Residence
Residence programmes
We advise individuals, founders and families on the residence routes listed below: investor programmes, entrepreneur and start-up visas, remote-work permits, passive-income and retirement residence, and citizenship by descent. Before you commit, we review your current tax and reporting position, including any exit charges.
Residence programmes
Investor residence
Residence granted for a qualifying investment in property, funds or government instruments. Some routes lead to permanent residence or citizenship after a period of lawful residence.
| Programme | Region | Minimum requirement | Typical timeline | Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal Golden Visa | Europe | €500,000 (fund route) | 12 to 18+ months | 10 years to citizenship |
| Greece Golden Visa | Europe | €250,000 (conversions); €400,000 to €800,000 | 3 to 6+ months | 7 years to citizenship |
| Malta Permanent Residence | Europe | Contribution, property or lease, and fee | 4 to 6+ months | Permanent residence |
| Cyprus PR | Europe | €300,000 | 2 to 6+ months | Permanent residence |
| UAE Golden Visa | Middle East | AED 2M | 1 to 2+ months | 10-year renewable |
| Latvia Investor Residence | Europe | €250,000 | 1 to 3+ months | EU PR |
| Italy Investor Visa | Europe | €250,000 | 2 to 4+ months | Renewable; path to citizenship |
| Mauritius Premium / Investor | Africa | $375,000 | 2 to 3+ months | 20-year renewable |
| Hungary Guest Investor Programme | Europe | €250,000 fund | 2 to 4+ months | 10-year renewable |
| Jersey High-Value Residency | Europe | £250k+ annual tax | 3 to 6+ months | Residence |
| New Zealand Active Investor Plus | Pacific | NZD 5M (growth) | Varies | Residence → citizenship |
11 programmes in this group.
Residence programmes
Entrepreneur and start-up
Residence for founders and business owners through start-up, innovator, self-employment and treaty routes. Capital requirements vary, and most require an active business.
| Programme | Region | Minimum requirement | Typical timeline | Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany Self-Employment | Europe | €50,000 | 3 to 6+ months | 3 to 5 years to PR |
| UK Innovator Founder Visa | Europe | Endorsed business | 3 to 4+ months | 3 years to settlement |
| Netherlands DAFT (US citizens) | Europe | €4,500 business capital | 2 to 8+ weeks | Renewable; PR in 5 yrs |
| France Talent Passport | Europe | €30,000 project | 2 to 3+ months | 4-year renewable |
| Portugal D2 Entrepreneur Visa | Europe | Viable business plan | 3 to 6+ months | Residence; citizenship in 10 yrs |
| Spain Entrepreneur Visa | Europe | Innovative business | 1 to 2+ months | Renewable; PR in 5 yrs |
| Singapore EntrePass | Asia | Funded / innovative venture | 1 to 2+ months | Renewable; PR pathway |
| Paraguay Permanent Residency | Americas | ~$5,000 (no investment) | 3 to 6+ months | Permanent residence; 3 yrs to citizenship |
8 programmes in this group.
Residence programmes
Remote work
Permits for people who live in the country while working for employers or clients abroad. Income thresholds apply, and permits are usually time-limited.
| Programme | Region | Minimum requirement | Typical timeline | Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain Digital Nomad Visa | Europe | Income ~€2,850/mo | 1 to 2+ months | Up to 5 years; Beckham tax |
| Portugal Digital Nomad (D8) | Europe | Income ~€3,680/mo | 2 to 4+ months | Renewable; PR / citizenship path |
| Greece Digital Nomad Visa | Europe | Income ~€3,500/mo | 1 to 2+ months | Up to 2 years; residence path |
| Croatia Digital Nomad Visa | Europe | Income ~€3,600/mo | 1 to 2+ months | Up to 12 months |
| Estonia Digital Nomad Visa | Europe | Income ~€4,500/mo | ~1 month | Up to 12 months |
| Hungary White Card (Digital Nomad) | Europe | Income ~€3,000/mo | 1 to 2+ months | Up to 2 years |
| Italy Digital Nomad Visa | Europe | Income ~€28k/yr | 1 to 3+ months | 1-year renewable |
| Malta Nomad Residence Permit | Europe | Income ~€42k/yr | ~1 month | Up to 4 years |
| Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa | Europe | Income ~€3,500/mo | 1 to 2+ months | Up to 3 years |
| UAE Remote Work Visa | Middle East | Income ~$3,500/mo | 2 to 4+ weeks | 1-year renewable |
| Barbados Welcome Stamp | Caribbean | Income ~$50k/yr | 1 to 2+ weeks | 12 months renewable |
| Colombia Digital Nomad Visa | Americas | Income ~$1,300/mo | 2 to 6+ weeks | Up to 2 years |
| Japan Digital Nomad Visa | Asia | Income ~¥10M/yr | 1 to 2+ months | 6 months |
| Brazil Digital Nomad Visa | Americas | Income ~$1,500/mo | 1 to 2+ months | 1-year renewable |
14 programmes in this group.
Residence programmes
Passive income and retirement
Residence based on pensions, savings or rental income, for retirees and others who do not need to work locally.
| Programme | Region | Minimum requirement | Typical timeline | Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland Lump-Sum | Europe | CHF 250,000/yr tax | 3 to 6+ months | Renewable residence |
| Monaco Residence | Europe | €500,000 deposit | 3 to 6+ months | Renewable residence |
| Uruguay Tax Residency | Americas | Investment or presence | 1 to 2+ months | Permanent residence |
| Georgia Residency | Asia | Low / property from $100k | 1 to 2+ months | Renewable; territorial tax |
| Costa Rica Rentista / Pensionado | Americas | Income or $150k invest | 3 to 6+ months | Temporary → permanent |
| Mexico Temporary Residency | Americas | Income / savings threshold | 1 to 3+ months | Temporary → permanent (4 yrs) |
| Thailand Long-Term Resident | Asia | $80,000 income / assets | 1 to 3+ months | 10-year renewable |
| Thailand Privilege (Elite) | Asia | Membership from ฿650k | 1 to 3+ months | 5 to 20 years |
| Malaysia MM2H | Asia | Fixed deposit (tiered) | 3 to 6+ months | 5 to 20 year renewable |
| Philippines SRRV | Asia | Deposit from $10k–50k | 1 to 2+ months | Permanent renewable |
| Panama Friendly Nations | Americas | $200,000 or ties | 2 to 4+ months | Permanent residence |
| Panama Pensionado | Americas | Pension ~$1,000/mo | 2 to 4+ months | Permanent residence |
| Portugal D7 Passive Income | Europe | Income ~€920/mo | 3 to 6+ months | Residence; citizenship in 10 yrs |
| Spain Non-Lucrative Visa | Europe | Income ~€28k/yr | 1 to 3+ months | Renewable; PR in 5 yrs |
| Greece Financially Independent Person | Europe | Income ~€3,500/mo | 1 to 3+ months | Renewable |
| Indonesia Second Home (Bali) | Asia | Proof of funds / deposit | 1 to 2+ months | 5 to 10 years |
16 programmes in this group.
Residence programmes
Citizenship by descent
Citizenship through a parent, grandparent or, in some countries, a more distant ancestor. No investment is involved, but the documentary evidence must be complete.
| Programme | Region | Minimum requirement | Typical timeline | Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Citizenship by Descent | Europe | No investment | 12 to 36+ months | EU citizenship |
| Irish Citizenship by Descent | Europe | No investment | 6 to 18+ months | EU citizenship |
| Polish Citizenship by Descent | Europe | No investment | 12 to 24+ months | EU citizenship |
| Hungarian Citizenship by Descent | Europe | No investment | 12 to 24+ months | EU citizenship |
4 programmes in this group.
Minimum requirements exclude government, due diligence and professional fees. Timelines are approximate. All of these change from time to time; we confirm the current position before you commit.
Citizenship and residence programmes are subject to government due diligence and approval. We do not guarantee approval.
Before you apply
Three things we review first
01Due diligence and approval
Citizenship and residence programmes are subject to government due diligence and approval. We do not guarantee approval. Applicants are checked by the issuing government, and the source of any investment or income must be documented.
02Tax residence on both sides
Holding a residence permit does not by itself make you tax resident, and leaving a country can create tax where you live now. We review both sides, with tax counsel where needed.
03Physical presence
Requirements range from a few days a year to most of the year, and they affect any later application for permanent residence or citizenship. We set out what each route requires before you choose.
Common questions
Choosing a residence route
Which route is right: investor, entrepreneur, remote work or descent?
Residence or citizenship?
Will I need to move?
What about tax?
Can I include my family?
We do not give legal or tax advice in jurisdictions where we are not qualified to do so; where needed, we coordinate local counsel and tax advisers.
Citizenship and residence programmes are subject to government due diligence and approval. We do not guarantee approval.
Fees agreed in writing before work begins. Where a bank or provider pays us for an introduction, we tell you before the introduction is made.
See also what we will not do and prohibited and restricted matters.
Next step
Which residence route fits?
Tell us where you would like to live, who should be included and your timeline. A senior adviser will review it and set out the routes that could suit, with costs, in writing.