Residency by investment.
A right to live — and, in time and with substance, a possible path to citizenship.
Where citizenship by investment confers a passport, residency by investment confers the right to live in a country, frequently with the option to naturalise after a number of years of genuine residence. Moore Law advises on residency with one decisive advantage: we operate from Dubai, and our Real Estate division transacts in the very market that underpins the UAE Golden Visa.
All figures are indicative minimums and exclude government, legal and processing fees. Programme terms change frequently; we confirm current requirements at engagement.
Residence — and, with substance, a path to a passport.
Where citizenship by investment confers a passport, residency by investment confers the right to live in a country, frequently with the option to naturalise after a number of years of genuine residence. Since the European Court of Justice closed the investor-citizenship route in 2025, residency programmes have become the principal lawful bridge to a European future — and, separately, the United Arab Emirates has built a long-term residency framework that stands apart from anything in Europe.
Moore Law advises on residency with the same discipline it brings to citizenship, and with one decisive advantage: we operate from Dubai, and our Real Estate division transacts in the very market that underpins the UAE Golden Visa. For European routes, we are candid about what each programme now actually offers — because, here too, the marketing has aged badly.
The European landscape, in brief.
Spain abolished its golden visa in April 2025. Portugal removed real estate as a qualifying asset in 2023 and, in 2026, extended its ordinary naturalisation period to ten years. Greece replaced its flat €250,000 entry point with area-based tiers. Ireland and the United Kingdom closed their investor routes. The durable European options that remain are Portugal, Greece, Hungary and Italy — each suited to a different objective.
The routes compared.
| Programme | Region | Minimum (indicative) | Validity | Minimum stay | Notable features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE Golden Visa | United Arab Emirates | AED 2,000,000 (~USD 545,000) property | 10 years, renewable | None | 0% income tax; sponsor full family incl. parents; off-plan/mortgaged qualify |
| Greece | Europe (EU) | €250k / €400k / €800k (tiered) | Renewable | None | Strongest EU property route; no Airbnb letting; citizenship needs real residence |
| Portugal | Europe (EU) | €500,000 (fund) | Renewable | ~7 days/year | Lowest presence; real estate gone; ~10 yrs to citizenship |
| Hungary | Europe (EU) | €250,000 (accredited fund) | 10 years, renewable | None | Immediate Schengen; zero presence |
| Italy | Europe (EU) | €250,000 (innovative start-up) | Renewable | Modest | Capital-markets routes; no property purchase needed |
| Spain | Europe (EU) | — | Closed | — | Abolished April 2025 |
All figures are indicative minimums and exclude government, legal and processing fees. Programme terms change frequently; we confirm current requirements at engagement. This page provides general information and is not legal or tax advice.
Explore each route.
UAE Golden Visa
AED 2,000,000 (~USD 545,000) property · 10 years, renewable
Ten-year, renewable residency in a zero-income-tax jurisdiction, with no minimum stay. The programme Moore Law knows best, advising from inside Dubai with an in-house real-estate practice.
EuropePortugal Golden Visa
€500,000 (qualifying fund) · Renewable residence; ~10 years to naturalisation
Still open and still low-presence at roughly seven days a year, but real estate no longer qualifies and naturalisation now takes ten years. Moore Law advises on the realistic horizon.
EuropeGreece Golden Visa
€250,000 / €400,000 / €800,000 (tiered) · Renewable residence; no minimum stay
Europe's strongest remaining property route, now at area-based tiers, with no minimum stay. Moore Law confirms the applicable tier and conducts independent property due diligence.
EuropeHungary Guest Investor Residence Permit
€250,000 (accredited real-estate fund) · 10 years, renewable; no physical presence
A ten-year EU residence permit with zero physical-presence requirement and immediate Schengen access. Moore Law assesses the accredited-fund route and manages the application.
EuropeItaly Investor Visa
€250,000 (innovative start-up) · Renewable residence; flexible presence
A flexible, capital-markets-oriented route for investors who never wanted a property purchase. Moore Law matches the route to your objectives and tax position.
Programmes closed or materially changed.
A candid note, because outdated guidance circulates widely.
- Spain — golden visa abolished for new applicants in April 2025 (Organic Law 1/2025).
- Ireland & United Kingdom — investor routes closed.
- Portugal — real-estate route removed (2023); naturalisation extended to ten years (2026).
- Greece — flat €250,000 entry replaced by area-based tiers; short-term letting of golden-visa property prohibited.
- Malta — investor citizenship ended by the ECJ in 2025 (residence options remain).
- Cyprus — investor citizenship ended in 2020; now a permanent-residence niche.
We confirm the live position for any programme at the point of advice.
Looking for a passport rather than a residence permit?
Citizenship by investment confers full citizenship and a passport, usually without a prior period of residence. Our Second Citizenship pillar covers the Caribbean, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan and the honest European position after the 2025 ruling.