Residence & Citizenship by Investment, Compared
Current programmes in Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean and the Pacific, explained fairly – and compared with Malta, where we are licensed.
Governments in Europe, North America, the Caribbean and the Pacific grant residence (a “golden visa”) or, outside the EU, citizenship to qualifying investors. The key question is whether the country is in the EU: only EU citizenship lets you live, work and study across Europe. Within the EU, Malta combines permanent residence from €99,000 in government fees plus property with a discretionary route to citizenship in about 12–16 months.
All countries at a glance
Every country page summarises the programme fairly and compares it with Malta, where we are licensed.
| Country | Route | Typical entry point | Citizenship | EU country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta | Permanent residence (MPRP); Citizenship by Merit framework | €99,000 government fees + property bought or rented | About 12–16 months (Citizenship by Merit, discretionary) | Yes |
| Portugal | Golden Visa (no real estate) | €500,000 fund or €250,000 cultural contribution | 10 years for most non-EU nationals | Yes |
| Greece | Golden Visa (property) | Property from €400,000 (€800,000 prime areas) | 7 years + Greek exam | Yes |
| Cyprus | Permanent residence | €300,000 + €50,000 annual income | 7 of 10 years + B1 Greek | Yes |
| Bulgaria | Permanent residence | About €511,000 in a licensed fund | After 5 years; renunciation usually required | Yes |
| Monaco | Residence (carte de séjour) | Local home + bank reference (often ~€500,000) | After 10 years; no dual nationality | No |
| Spain | Golden Visa closed 3 April 2025 | – | 10 years' ordinary residence | Yes |
| Turkey | Citizenship by investment | Property from US$400,000 | Direct, in months | No |
| Caribbean (5 states) | Citizenship by investment | From US$200,000 | Direct, in months | No |
| Vanuatu | Citizenship by investment | From US$130,000 | Direct, 1–3 months | No |
| USA | EB-5 green card | US$800,000–US$1,050,000 at risk | 5 years of permanent residence | No |
| Canada | Quebec investor; provincial entrepreneur streams | Quebec: CA$1.2M (CA$1M refundable) | 1,095 days' presence in 5 years | No |
Figures checked November 2026. Rules change; we confirm current figures in writing before you commit.
Europe
Malta, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Monaco, Spain and Turkey – including which ones give EU rights.
All Europe programmes →Product Finder
Answer a few questions about budget and timing to see which programmes fit.
Open the Product Finder →Three things to decide first
Residence or passport?
A residence permit lets you live in a country and often travel in Schengen. A passport adds full citizenship rights, but takes years in most EU countries.
EU or not?
Only an EU country’s citizenship gives the right to live, work and study anywhere in the EU. Fast passports from Turkey, the Caribbean or Vanuatu do not.
Will you live there?
The US, Canada and Monaco expect you to live there. Malta, Greece, Portugal and Cyprus have no or very light stay rules for residence.
Why many families end up choosing Malta
EU, Schengen and euro
Maltese citizenship is EU citizenship. The MPRP residence card allows Schengen travel.
Rent or buy
Permanent residence with a property rented from €14,000 a year or bought from €375,000.
Citizenship by merit
About 12–16 months for exceptional contributors, against 7–10 years of residence elsewhere.
How it works
- Free assessment. Tell us your goals and family; we confirm which programmes you qualify for and send a written cost estimate.
- Document preparation. We, or our licensed partner firm in the country you choose, prepare your file and supporting documents.
- Application and due diligence. The government reviews the file and runs background checks; we answer its questions.
- Approval and compliance. You complete the investment, property or residence requirements.
- Residence card or passport. Your status is issued, and we stay with you for renewals and later steps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between residence and citizenship by investment?
Residence by investment (often called a golden visa) gives you the right to live in a country, and sometimes to travel in the Schengen Area, while you keep your own nationality. Citizenship by investment gives you a passport. In Europe, investment-only citizenship has ended; EU citizenship now comes through residence over time or, in Malta, through the discretionary Citizenship by Merit framework.
Can I still buy EU citizenship?
No. Malta’s investor-citizenship scheme closed in 2025 after an EU Court of Justice ruling, and Cyprus and Bulgaria closed theirs earlier. Malta’s Citizenship by Merit framework can lead to EU citizenship in about 12 to 16 months, but it is assessed case by case and is not available for investment alone.
Is a Turkish, Caribbean or Vanuatu passport an EU passport?
No. None of these countries is in the EU, so their passports give no right to live, work or study in Europe. Vanuatu passports have also lost visa-free access to the Schengen Area, and the EU has set Caribbean programmes a 2028 wind-down deadline.
Which is the most affordable EU residence by investment?
For most families, Malta’s Permanent Residence Programme: €99,000 in government fees for a single applicant plus a property rented from €14,000 a year (or bought from €375,000), with permanent status and no published minimum stay.
Who is behind this site?
Global-Residency.com is run by Zenturo Ltd., in business in Malta since 2006 and a licensed agent with the Residency Malta Agency (licence RES-DALI). We handle Malta applications ourselves and work with licensed partner firms for other countries.
Not sure which country fits?
Tell us your goals, budget and family. We reply within an hour with honest options, usually by e-mail.