Residence by Investment: Compare Programs by Region and Find Your Fit
You want a residence permit abroad for your family, and you want to compare routes on facts, not brochures. Europe, South East Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are live now, with 18 routes checked against official government pages. Other regions follow once we have read their official sources. Residence is not citizenship.
The same words mean different things in every country
Choosing a residence route is hard because "residence by investment" is not one thing. One country asks you to buy property, another to fund a business, and another to show steady income. The amounts, family rules and conditions differ, and many sites mix them together.
What it looks like from the outside:
- Lists of "top programs" that mix investment routes, business routes and income tests.
- Figures that differ from site to site, and from the official page.
- Programs listed as open after they have closed or changed.
How it feels:
- You worry about choosing a country on a bad comparison.
- You feel unsure whom to trust.
- You fear moving money on a rule that has already changed.
You do not have to sort this out alone
We know how hard it is to compare programs across countries. You want someone who has read the official page, tells you honestly when a route does not fit, and stays your point of contact from first question to filing.
What we have done:
- 35+ years in immigration and investment migration
- 25,000+ families guided since 1991
- 3rd Generation in the immigration industry
- 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner
What we believe:
- Honesty first: we tell you when a route does not fit, before you move money.
- Checked rules: every figure on our region pages comes from an official source and carries a date.
- Your plan, not a template: the right route depends on your goals, your family and your funds.
We believe a residence plan should rest on a rule you have checked, not a brochure you have read.
What you get
| Feature | Benefit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Routes checked on official pages | You compare routes that are open, not routes from an old guide | You stop worrying about a closed door |
| Plain route labels | You see whether a route is an investment, a business or an income test | You do not confuse residence with an investment you cannot recover |
| A dated status board on each region | You see what changed and when | You decide on current facts |
| Family rules on every programme page | You see who can be included | Everyone you worry about is accounted for |
| One point of contact | You deal with us, and we bring in a local partner when your case is qualified | You never chase several firms in several countries |
Which region suits you?
Start with the region, then choose the country and the route. Europe and South East Asia are open for comparison today. The other regions are being checked, and we add a route only after its official page.
| Region | Status | What you can do today |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | Live | Compare 10 routes in Portugal, Greece, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Hungary, Spain and the United Kingdom |
| Middle East | Live | Compare the UAE Golden Residence for investors, with a government fee calculator |
| South East Asia | Live | Compare 6 routes in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia |
| Latin America | Live | Compare the Panama Qualified Investor Programme, with more routes added as they pass our official-source check |
| North America | Being added | See our Canada immigration pages for the programs we handle there |
Middle East, country by country.
- United Arab Emirates: the Golden Residence for investors.
Latin America, country by country.
- Panama: the Qualified Investor Programme.
South East Asia, country by country.
- Malaysia: the MM2H long-stay pass.
- Thailand: the Long-Term Resident visa for Wealthy Global Citizens.
- Philippines: the SRRV Classic retiree visa.
- Singapore: the Global Investor Programme.
- Indonesia: the Golden Visa and the Second Home Visa.
Europe, country by country.
- Portugal: Golden Visa, passive income, and independent work or entrepreneur routes.
- Greece: Golden Visa through real estate.
- Italy: Investor Visa through bonds, company capital or a donation.
- Malta: Permanent Residence Programme, filed by a licensed agent.
- Cyprus: investor permit with property, shares or a fund.
- Hungary: Guest Investor permit through a real estate fund share or a donation.
- Spain: non-lucrative visa for people with steady income.
- United Kingdom: Innovator Founder visa for business founders.
Three route types.
- Investment residence is a residence permit you earn by putting money into something the law lists.
- A business route is a permit for running a business, not for holding an investment.
- Income-based residence is a permit you earn by showing steady money, not by investing it.
Is residence by investment right for you?
It is a good fit if you want to live abroad, keep your passport and document your funds. Residence is not citizenship, and most countries ask for years of legal residence before you can apply for a passport.
| A good fit if | Consider another route if |
|---|---|
| You want a home base abroad for your family | You want a second passport within a few years |
| You can show where your funds come from | Your funds cannot be documented |
| You can keep an investment for the period the route needs | You need your money back on a fixed date |
For a passport route, read Citizenship by investment. For the full comparison, read Citizenship vs residency by investment.
Risks to read before you move any money
Every route has a rule that can end it or stop it before it starts.
- Funds that cannot be documented. A file without clean proof of where the money came from fails.
- Investments you must keep. Several routes cancel the permit if you sell the investment early.
- Rules about the stay and about work. Some routes set minimum visits, and some ban work.
- Rules that change. Thresholds, fees and nationality rules move, so each region page shows the date we last read the official source.
- No guarantee. Residence is not a passport, and no route promises a result. We give no investment or tax advice.
Your path in three steps
Three steps from your first answers to your permit.
- Step 1: Find your route. Use Find my program. You get a shortlist of routes and a cost view for your family in a few minutes.
- Step 2: We do the heavy lifting. We qualify your case and check your funds, family and documents. When your case is qualified, we bring in the right local partner in the country you chose, who files with the authority.
- Step 3: Your permit in hand. The authority decides, you keep the conditions, and you renew on time.
Status: what changed and when
Reviewed 22 October 2026 on official government pages. Every route on this page is checked on an official source.
| Region | Status | What we have read |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | Live | 10 routes confirmed open on official pages. See the Europe status board for each country |
| Middle East | Live | UAE route confirmed on official pages. See the Middle East status board |
| South East Asia | Live | 6 routes confirmed on official pages. See the South East Asia status board for each country |
| Latin America | Live | Panama route confirmed on official pages. See the Latin America status board |
| North America | Being added | Canada programs are on our Canada pages |
What could change: thresholds, fees and nationality rules. What we do about it: we re-read the official page before each update and show the date.
Two possible futures
A year from now, you may still be comparing countries from lists that disagree. You hold several brochures and no date on any of them.
Or your family has a permit in the country that fit, your route is one that exists, and your file went in clean. You feel relieved, and you chose on facts you could check.
The cost of staying put: routes and rules change, and each change can add cost or close a door.
Your ultimate success:
- Relieved: your family has a base abroad
- Confident: you chose a route that is open today
- Protected: your family is covered together
- In control: you decided on your terms, with the facts
Which route fits your family?
Answer eight short questions and the finder ranks all 17 residence programmes against your goals, funds and family. You see your shortlist and the cost for your family first, and a form only if you want it emailed with a fact sheet.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. We bring in qualified local partners in each country, so you deal with one accountable team from first question to filing.
One point of contact
We qualify your case first, then bring in the right local partner. You deal with us throughout.
A strategy built for your family
We match routes to your goals, funds and family, not a template.
Application accuracy
Document and source-of-funds review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track rule, fee and regulator changes across every program for you.
End-to-end support
From your first question to your permit in hand, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
Real reviews from clients we have guided across borders.
Frequently asked questions
What is residence by investment?
Residence by investment is a residence permit granted because you invest in the country, run a business there, or show steady income. It does not make you a citizen. Each country sets its own amounts, conditions and family rules.
Which regions do you cover today?
Europe is live with 10 routes, South East Asia with 6, Latin America with 1 and the Middle East with 1, each checked on an official government page. North America follows as their official sources.
Is residence by investment the same as citizenship by investment?
No. Residence lets you live in a country, and citizenship gives you its passport. Our citizenship by investment pages cover the passport routes.
Does every route need an investment?
No. Income-based routes, such as Portugal’s passive income residence and Spain’s non-lucrative visa, need steady income and no investment. Business routes need a business you run. Each page labels its route type.
Can my family come with me?
Yes, on most routes, with different rules for each. Every programme page lists who can be included, and the Europe pages show the rules for the countries we have read.
How long does it take?
Processing time depends on the authority and on how complete your file is. We walk you through each step and its timing before you commit funds.
Will my application be approved?
No route promises approval, and we make no approval claims. What we control is the file: a route that exists, documented funds and clean certificates. We tell you before you pay if your case does not fit.
What do you do, and what does the local partner do?
We qualify your case, check your documents and stay your point of contact. When your case is qualified, we bring in a local partner in the country, who files your application. In Malta, the programme requires a licensed agent to file, and in Malaysia a Ministry-licensed tour operator.
Can you help with property, a company or a bank account?
Yes, through local partners. For the property routes we introduce you to local property partners, and we arrange a company, a corporate bank account and tax registration with partners, so you deal with one point of contact. We give no investment advice and quote no returns, and local partners may pay AIA for introductions.
Why are some programs not listed?
Every route we list is checked on an official government page, and we add others as they pass that check. We add a programme as soon as it passes our official-source check.
FIND YOUR ROUTE IN A FEW MINUTES
Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 · Last updated: 22 October 2026
