Top 3 Golden Visa Programmes in 2024

Share:

As the world becomes less certain with every turn of Planet Earth around its axis, golden visas are proving to be, well, worth their weight in gold. A golden visa, for the uninitiated, is a Residency by Investment. But which ones are the most valuable? Introducing our top 3 golden visa programmes in 2024.

Malta Permanent Residence Programme

RIF Trust, as part of Latitude Group, has offices dotted around the world to cater for the rising global number of HNWIs. One of these is situated in St Julian’s, Malta’s very own Manhattan where you’ll find the archipelago’s greatest concentration of skyscrapers. Here, our experienced case processing team field applications for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme.

The MPRP dates back to Immigration Act Regulations from 2021. You can become one if you’re a third-country national, as in a non-EU citizen. Making a minimum investment of €150,000 secures you a base in one of the world’s safest countries with a low crime rate that is ideal to raise a family in.

Working out of our St Julian’s office is Alex Hopkin, our Director of Operations. “Moving to Malta is one of the best decisions I have ever made,”  he claims. “Entrepreneurs will appreciate the chance to switch their business suit for a swimsuit, given the favourable climate. Walking the cobbled streets of ancient towns and cities feels like you’ve stumbled into an episode of Game of Thrones, and little wonder, as many scenes were filmed here.” 

Portuguese Golden Visa

In Portugal, Strategic Partner Ilana van Huyssten-Meyer has intimate knowledge of the Portuguese Golden Visa. Her experience reflects the intricacies of both the programme and the needs of non-EU investors. Could it be that Portuguese Residency by Investment is a perfect match for you and your family?

Ilana explains that despite some concerns regarding the programme, investors have every reason to be optimistic regarding Portuguese Residency by Investment’s immediate future: “Sure, the popular real estate option is no longer available but the minimum €500,000 venture capital investment represents good value and the €200,000 donation to help artistic output or maintain national heritage better still.” “And, unlike in Malta, you can naturalize from a resident to a citizen after five years.”

Rumours of the Portuguese Golden Visa’s demise, however, were not exaggerated. At various points in 2023, it looked like the government would pull the plug on the programme. As new golden visa programmes come and go, it’s important to seize the moment and invest in a new residency while it’s still available.

Spanish Golden Visa

Like the Maltese and Portuguese golden visa programmes, the appeal of the Spanish golden visa lies in its reward of EU residency. You’ll be able to travel freely through the Schengen Zone. And, after 10 years of residency, you’ll earn citizenship which allows you to live and work in the rest of the European Union as well.

10 years becomes 2 if you’re an investor from LATAM or the Phillipines. Spain is one of the most popular countries for snowbirds heading south for winter. But it’s a beautiful country that makes for an idyllic setting all year round, with InterNations expats voting it their residence of choice in a 2023 survey.

Our Group COO David Regueiro is Spanish. For those used to holidaying on the beaches of the Costas, David points out that basing yourself somewhere else makes for an eye-opening experience. “Spain surprises you with its diversity of cuisine, landscapes, and people.” “Growing up in Galicia, the green, green grass of my home was as verdant as Ireland. The two share a Celtic connection but elsewhere the sands of Gran Canaria’s Playa de Maspalomas, for example, are a doppelganger for the Sahara desert.”

Which of These Golden Visa Programmes Is the Right Fit For You?

The short answer is we don’t know. You might have a better idea after reading our guide. However, for specialist advice tailored to your needs, don’t delay and contact RIF Trust today.