Want a Second Home? These 12 Countries Offer Residency by Investment

Some of the links might be affiliate links and, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission. See our disclaimer for more info.

Residency by investment programs are appealing to those looking to secure a second home while diversifying their financial portfolio.

These programs offer the benefits of living abroad without giving up your current citizenship. They grant residency rights in exchange for investments in real estate or business ventures.

Here are 12 countries that provide this unique opportunity, blending strategic financial advantages with the chance to call a new destination your home.

Swipe and Vote: Choose Your Favorite

If you had to “buy your way in,” which country’s residency by investment would you pick for a fresh start?

This is a swiper quiz, swipe right for yes, swipe left for no.

Best Things To Do in Porto_Explore the Ribeira, Baixa, and Bolhão Districts_SeanPavonePhoto_Adobe Stock Photo_159701299

Portugal 1/5

12 Cheap All-Inclusive Getaways in the World Carine Hotel Delfin, Bijela, Montenegro

Montenegro 2/5

12 Cheap Warm Destinations in January Where You Can Ditch the Winter Coat

Thailand 3/5

12 Countries That Offer Residency by Investment Panama

Panama 4/5

12 Countries That Offer Residency by Investment Ireland

Ireland 5/5

Results

Portugal

13 14

Montenegro

11 16

Thailand

10 17

Panama

9 18

Ireland

12 15

Prefer Listening? Here’s the Podcast

Enjoy our articles in audio form, perfect for planning your next getaway or relaxing on the go.

Note: Our podcasts are powered by cutting-edge technology to provide you with high-quality audio versions of our articles.

Save this!

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later.

Portugal

Portugal’s Golden Visa Program is considered one of the best programs for residency by investment in Europe. Portugal no longer offers this path by real estate investment. Current options include:

€500,000 ($631,805): Investment funds or scientific research
€250,000 ($264,861): Arts and culture support
Job Creation: 10 jobs or €500,000 ($631,805) for 5 permanent positions

These changes focus on innovation, culture, and job creation. You can also obtain residency in Portugal through Naturalization, which only costs $168 (€155). However, you’ll have to reside in Portugal for five years first.

Montenegro

Montenegro offers one of the world’s most affordable investment programs that lead to residency. In Montenegro, you can obtain a one-year renewable residency by investing in real estate and applying for a permit. Admittedly, investing in real estate is very rarely cheap. However, the Montenegrin government has implemented a minimum investment.

Therefore, you can move to Montenegro without spending €500,000 ($631,805). In fact, you could obtain residency for as little as $50,000 if you find a small and affordable apartment. To apply for Montenegrin citizenship, you must pay $15,000 first.

This is a reasonable price, considering you’ll have unlimited access to Montenegro’s breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities, and year-round warm weather.

Ireland

Ireland’s program to gain residency via investment is among the world’s best for high-net-worth individuals. The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) allows non-EEA nationals to secure immigration permission and residency status in Ireland in return for long-term investment. This is excellent if you want to relocate your business.

However, you’ll need some serious cash. Applicants must have a personal wealth of at least €2 million ($2.2 million). Furthermore, they must agree to invest a minimum of €1 million for at least three years. These funds must be from your own resources and not financed through other sources, i.e., a loan.

The IIP offers four different types of residency by investment, so check out the Irish Immigration website for more details.

Thailand

Thailand offers one of the world’s most highly sought-after investment-based residency programs. Foreigners worldwide flock to Thailand in their millions to enjoy tropical beaches, bustling cities, and historic sites. However, only a select few are granted residency.

You must apply for a permanent residency visa in Thailand, if you are interested. This has many benefits, including no requirements to apply for an extension and the ability to apply for Thai citizenship.

The applicant must have an investment of at least ฿10 million ($289,000) in Thailand, and a Thai commercial bank must provide evidence.

Panama

Through the Friendly Nations scheme, individuals who dream of exploring lush rainforests and swimming in turquoise waters can obtain permanent residency in Panama. The Friendly Nations scheme is a residency-by-investment program that requires applicants to invest at least $200,000 in Panamanian real estate. This residency visa is available to citizens of 50 countries with close professional and economic ties to Panama.

This includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France. While $200,000 is a lot of money, the real estate requirement is reasonable, as you’ll likely already be planning to buy property in Panama if you want to move there. You’ll also have to pay $250 to the National Treasury and $800 to the National Immigration Service during the application process.

Bahamas

12 Caribbean Destinations Where No Visa is Needed for Americans — © icemanphotos / Adobe Stock

To obtain a permanent residency in the Bahamas, you must invest at least $750,000 in real estate. It is one of the most exciting and luxurious countries that offer these programs.

This is an incredible amount of money, but it’s still one of the easiest ways to obtain permanent residency in the Bahamas. Other methods of obtaining permanent residence include working in the country for ten years or being married to a Bahamian citizen for five years.

🏨 Explore all your hotel options here

Considering the costs, you should apply for the $1,000 temporary residence permit to see if you like the country first.

Cyprus

The Cyprus permanent residency program allows individuals to live and work in the country in return for a minimum investment of €300,000 ($317,100). Unlike some residency by investment programs, Cyprus allows investment in several ways. For example, you could invest $317,100 in a house/apartment, shops, hotels, share capital, or units of the Cyprus Investment Organization of Collective Investments.

However, specific criteria must be met to succeed in your application. The applicant must have a clean criminal record, health insurance, and proof of property ownership. Once you’ve obtained a residency permit, you can live in Cyprus for ten years before needing to apply for an extension.

Italy

24 Top Underrated European Cities To Avoid the Crowds — © Yasonya / Adobe Stock

Italy’s residency by investment program, better known as the Investor Visa, is ideal for individuals who dream of living the Italian lifestyle. The Investor Visa allows foreign citizens to live and work in Italy in exchange for qualifying investment. There are four investment options, each featuring a different minimum investment.

The most minor investment you can make is €250,000 ($264,000) in an innovative startup. Meanwhile, the government bonds investment option requires a minimum investment of €2 million ($2.2 million). Wannabe residents can also invest in Italian LLCs and philanthropic initiatives.

The Investor Visa is valid for two years but can be renewed for three-year periods. After ten years, you can apply for citizenship.

Latvia

The Latvia residency by investment program is one of the cheapest in Europe. An individual can apply with a minimum investment of €50,000 ($52,900) in real estate or a business.

The Latvian government allows investors to reside in Latvia for five years before renewing their permits. Like many European residency by investment permits, this permit also comes with the freedom to travel the Schengen Area. If you physically reside in Latvia for ten years, you can then apply for citizenship.

Another advantage of the Latvian program is that applications only take 30 days to complete.

Cambodia

Cambodia is one of the newest countries to offer a residency by investment program. The nation’s Cambodia My 2nd Home (CM2H) program was only officially released in 2022. It’s an official program approved by the Ministry of Interior and General Department of Immigration of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The program’s primary objective was to allow foreigners to stay in Cambodia on a Golden Visa for ten years. In return, applicants must be willing to invest a minimum of $100,000 in real estate. After only five years, CM2H holders can apply for a Cambodian passport.

Besides being given the freedom to work and live in a country as beautiful as Cambodia, one of the significant draws is the currency: the US Dollar.

United States

Did you know the United States is one of the countries that offers residency for investment? If not, you could be in luck if you’ve always dreamt of living in the Land of the Free. However, you’ll need some serious backing.

The United States residency by investment program is called the EB-5 Visa Program. It offers foreign investors a pathway to US permanent residency and citizenship through a minimum investment of $800,000. However, this figure can rise to over $1,000,000.

This residency program is expensive, but it offers an efficient route to a green card. Through the EB-5 Visa Program, you can obtain permanent residency in the United States in 18 months or less.

Greece

Greece is one of the most beautiful countries that offers residency by investment. Known for its exotic islands, historic sites, and vibrant towns and cities, Greece offers permanent residencies in return for a minimum €400,000 ($422,800) investment. This investment must be made into Greek real estate.

Besides providing applicants with permanent residency in Greece, the Greece Golden Visa allows them to travel freely within Europe’s Schengen Area. Other benefits of the Greece Golden Visa include the opportunity to rent out property and the eligibility to apply for citizenship after seven years.

However, you should note that the minimum investment varies by location. For example, the minimum investment in Athens is €800,000 ($845,600).