European Countries Frequently Extend 'Olive Branches' of Property-Based Immigration to Attract Global Investors

Currently, traditional immigration countries are raising thresholds and tightening policies. Meanwhile, European nations, having emerged from the crisis, are in urgent need of boosting their economies and seeking foreign capital. Consequently, they have successively launched property-based immigration policies, lowering investment immigration thresholds and naturalization requirements to attract global investors. At the same time, the European Union, the unified currency, and the Schengen Agreement have brought European countries closer together, which has become another important reason for attracting investors. Currently, countries such as the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Latvia, Portugal, and Greece are all extending 'olive branches' to applicants from various countries.“”.
Portugal
Property-based immigration: One application, approval in 2 months, three generations benefit
As early as October 2012, the Portuguese government implemented a new investment immigration act, namely the “Golden Residence Permit Program”. According to this act, non-EU citizens can obtain residency permits by meeting any one of three criteria. The main applicant, their spouse, and children under 18 years of age can obtain Portuguese residency within 2 months. After holding a valid residence permit for 5 years, they can obtain permanent residency, and after 6 years, they can apply for Portuguese citizenship. The three criteria are: investing capital of over 1 million Euros; purchasing real estate worth 500,000 Euros; or creating 10 jobs.
Among these, purchasing real estate worth 500,000 Euros is considered by the industry to be the simplest and most popular method for investors. The policy is very flexible, allowing the purchase of multiple properties totaling 500,000 Euros, with no restrictions on property type; whether residential or commercial, the purchased property can be freely sold after 5 years. After obtaining Portuguese immigration status, applicants and their families can not only enjoy Portugal's welfare, education, and investment resources, but also travel freely through the 26 Schengen countries of the EU, enjoying an international lifestyle.
Latest statistics from the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs show that as of July 2013, approximately 147 people had submitted ARI (Golden Residence Permit) applications, of which 47 had successfully obtained the Golden Residence Permit, successfully attracting over 73.5 million Euros in investment. Among them, the applicant with the highest investment amount came from China, with an investment of 1.3 million Euros.
Cyprus
300,000 Euros for permanent residency in one step
Cyprus is an important island nation in the eastern Mediterranean. Because it is located at the intersection of Europe, Asia, and Africa, it has been an important hub for transportation and trade between the three continents since ancient times. Cyprus relaxed its immigration policy at the beginning of 2012, allowing non-EU residents to purchase permanent property in Cyprus worth no less than 300,000 Euros. The approval time is within 2 months, allowing the whole family to obtain permanent residency. Applicants do not need to prove the source of investment funds, have no business background requirements, and have no language or residency requirements. During this period, applicants only need to visit Cyprus once every two years. It is currently the only EU country that grants permanent residency in one step. It is worth noting that the permanent residency status in Cyprus under this project must be based on the property; that is, if the property is resold, the permanent residency status will be terminated.
United Kingdom
Children under 16 can enjoy free public school education
The UK's high welfare and high level of education make it an ideal choice for settling abroad. UK investment immigration has high requirements for the applicant's assets. Currently, there are 3 ways to invest in the country with different investment amounts (i.e., 1 million, 3 million, and 5 million GBP). The minimum standard is to invest 1 million GBP to purchase UK government bonds and hold them for 5 years. After 5 years, the investment can be recovered with interest. In addition, immigration law requires investors to pass official exams, not leave the country for more than 180 days per year, and reside in the UK for at least 6 months each year.
Starting from July 2011, individuals residing in the UK who wish to apply for permanent residency or British citizenship must first apply as a “probationary citizen”. During the probationary period, applicants are not yet entitled to the full benefits of permanent residents or British citizens. UK investment immigration first grants a 3-year + 2-year residence visa. After 5 years, it can be converted into permanent residency, and after another year, one can apply for naturalization.
It is worth noting that this project has no requirements for management experience, tax payment certificates, age, education, or English proficiency, so the couple can choose the party who can reside in the UK as the main applicant. The declared assets can be reflected in any form, such as inheritance, gifts, securities investment, futures trading, or business operations. After obtaining immigration status, children under 16 can enjoy free public school education, and it is easier to apply to famous universities in immigration countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and Singapore, especially for high-quality majors that are usually not open to international students, such as medicine and law.