Residency by Investment
Residency by investment (RBI) is a legal pathway that grants foreign nationals the opportunity to live, work, and study in a country in exchange for a qualifying financial investment. Common investment types include real estate, business creation, government bonds, or capital contributions.
46 Residency by Investment programmes
Explore our programmes by region. Each links to full details investment, processing time, benefits and the application process.
Europe
Cyprus Permanent Residency
- Indefinite residence
- EU citizenship pathway after 5 years
- Family inclusion
France Business Creation
- 4-year renewable permit
- Establish business in France
- Family inclusion
France Talent Passport
- 4-year renewable permit
- Create/acquire French business
- Family inclusion
Greece Golden Visa
- Visa-free Schengen access
- Indefinite residence
- 5-year renewable visa
Hungary Golden Visa
- 10-year renewable residency
- EU residency & Schengen travel
- No mandatory stay
Italy Golden Visa
- 2-year residency permit
- Schengen area access
- Family inclusion
Italy Retirement Visa
- Residency for retirees
- Schengen area access
- Family inclusion
Malta Permanent Residency
- Permanent residency in Malta
- Mediterranean lifestyle
- English-speaking country
Monaco Residency
- Renewable residency permit
- Permanent residency after 9 years
- Schengen access
Netherlands Startup
- 1-year renewable permit
- Innovative business requirement
- Family inclusion & spouse work rights
Portugal Golden Visa
- Reside, work & study in Portugal
- EU access
- Citizenship after 5 years
Switzerland Residence
- Lump sum taxation
- Swiss residency
- Schengen area access
UK Expansion Worker
- Set up UK branch/subsidiary
- Switch to other visa types
- PR after 5 years
UK Innovator Founder
- Innovative business visa
- PR after 3 years
- Citizenship after 5 years
Americas
Canada BC PNP
- Permanent residence for successful applicants
- No job offer required
- Family inclusion
Canada CPTPP
- No personal net worth requirement
- Quick processing time
- Family inclusion
Canada Start-Up Visa
- Permanent residency in Canada
- For innovative entrepreneurs
- Citizenship after 3 years
Costa Rica Residency
- Three pathway options
- 2-year temporary residence
- Permanent residency pathway
Panama Pensionado
- Permanent residency for retirees
- Special pensioner benefits
- Citizenship after 5 years
Panama Qualified Investment
- Permanent residence
- Live, work & study rights
- Health system access
Trump Gold and Platinum Card
- Green Card for the whole family
- Fast-track processing
- No language requirements
United States E-2
- Live, work & study in USA
- Renewable indefinitely
- Certain nationals only
United States EB-1A
- Fast-track Green Card
- Extraordinary abilities pathway
- Permanent residency
United States EB-2
- Unconditional Green Card
- For innovative entrepreneurs
- Citizenship after 5 years
United States EB-5
- Conditional Green Card
- 2-year initial period
- Conditions removal process
United States EB2 NIW STEM
- STEM field workers
- Exceptional ability pathway
- No sponsorship needed
United States EB2-NIW AME Visa
- Aircraft maintenance workers
- Exceptional ability pathway
- No sponsorship needed
United States EB2-NIW Visa for Airplane and Helicopter Pilots
- For airline pilots
- Green Card pathway
- Family inclusion
Asia Pacific
Australia NIV
- Immediate Permanent Residency
- Live, work, study freely, plus public healthcare
- Whole family included, spouse, kids, even grandchildren
Cambodia Business Visa
- 1-year renewable visa
- Live & do business
- No interview or language test
Cambodia My Second Home
- Long-term residency
- Real estate investment
- Citizenship pathway after 5 years
Hong Kong Investment Visa (CIES)
- Capital Investment scheme
- Approved assets investment
- Hong Kong residency
Indonesia Golden Visa
- 5 or 10-year residency
- Online application
- Family included
Malaysia MM2H
- My Second Home program
- Family inclusion
- Education benefits
Malaysia Premium (PVIP)
- 20-year renewable residency
- No minimum stay required
- High-net-worth individuals
New Zealand Active Investor Plus
- Indefinite residence
- PR after 4 years
- Citizenship after 5 years
Singapore Permanent Residency
- Global Investor Programme
- Permanent residency
- High investment threshold
Singapore Startup
- For innovative entrepreneurs
- Renewable visa
- PR after 2 years
Thailand Long-Term Resident
- 10-year visa
- Two 5-year terms
- Extendable stays
Thailand Privilege Card
- 5–20 year stay
- Elite membership benefits
- Tourism-focused program
Vietnam DT3 Visa
- Investment visa
- Business operations
- Company setup or acquisition
Vietnam DT4 Visa
- Business creation visa
- Entrepreneur pathway
- Business activities
Africa
Mauritius Occupation Permit
- Live & work permit
- Employment, business or investment
- 10-year validity
Mauritius Residence Permit
- Live, work & retire
- Property ownership required
- Permanent residency pathway
South Africa PR
- Permanent residence status
- Citizen rights except voting
- Citizenship after 10 years
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between residency by investment and citizenship by investment?
Residency by investment (RBI) grants you the legal right to reside in a country by way of residence permit or visa. Citizenship by investment goes a step further and grants you citizenship and full nationality.
Which residency by investment program is processed the fastest?
The fastest residency by investment programs include:
Thailand Long-Term Resident Visa with approximately 20 working days
Panama Qualified Investor Program with approximately 1 month
Cambodia Business Visa with approximately 1–2 months
Thailand Elite Visa with approximately 1–3 months
Processing times can vary depending on application completeness and government processing queues. A well-prepared application handled by experienced immigration lawyers significantly reduces the risk of delays.
Which European countries offer residency by investment in 2026?
Several European countries offer investor residency programs in 2026, including:
Greece Golden Visa
Portugal Golden Visa
Italy Golden Visa
Hungary Golden Visa
Cyprus Permanent Residence
France Talent Passport
Netherlands Startup
UK Innovator Founder Visa
Swiss Residence Permit
Malta Permanent Residence
Monaco Residence Permit
EU-based programs may also offer the added benefit of Schengen zone travel and a pathway to EU citizenship.
Can my family be included in a residency by investment application?
Yes, the majority of residency by investment programs allows family members to be included under the main applicant's investment at no additional investment cost. Family inclusion typically covers a spouse or partner and dependent children. Some programs also extend eligibility to dependent parents or adult children in full-time education.
Programs with strong family inclusion policies include the Greece Golden Visa, Portugal Golden Visa, Italy Golden Visa, Cyprus Permanent Residence, UAE Real Estate Investor Visa, and the Australia NIV, which extends coverage to grandchildren.
Do I need to live in the country to maintain my residency by investment status?
This depends on the specific program. Many residency by investment programs have no mandatory minimum stay requirement, making them popular with investors who are unable to commit to relocating full-time.
No stay required: Greece, Hungary, Italy, UAE, Malaysia Premium Visa
Minimal stay required: Portugal (approximately 7 days per year on average), Cyprus (visit every 2 years)
Note that programs leading to citizenship typically require meeting a minimum physical presence threshold before the naturalization application.
Which residency by investment program is best for entrepreneurs and startup founders?
Top residency by investment programs for entrepreneurs and startup founders include:
France Talent Passport
Netherlands Startup
Canada Start-up Visa
UK Innovator Founder Visa
Singapore Start-up Visa
USA E-2 Visa
Each program requires a viable business plan and, in some cases, endorsement from a recognized organization.
Is residency by investment legal and legitimate?
Yes, residency by investment programs are government-sanctioned legal pathways established by the laws of each respective country. They are designed to attract foreign capital, create jobs, and stimulate economic activity. All programs listed by Harvey Law Group are official government programs.
Not sure which programme fits?
Our lawyers will assess your goals and recommend the right pathway confidentially and with no obligation.