Residence by investment

Itqan

Residence by investment

Residency by Investment

There is no doubt that you have already come across countries that offer citizenship by investment, and most of them are in the Caribbean. Generally, they do not require applicants to reside in the country prior to the application. However, there are many countries that offer residence by investment programs instead of citizenship by investment programs. A residence by investment program is a process that requires a foreign national to invest in another country in order to gain residence there. That foreign investor is then entitled to take up residence in that country and after a certain number of years apply for permanent residence. Permanent residence in its turn, subject to certain conditions, can entitle foreign citizens to citizenship by naturalisation in the country that offers residence by investment.
Basically, residence by investment programs go side by side with citizenship by investment programs, where eventually permanent residence also leads to citizenship, but it takes time, requires physical residence in the country for a certain period of time and a permanent residence card.

What is temporary and permanent residence?

Temporary residence is a status granted to a foreign citizen giving them the right to stay in a country for a limited period of time. It can be either in the form of a visa or temporary residence permit. A temporary resident can legally reside and work, study or do business in the country, depending on the type of a visa, without becoming a full citizen. A residence by investment program is another way of obtaining temporary and permanent residence when you are required to invest in a country of your future residence.

Temporary residence permit is normally granted for one or two years, subject to renewal either annually or every two years. After a period of legal and continuous residence in the country, generally 5 years, a foreign investor can apply for a permanent residence permit, provided other requirements are met. Permanent residence status offers foreign citizens almost identical rights as to the citizens of the residence-by-investment country. Permanent residents can reside, work, study wherever they want without any time restrictions.