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in capital or start a business to create jobs for Portuguese citizens . However , the minimum qualifying investment amount increased from € 280,000 to € 500,000 .
THE MALTESE FALCON SOARS
Malta emerges as a leading destination for foreign investment migrants . Its Permanent Residence programme , also known as the MPRP , offers a straightforward path to Maltese residency .
Launched in March 2021 , it replaced Malta ’ s Residence and Visa programme ( MRVP ) and gives non-EU nationals permanent residency in exchange for a significant investment in the country .
The investment requirements for the MPRP vary . Investors can buy a property worth at least € 350,000 (€ 300,000 if it ’ s in southern Malta and Gozo ) and contribute € 68,000 to the government . Or they can donate € 98,000 and take out a € 12,000 annual lease of a residential property (€ 10,000 if it ’ s in Gozo and southern Malta ).
Over 1,000 investors have obtained permanent residency in Malta since the program ’ s launch . The government has also said the MPRP attracts foreign investment and creates jobs . In 2022 alone , it contributed to the Residency Malta Agency over € 50 million . residency-by-investment ( RBI ) alternatives with a more attractive range of investments .
PORTUGAL , THE KING OF EUROPEAN RBI , SEES ITS CROWN SLIPPING
Portugal was a popular destination for investors thanks to its golden visa programme dating back to 2012 . The program awards foreign high-net-worth-individuals ( HNWI ) a Portuguese residency permit in return for making a qualifying investment in the country .
Yet , in mid-2023 , the Portuguese government tightened the terms . Investors can no longer buy property to earn a golden visa ; the government closed the door on that route to residency after it was linked to pricing the average Portuguese national out of the real estate market .
These changes have made the Portuguese RBI program less appealing . It remains open for those willing to invest
“ Investors can no longer buy property to earn a golden visa ; the government closed the door on that route to residency after it was linked to pricing the average Portuguese national out of the real estate market .
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THE SUN CONTINUES TO SHINE ON SPAIN
Spain is another European country that has seen a rise in investment migration . The country issued its first golden visa in 2013 , following the classic formula : foreign HNWIs receive a residency permit in exchange for investing in Spain .
This RBI program has drawn particular interest from Chinese and Latin American investors , attractive to those who want a second home or want to establish a business . For every home sold in Spain today , one in five is to a foreigner .
Latin American investors enjoy an even shorter route to citizenship . For them , it takes two years as opposed to the