Interest in obtaining residency and citizenship through investment programs, commonly known as 'Golden Visas', is on the rise globally. In Europe, the Greek Golden Visa requires a minimum investment of €250,000, while Malta's Permanent Residence Programme starts at €100,000. Portugal and Spain have similar programs, with costs set at €168,000 and €500,000 respectively. In North America, the US EB-5 Visa demands an investment of $800,000, and Canada's Start-up Visa requires C$275,000. Meanwhile, the UAE's Golden Visa is priced at $550,000 [06d7fa4].
The growing interest in European residency and citizenship options is notable, especially as North American programs face increasing competition from these European alternatives. In contrast, Indian High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) are showing a declining interest in Caribbean Citizenship by Investment programs, attributed to rising costs and the perceived weakness of Caribbean passports [06d7fa4].
RIF Trust, a firm established in India in 2013, has recently opened a physical office in Mumbai in 2024 to cater to the growing demand for investment migration services. This trend is driven by global events that compel investors to seek second residencies and citizenships as a form of security or a 'Plan B' [06d7fa4].
As Indonesia launches its own 'Golden Visa' scheme, offering residency for investments starting at US$350,000, concerns about potential risks such as money laundering and housing inflation have surfaced. The Indonesian government aims to issue 1,000 golden visas this year, primarily targeting applicants from countries like Singapore, Japan, and China. However, the scheme has raised alarms regarding land ownership issues and the potential for protests from local residents [0873b898].