Comparison Chart of Residence and Citizenship Programs
EU Programs with immediate citizenship | |||
Austria | Cyprus | Malta | |
Type of program | Citizenship | Citizenship | Residence permit, leading to citizenship |
Program benefit | EU settlement and excellent visa-free travel |
EU settlement and excellent visa-free travel |
EU settlement and excellent visa-free travel |
Minimum time to qualify for citizenship |
Immediate | Immediate | 1 year |
Application processing times | 12-24 months | 3-6 months | 6 months |
Minimum investment | Over €3 million direct investment |
1) €2.5 million in a residential real estate; or 2) €5 million bank deposit and €500,000 residential real estate |
1) €650,000 donation to NDSF; and 2) €350,000 real estate purchase or €16,000 p.a. rental; and 3) €150,000 eligible stocks, bonds or debentures |
Min. capital outlay for single applicant (in US$) |
Min. US$ 4.16 million | Min. US$ 3.47 million | Min. US$ 1.22 million |
Term of investment | Subjective | 3 years | 5 years for 2) and 3) |
EU Residence Programs with Schengen privileges | ||||
Belgium | Portugal | Spain | Greece | |
Type of program | Residence permit, leading to citizenship |
Residence permit, leading to eligibility for citizenship application |
Residence permit | Residence permit |
Program benefit | No minimum stay requirement and Schengen travel |
7 days/year average stay requirement and Schengen travel |
No minimum stay requirement and Schengen travel |
No minimum stay requirement and Schengen travel |
Minimum time to qualify for citizenship |
5 years of residence | 6 years of residence | Legal residence for 10 years |
Legal residence for 7 years |
Application processing times | 3-6 months | 2-3 months | TBC (opens in Q2 2014) |
Under 8 weeks |
Minimum investment | Investment in business set-up | 1) €1 Million capital investment; or 2) €500,000 real estate; or 3) Creation of at least 10 new jobs |
€500,000 Real estate investment |
€250,000 Real estate investment |
Min. capital outlay for single applicant (in US$) |
Case by case, but can be negligible (< US$ 500,000) |
Min. US$ 800,000 | Min. US$ 700,000 | Min. US$ 350,000 |
Term of investment | 5 years | 5 years | Indefinite | Indefinite |
Passport visa-free travel | 171 countries | 170 countries | 170 countries | 167 countries |
EU non-Schengen | ||
Ireland | United Kingdom | |
Type of program | Entry clearance visa, leading to Indefinite Leave to Remain and citizenship |
Entry clearance visa, leading to Indefinite Leave to Remain and citizenship |
Program benefit | No minimum stay requirement | Expedited path to ILR and fast processing |
Minimum time to qualify for citizenship |
5 years of residence | 5 Years of residence |
Application processing times | Under 12 weeks | Under 8 weeks |
Minimum investment | £500,000 invested in an approved fund or £1 million in a government bond |
£1 million/5 years; or £5 million/3 years; or £10 million/2 years; held in government bonds or stocks |
Min. capital outlay for single applicant (in US$) |
Min. US$ 850,000 | Min. US$ 1.7 million |
Term of investment | 5 years | 5 / 3 / 2 years, depending on investment |
Passport visa-free travel | 170 countries | 173 countries |
Outside EU Residence Programs leading to citizenship | Outside EU with immediate citizenship | ||||
Singapore | Quebec/Canada | USA | St Kitts or Antigua | Dominica | |
Type of program | Permanent resident permit |
Permanent resident permit |
2-year resident visa, leading to a Green Card |
Citizenship | Citizenship |
Program benefit | Permanent resident status and expedited path to citizenship |
Immediate permanent resident status |
Relatively low cost to achieving a US Green Card |
Minimal or no minimum stay requirement and excellent visa-free travel |
No minimum stay requirement and very inexpensive Program |
Minimum time to qualify for citizenship |
2 years of residence | 3 years of uninterrupted residence |
5 years of “continuous” residence; 30 months of physical residence |
Immediate | Immediate |
Application processing times | 8-10 months | 24-48 months | 12-18 months | 2-8 months | 6-12 months |
Minimum investment | SG$ 2.5 Million in GIP fund or in a business |
CA$ 800,000 in Quebec Government Bond |
US$ 500,000 in a “Regional Center” EB-5 Fund |
1) US$ 250,000 donation; or 2) US$ 400,000 real estate purchase |
US$ 100,000 donation |
Min. capital outlay for single applicant (in US$) |
US$ 2 million | US$ 730,000 | US$ 500,000 | Min. US$ 250,000 | Min. US$ 100,000 |
Term of investment | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
Passport visa-free travel | 167 countries | 170 countries | 172 countries | 131 countries | 87 Countries |