes an adult child who does not qualify as a dependent.<\/p>\n This is where the programs differ most clearly, and it is also the point that tends to come into focus at a later stage.<\/p>\n Program<\/p>\n Investment holding period<\/p>\n After the commitment period<\/p>\n T\u00fcrkiye<\/p>\n 3 years<\/p>\n May be transferred; citizenship already granted is unaffected<\/p>\n Grenada \u2014 approved project route<\/p>\n 5 years<\/p>\n The 5-year requirement relates to resale to another program investor, so that the property remains eligible. Citizenship already granted is unaffected by the transfer. Specific conditions are set by each approved project and should be checked against the project contract<\/p>\n Grenada \u2014 contribution route<\/p>\n Not applicable<\/p>\n Funds paid are a cost and are non-refundable<\/p>\n Malta \u2014 purchase option<\/p>\n 5 years<\/p>\n Before transferring, check the conditions for maintaining status that applied at the time of application<\/p>\n Malta \u2014 lease option<\/p>\n For as long as status is held<\/p>\n The outlay is a cost and does not create an asset<\/p>\n Greece<\/p>\n For as long as the residence permit is held<\/p>\n The investment must be maintained continuously; a transfer affects the status of the permit<\/p>\n Cyprus<\/p>\n For as long as status is held<\/p>\n Similar to Greece, with a periodic obligation to submit evidence that the investment is maintained<\/p>\n A point worth noting: citizenship programs have a clear end point, while residence programs are tied to maintaining the investment for as long as status is held. For families focused on when capital can be recovered, this is a useful way to compare programs alongside the initial investment amount.<\/p>\n The table above covers the investment holding period and does not reflect investment performance. The transfer price depends on the market at the time of the transaction and is affected by local liquidity and exchange rates.<\/p>\n Step one: assess the family’s objectives and current position.<\/strong> Where the family’s assets are held and in which currency they are valued; what legal status the family already holds beyond their original citizenship; and what travel access they currently have. These 3 points often reveal that the family’s actual needs differ from what they first had in mind.<\/p>\n Step two: define the legal objective.<\/strong> Residence or citizenship. This is the decision that narrows the list of options the most and, as discussed above, the 2 objectives do not automatically convert into one another.<\/p>\n Step three: choose the program that fits the first 2 steps<\/strong>, and only then consider the investment amount, application requirements, timeline, and costs.<\/p>\n For families that have worked through these 3 steps, the next conversation usually focuses on 2 or 3 programs rather than the entire list.<\/p>\n When a family’s assets and plans span several countries, choosing where to hold those assets becomes a decision that needs a clear assessment framework: define the family’s objectives first, then compare them against each program.<\/p>\n This approach may suit<\/strong> families whose assets are concentrated mainly in one country and one currency; who have long-term plans that extend beyond their current borders; who see international travel as part of the whole family’s plans; and who accept the investment holding period each program requires.<\/p>\n Consider other options if<\/strong> you prioritize steady returns or regular income from the investment; plan to work or run a business directly abroad right after obtaining residence; need full rights to live and work in a specific country from the outset; or need high liquidity for your capital. In these cases, long-term residence routes or skilled migration routes for a given country may be a better fit.<\/p>\n On timing, processing can take from a few months to more than a year, and the investment holding period is measured in years. Preparing early gives the family more options when needs arise.<\/p>\n Finally, foreign real estate is not the objective of this strategy. It is the form that allows the capital to be held as an asset the family can use, even if the issuing country changes its policies. Its value depends on whether the family’s objectives were clearly defined before the asset was chosen.<\/p>\n The most immediate next step is to answer the 4 questions above, then have an IMM Group advisor compare your answers against each program.<\/p>\n An ordinary property purchase is a transaction that is complete once title is transferred. With a program-based investment, the same property can also serve as the basis for the family to apply for residence or citizenship, depending on the program. What is assessed is the type of property, the seller, the location, and how value is determined \u2014 not just the amount of capital. If the investment fails to meet one of the conditions, the property remains lawfully owned by the family but does not come with a basis for applying.<\/p>\n A Greek residence permit allows travel within the 29 countries of the Schengen Area. In Greece, you may stay for the validity of the permit. Across the other Schengen countries, stays are limited to a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. This is a short-stay right and does not include the right to work or settle in another country. If the family plans to live long term in France or Germany, they must still meet that country’s own immigration rules. The Malta permanent residence permit offers a similar scope because Malta is in the Schengen Area. The Cyprus permanent residence permit currently applies within Cyprus.<\/p>\n An investment-based residence permit does not equate to the right to work as an employee in the issuing country, and the 2 countries impose different restrictions. In Greece, permit holders may be registered shareholders, hold management positions in a company, and receive dividends; salaried employment is subject to separate rules. In Cyprus, the Regulation 6(2) route requires the main applicant and spouse to submit a declaration that they will not take salaried employment in Cyprus; permit holders may earn passive income and act as shareholders or directors within the limits the program allows. Families intending to take salaried employment in Cyprus should choose a different route.<\/p>\n Four questions can help you assess your situation: are the family’s assets concentrated mainly in one country and one currency; over the next 5\u201310 years, does the family plan to study, do business, seek medical treatment, or retire abroad; does the family need to travel frequently to a particular region; and is the family prepared to maintain the investment for the period the program requires? With 3 or more \u201cyes\u201d answers, this is a good time to decide whether the objective is residence or citizenship. With 1 or 2 \u201cyes\u201d answers, a side-by-side comparison of the programs can give you a firmer basis for deciding.<\/p>\n Most of the programs covered in this article do not require you to relocate immediately after approval. Greece sets no minimum stay requirement, Malta does not require residence, T\u00fcrkiye requires no residence either before or after naturalization, and Cyprus requires a visit at least once every 2 years. Two cases need separate attention: the E-2 visa route to the United States through Grenada citizenship requires at least 3 years of continuous domicile in Grenada; and if the family later plans to naturalize in the country that issued the permit, physical residence requirements still apply. Each program’s maintenance requirements should be re-verified at the time of application.<\/p>\n Residence and citizenship are 2 separate legal statuses, governed by 2 different sets of rules. Most residence-by-investment programs do not impose a physical residence obligation, while ordinary naturalization applications require many years of physical residence along with language and integration requirements. What counts is time physically resident in the country, not time holding the permit, and whether time spent holding an investment-based permit counts at all varies by country. If the objective is citizenship within a defined timeframe, direct citizenship programs are a better fit.<\/p>\n The Grenadian passport allows entry to the 29 Schengen countries for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and to the United Kingdom for up to 6 months per entry \u2014 since January 2025, an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is required before the flight \u2014 as well as China, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The Turkish passport does not currently offer visa-free access to the Schengen Area; Turkish citizens still apply for European visas under current rules, and the EU\u2013T\u00fcrkiye visa liberalization process had not been completed as of 2026. The strength of the T\u00fcrkiye program lies in granting citizenship to the applicant’s immediate family and its relatively short investment holding period. Visa-free lists and electronic travel authorization requirements can change over time, so check again before each trip.<\/p>\n This differs between the 2 groups of programs. In the citizenship group, the commitment period has a clear end date: 3 years for T\u00fcrkiye and 5 years for the Grenada real estate route; after this period, transferring the investment does not affect citizenship already granted. In the residence group, specifically Greece and Cyprus, the investment must be maintained for as long as the family holds that status; transferring it affects the family’s residence status. Malta requires a minimum holding period of 5 years, and the conditions for maintaining status should be verified at the time of application. In all cases, the transfer price depends on market conditions at the time of the transaction. Some programs also set conditions on who may acquire the investment.<\/p>\n This article is current as of August 2026 and is provided for reference only; it does not constitute personalized immigration, legal, tax, or investment advice. Decisions to grant residence or citizenship rest with the competent authorities of each country; only applications that meet all eligibility requirements proceed to review, and there is no mechanism to secure a particular outcome. Investment amounts, fees, maintenance requirements, penalties, and visa-free lists are revised periodically; please verify against official sources before making any decision.<\/p>\nTwo families, one apartment in Athens, two outcomes<\/h2>\n
The key difference<\/h4>\n
Five steps that turn an investment into the foundation for a residency or citizenship application<\/h2>\n
Each document type comes with a different scope of travel<\/h2>\n
Three areas where residency status makes a difference that a visa cannot<\/h2>\n
The 90-day cap in any 180-day period is a hard limit<\/h4>\n
From April 10, 2026, the EES counts days automatically<\/h4>\n
Overseas assets do not run themselves<\/h4>\n
The same capital, two ways to invest it<\/h2>\n
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Which residency and citizenship programs suit investors?<\/h2>\n
Greece \u00b7 Cyprus \u00b7 Malta<\/h4>\n
Grenada \u00b7 T\u00fcrkiye<\/h4>\n
Four key questions for a self-assessment<\/h2>\n
Where your assets are held<\/h4>\n
Your 5\u201310 year plan<\/h4>\n
Travel frequency<\/h4>\n
Capital holding period<\/h4>\n
Outcome<\/h4>\n
Outcome<\/h4>\n
Outcome<\/h4>\n
Is this approach right for your family?<\/h2>\n
It may be a fit if you<\/h4>\n
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You may want to consider other solutions if you<\/h4>\n
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Overseas real estate investment and residency rights<\/h3>\n
Overseas real estate investment: same capital, two approaches, two different outcomes<\/h2>\n
Two families, one apartment in Athens, two outcomes<\/h2>\n
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Why more families are considering this earlier<\/h2>\n
Three questions to clarify before exploring programs<\/h2>\n
Where your assets are currently held<\/h3>\n
Your legal status in that country<\/h3>\n
The travel scope that comes with it<\/h3>\n
Scope of travel by document type<\/h2>\n
Situations where travel rights prove their value<\/h2>\n
When to start exploring<\/h2>\n
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Why real estate is so often the preferred route<\/h2>\n
Distinguishing residence rights, permanent residence, and citizenship<\/h2>\n
Policy context, 2022\u20132025<\/h2>\n
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Programs IMM Group currently advises on<\/h2>\n
Indicative capital ranges for the 5 programs<\/h3>\n
Residence programs in Europe<\/h3>\n
Second citizenship programs<\/h3>\n
Investment holding period \u2014 comparison table<\/h3>\n
How IMM Group supports each application<\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
1. How does investing in foreign real estate under a program differ from simply buying property abroad?<\/h3>\n
2. How many countries can you travel to with a Greece Golden Visa residence permit?<\/h3>\n
3. Does an investment-based residence permit allow you to work in that country?<\/h3>\n
4. When should a family start looking into these programs?<\/h3>\n
5. Do you have to relocate abroad?<\/h3>\n
6. Does holding a residence permit for enough years qualify you for citizenship?<\/h3>\n
7. How do Grenadian and Turkish passports compare in travel access?<\/h3>\n
8. How long must the investment be held, and can it be transferred afterward?<\/h3>\n
Book a consultation<\/h2>\n