Many popular expat destinations have recently ended or restricted their Golden Visa programs, which were often criticized. However, several countries still use these programs to attract affluent foreigners. In 2025, what are the available investment programs? Can one immigrate with their family through these programs?
New residence by investment programs
Beyond the usual expat hotspots, countries like Namibia, Costa Rica, Mauritius, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, and Turkey are becoming popular among affluent foreigners. These nations offer competitive Golden Visas with family sponsorship options, highlighting them as new favorites for wealthy expatriates.
Turkey
In 2024, President Erdogan intensified efforts to restore confidence among foreign investors. During the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, he met with executives from the top 100 American companies, including Apple's vice president, to promote investment opportunities in Turkey. Central to these efforts is Turkey's Golden Visa program, which not only allows investors to bring their families but also does not increase the investment requirement based on the number of family members sponsored.
The Turkey Citizenship by Investment Program grants a residence permit to foreigners who invest in real estate worth at least $400,000, stipulating that the property not be sold for three years after the purchase. There are also six other paths to obtaining Turkish citizenship: investing at least $500,000 in Turkish businesses, creating a minimum of 50 jobs, depositing $500,000 in a Turkish bank under a no-withdrawal agreement for three years, purchasing government bonds worth at least $500,000 with a three-year hold requirement, investing at least 500,000 euros in a recognized investment fund, or depositing $500,000 into an approved pension fund, all under the same condition of maintaining the investment for at least three years.
Namibia
Recognized as one of Africa's wealthier nations, Namibia has welcomed wealthy foreigners to help diversify its economy and recover from the post-Covid tourism downturn. The country has refined its residence by investment program to attract this demographic. The first option is to invest in "The President's Links Estate," a government-endorsed real estate initiative, with a minimum investment of $316,000. This residence is granted for five years, is renewable, and includes family members. After a decade of residency, investors may apply for permanent residence.
The second option involves investing at least 2 million Namibian dollars (approximately $108,000) in the broader Namibian economy. Prospective investors are encouraged to liaise with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board to enhance their likelihood of success. Such investments need to create employment opportunities, spur economic growth, and bolster local businesses.
Mauritius
Mauritius, ranked as the sixth most prosperous country in Africa, leverages its strengths—including robust economic growth and a popular tourist destination—to attract an increasing number of affluent expats. The Investor Permit in Mauritius allows them to immigrate with their families, offering a 10-year renewable residence permit known as the Occupation Permit. After residing for three years, investors can obtain permanent residence. Their families, including spouses and children, are eligible for dependent's residence permits under the same conditions as the primary applicant.
There are two main options for obtaining this permit: starting a new business in Mauritius or investing in an existing one. Applicants must commit to achieving a turnover of 4 million Mauritian rupees (approximately $85,100) by the third year. Moreover, an initial deposit of $50,000 is required in the company's Mauritius-based account. For those involved in research and development or innovative sectors, the Innovator Occupation Permit is available. Approval for this permit requires validation of the project either by the or by an incubator certified by the . As with the Investor Permit, the residence benefits extend to family members.
Other pograms open to families
Numerous other residence-by-investment programs offer family sponsorship, including , , Switzerland's Investor Permit, the , and similar programs in Costa Rica, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Â
Costa Rica
Costa Rica's Investor Visa (Inversionista) caters to foreigners who invest at least $200,000 in real estate or the local economy, or $100,000 in forest preservation. This visa allows the sponsorship of one's legal spouse, children under 25, and disabled parents. The residence permit is initially granted for three years and can be renewed if the holder spends at least six months per year in Costa Rica, whether continuously or intermittently. After three years of temporary residence, foreigners may apply for permanent residency.
Malaysia
The , initially designed for affluent foreign retirees, offers a 10-year residence permit. Since 2022, the eligibility requirements have become more stringent. Applicants must maintain at least 1 million ringgits (approximately $223,000) in a locked account and have an annual income of at least 40,000 ringgits ($8,950). The program is now closed to individuals under 35 years old. The permit includes family members—legal spouse, children under 21, and parents over 60. An additional 50,000 ringgits (about $11,190) per dependent is required for sponsorship, except for applicants over 50, who face no additional charge for family sponsorship.
Hong Kong
To attract affluent foreigners, Hong Kong offers a specialized permit for investors and entrepreneurs (). To qualify, one must invest at least 30 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately $3.7 million) and maintain this investment for at least seven years. The permit allows for the sponsorship of one's family, including children under 18 years old. Uniquely, the residence permit may also be extended to a same-sex spouse if the union, either a civil partnership or marriage, is legally recognized abroad, although cohabitation without formal legal status is not recognized.
United Arab Emirates (UAE): The new hub of residence by investment
The UAE is actively expanding its Golden Visa to include new categories of expats, such as athletes, artists, and students, aiming to establish itself as a leading hub for residence by investment. Golden Visa holders can immigrate without a sponsor and bring their family, including legal partners and children of any age. The visa offers a validity period ranging from 5 to 10 years, with the option for renewal.
Three specific programs are designated for investors and entrepreneurs. Public investments provide a 10-year residence permit for those investing a minimum of 2 million UAE dirhams (about 545,000 USD). Real estate investment grants a 5-year permit to expatriates who purchase a property worth at least 2 million AED. Entrepreneurs receive a 5-year permit if they invest at least 500,000 AED ($68,000) in an innovative project that contributes to the growth of the Emirati economy.
Additional Golden Visa programs cater to talents such as PhD students, doctors, and athletes, as well as specialists in digital and science fields like artificial intelligence, big data, and engineering. The program also extends to inventors, artists, students, humanitarians, and "frontline heroes" such as foreign caregivers, technicians, lab technicians, or pharmacists who have distinguished themselves during major crises such as COVID-19.
Residence by investment in the European Union (EU)
Despite pressures from the European Commission to phase out Golden Visa programs, several EU countries are holding firm. Portugal, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Hungary, Luxembourg, Latvia, Italy, and Austria continue to offer these programs. These destinations remain popular among expatriates, particularly because they extend the residence permit to include family members.
Portugal
The Portuguese Golden Visa remains a highly sought-after option within the EU. Although the program for acquiring residential real estate ended in November 2023, the investment-based route remains active. This program facilitates the acquisition of permanent residence and citizenship, allowing expats to bring their family members. This includes a partner (regardless of the legal status of the relationship), children under 18, older unmarried children who are full-time students or financially dependent, and parents over 65 or those financially dependent under 65.
Permanent residence is obtainable after five years, and citizenship is also available after the same period, contingent upon passing a Portuguese language test at the A2 (pre-intermediate) level. The Golden Visa allows free movement within the Schengen Area, and obtaining Portuguese citizenship provides visa-free access to 190 countries.
The program was updated this year in response to a need for simpler regulations and to attract more foreign investment. Investors now have three options: a donation to preserve Portuguese cultural heritage starting at 250,000 euros, investment in research and development from 500,000 euros, or placing funds into a state-approved investment fund starting at 500,000 euros. These investments must be maintained for at least 5 to 6 years after acquiring permanent residence or citizenship. To retain their resident status, expatriates must spend at least seven days per year in Portugal.
Italy
The Investor Visa for Italy provides four investment avenues: investing in innovative Italian startups starting at 250,000 euros, investing up to 500,000 euros in bonds or shares of Italian companies, purchasing state bonds beginning at 2 million euros, or making philanthropic donations starting at one million euros, which support public interest projects in areas like culture, economy, and heritage.
Family sponsorship under the Italian Golden Visa includes the legal partner (recognized through civil marriage) and financially dependent parents of the applicant only. Children under 18, as well as adult students and unmarried individuals, are also eligible for sponsorship.
The path to permanent residence in Italy involves stricter conditions compared to Portugal. Initially, residence is granted for 2 years, with a possible 3-year renewal contingent upon maintaining the investment. Permanent residence is achievable after 5 years of legal residency, provided the investor has continued their investment and integrated into Italian society. Full permanent residence status requires at least 10 years of legal residence, with a mandatory minimum of 183 days spent in Italy each year during this period.
Spain
In December 2024, the Spanish Congress voted to terminate the Golden Visa program, going a step further than Portugal, which only discontinued the real estate aspect of its program. The official cessation of Spain's Golden Visa was documented in the Official Journal on January 3, 2025, with the program set to end on April 3, 2025. Applicants interested in the Golden Visa had to submit their applications before this date for their requests to be processed under the former regulations. Similarly, Golden Visas that have already been issued will continue to be governed by the current framework.
For investors, the entrepreneur visa presents a viable alternative. Similar to the Golden Visa, it allows its holder to sponsor their family members, including a legal spouse (whether through civil marriage or de facto cohabitation), minor children, unmarried adult children, and financially dependent parents. The visa is initially valid for one year.
The entrepreneur visa is designed for the creation of an innovative business that serves the general interest, such as job creation, technological innovations, or partnerships with Spanish or international companies that contribute to Spanish economic growth. A significant advantage of this visa is that the law on the immigration of entrepreneurs simplifies the procedures for non-European nationals.
Residence in Canada and the United States: Two favorite expat hotspots
In Canada, foreigners seeking to bring their families can engage in the Start-Up Visa Program (outside Quebec), commonly referred to as the "startup visa." This initiative is aimed at innovative foreign entrepreneurs who are creating jobs within Canada. To qualify, they must demonstrate financial stability sufficient to support their family, which requires having at least 27,297 Canadian dollars (CAD) for a family of four, 30,690 CAD for a family of five, and nearly 40,000 CAD for a family of seven. Quebec has its own Entrepreneur Program that similarly permits entrepreneurs to bring their families.
In the United States, the new Gold Visa provides wealthy foreigners with a path to permanent residency and the option to include family members (spouse and children under 21 years old), who will also be eligible. The requirement is an investment of at least $800,000 in an American company located in an area with significant employment challenges, which may be either a rural area or one with high unemployment. Investments in other areas must exceed one million dollars.
Useful links:
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Italy:
Spain:
United Arab Emirates:
Canada: ; Quebec:
United States:
