Your Experts In Residency And Citizenship By Investment

La Vida’s award-winning team has advised and helped thousands investors worldwide to secure global mobility through golden visa programs.

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What is A Golden Visa?

A golden visa is any government program that grants residency or citizenship in exchange for qualifying investment – whether that’s European residency, Caribbean citizenship, or a second passport anywhere in the world. It is the definitive umbrella term for the global investment migration industry: a dynamic, government-backed category that gives internationally minded investors and their families the ability to secure residency rights, full citizenship, or specialised investor status in exchange for capital invested in that country. Since 2012, La Vida has guided investors from over 160 countries through more than 18 of the world’s leading programs – and goldenvisas.com is the authoritative home of everything in this space.

Golden Visa, Residency by Investment or Citizenship by Investment – Which Is Right for You?

At La Vida, we define the Golden Visa ecosystem as encompassing three core pillars – because the opportunity available to investors extends well beyond any single program type or region:

Residency by Investment (RBI): Long-term residence permits granting the right to live, work, and study in a host country, typically with a pathway to permanent residency and eventual citizenship. Portugal and Greece are the most established European examples.

Citizenship by Investment (CBI): Direct citizenship programs that confer a second passport and full citizenship rights – typically without any prior residency requirement, and often within months. The Caribbean’s five established programs are the global benchmark.

Entrepreneur & Talent Visas: Specialist routes for founders, remote earners, and high-value individuals — including start-up visas, digital nomad permits, and merit-based citizenship programs such as Malta’s citizenship by exceptional contribution and Canada’s Start-Up Visa.

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Why La Vida?

Founded in 2002, and prominent in the investment migration industry since its early days in 2012, La Vida was among the early firms advising international investors worldwide on golden visas. Our team of experts have advised well over one hundred thousand prospective investors in over 160 different countries. Many went on to become our clients investing in one or more residency and citizenship programs from our portfolio of offerings across the globe. Highlighting the extraordinary interest in the investment migration market and our ability to grow a successful offering, La Vida featured in the Financial Times Fastest-Growing Companies list for an unprecedented and record breaking five consecutive years.

18+

Programs we offer Worldwide

164

Countries where we have served clients

123,000

Investors we’ve given prospectic advice to.

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La Vida’s Residency and Citizenship Investment Programs

We offer 18 government approved investment migration programs available worldwide, see below for an overview.

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Invest in Your Future With A Golden Visa

All 2026 Golden Visa & Citizenship By Investment Programs Table

Country	Program Type	Minimum Investment	Investment Type	Processing Time *	Key Benefit
Antigua & Barbuda	Citizenship by Investment	$230,000	Government Donation / Real Estate Route	6-12 months	Highest CBI visa-free travel access
Canada	Permanent Residency Program	$250,000	Active Business Ownership	12 months	Citizenship pathway after 5 years
Dominica	Citizenship by Investment	$200,000	Government Donation / Real Estate Route	6-12 months	Most affordable Caribbean CBI option
Grenada	Citizenship by Investment	$235,000	Government Donation / Real Estate Route	6-12 months	US E-2 Visa eligibility
Greece	Permanent Residency Program	€250,000	Real Estate Investment	10-12 months	Only EU real estate investment
Hungary	Residency by Investment	€250,000	Real Estate Investment Fund	1-3 months	Fastest EU processing
Italy	Residency by Investment	€250,000	Innovative Start-Up Investment	3-6 months	Investment after approval
Latvia	Residency by Investment	€60,000	Business Investment	3-4 months	Lowest cost EU program
Malta	Permanent Residency Program	€99,000 + Real Estate	Property Investment and Government Contributions	4-6 months	Lifetime EU permanent residency
Nauru	Citizenship by Investment	$105,000	Government Donation	3-4 months	Most affordable Oceania program
New Zealand	Permanent Residency Program	NZ$5,000,000	Fund Investment	2-3 months	Full family NZ permanent residency
Panama	Residency by Investment	$200,000	Real Estate Investment	2-3 months	Fast pathway to citizenship
Portugal	Residency by Investment	€500,000	Fund Investment	8-12 months	Flexible pathway to EU citizenship
Sao Tome & Principe	Citizenship by Investment	$90,000	Government Donation	1-3 months	Low cost second passport with Africa access
St Kitts. & Nevis	Citizenship by Investment	$250,000	Government Donation / Real Estate Route	6-12 months	Long-standing, trusted Caribbean CBI
St Lucia	Citizenship by Investment	$240,000	Government Donation / Real Estate Route	6-12 months	Access to other CARICOM nations
Turkey	Citizenship by Investment	$400,000	Real Estate Route	3-6 months	Real Estate Investment
UAE	Residency by Investment	$50,000	Company Formation, / Real Esatate / Nomination	1-2 months	Tax efficient residency
USA	Permanent Residency Program	$800,000	Business Investment	12 months	US Green Card
Vanuatu	Citizenship by Investment	$130,000	Government Donation	2-3 months	Fast processing

*Processing times are provided as a guide only and may vary depending on government timelines and processing conditions at the time of submission.

Key Insights on Investment Migration Programs

Entry thresholds typically start from around $90,000 + fees, depending on the country and route
Processing timelines range from as little as 3 months to over 12 months
Citizenship programs offer faster outcomes, while residency routes often lead to long-term settlement
Many programs have no minimum stay requirement, making them suitable for global investors
Investment options vary from government contributions to real estate and private equity
Program rules and availability evolve regularly as governments adjust policy

Meet Einstein – Your 24/7 Investment Migration Advisor

In addition to our human advisors, we also have Einstein – our 24/7 in-house AI agent. Get instant answers to complex golden visa questions at any time.

Einstein is backed by La Vida’s proprietary knowledge base accumulated through 100+ years of team expertise and updated with the latest program changes.

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Prefer Human Interaction? No problem!

La Vida’s expert team welcome your enquiries. Get in touch to book a free consultation.

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The Golden Visa Journey- Step by Step

A clear, step-by-step process to secure residency or citizenship by investment with La Vida.

Free Consultation

Speak with one of La Vida’s expert advisors to assess your goals, family situation, and determine the ideal program for you and your family.

Program Selection

Our experts will identify the optimal program and investment route for your specific objectives, provide you with a tailored proposal and quotation and then onboard you to begin the process when ready.

Application Processing

La Vida’s in-house Client Relations team will assist you with the entire process, working with you to compile and submit all documentation compliantly, though our secure client portal.

Approval & Beyond

Receive your residency or citizenship with continued support from La Vida for renewals and future applications.

Explore Golden Visa Investment Options

Golden visa programs are available through a range of investment types. From real estate, financial funds, shares, or company structures, Discover the various investment migration routes below across Europe, USA and the Caribbean.

Grenada

$280,000

Citizenship

Positioned on a stunning private peninsula in one of Grenada’s most prestigious neighborhoods, this project qualifies for Grenada’s Citizenship by…

Aparthotel, Property

Portugal

€500,000

Residency

This Golden Visa-compliant, close-ended fund focuses on accelerating the decarbonisation of residential and commercial buildings across Portugal and Spain.

Fund

USA

$800,000

EB5 Visa

This incredible new EB5 investment project is a six-star luxury resort situated in the heart of Montana. Located in the…

EB5, Property, Resort

How much is a golden visa?

Each country sets its own investment level and fees for the golden visa program it offers. Thetwo lowest price programs both launched in 2025 are São Tomé and Príncipe & Nauru starting at $90,000 and $105,000 plus fees. The most expensive are major countries across the world including Canada, USA & New Zealand all upward of $800,00 although the benefits of each vary considerably. A summary of golden visa prices is shown here.

What countries have golden visa programs?

There are around 18 major golden visa programs available, although the number can vary as programs are closed and new programs are opened. These we tend to class as passive investments or simple donations where legislation has been passed to formalise the program. In addition many countries offer residency and citizenship through active investment such as setting up business and creating jobs.

What investments qualify for a golden visa?

The investment can typically be into real estate, private equity, government infrastructure or business. Each golden visa program has its own rules for what qualifies based on what that government is targeting as a priority for inward investment. Some programs offer donation options as an alternative to investments in the private sector. That is money paid directly into a government fund with no return.

How to apply for a golden visa?

The first step is to determine which program and country is most suitable for your and your family’s needs. There are a range of golden visa programs that offer residency through to citizenship. In consultation with ourselves at La Vida we can advise and help you choose the most suitable option. We will advise not only on the full costs including any additional charges but on the benefits and downsides to each option. Once determined thereafter you need to make the required investment and submit the full application. Programs vary, some require investment first which essentially secures the residency. Others require application first which is approved after due diligence and before making the final investment.

What is a Golden Visa?

A golden visa is a form of residency or citizenship by investment program offered by some countries to bring inward investment into their economies. In return for either investment or direct government donation, the prospective applicant is granted either residency or citizenship depending on the program terms.

Which country offers the best golden visa in 2026?

The honest answer is “it depends on your priorities”. Best for European access, Malta and Portugal. Best for speed in 2026 are the newer programs offering citizenship including Nauru and Sao Tome. Best for passport strength, Malta. Best for combining price with passport strength and citizenship combined, the Caribbean programs. Grenada in particular is recommended by La Vida currently. For tax purposes with residency, Italy and Malta. Most popular and best all-rounder, including lifestyle, Portugal.

Can my family be included in my golden visa application?

Yes, in every program it is possible to include spouse and dependent children. Some programs have minimal or no extra fees for this. With some country programs it is possible to include parents and even siblings. Often inclusion can depend on age and the definition of dependence.

How long does a golden visa application take?

In our experience processing times can vary and change rapidly. We see new programs achieve rapid times, then slow as volumes build. We’ve seen the Caribbean get bogged down in applications. We’ve seen two countries in particular face undue delays due to overselling more than could be handled. Grenada is the fastest option in the Caribbean right now. Portugal has introduced new processes to accelerate applications but has suffered a backlog. If processing time is a key factor then let us advise on the best options from what we are seeing at La Vida currently from hundreds of cases in process at any one time. Even then government and resource issues can lead to changes. What we can guarantee and what is within our control is our process, our understanding, people and systems including our secure client portal that enables you to submit as quickly as possible.

Is a golden visa legal and above board?

Yes, these are formal government programs, written into law in the country in which they are offered. La Vida only offers official programs and is officially accredited by program governments where required. We would advise against operators who may have a quick fix solution that seems too good to be true without full transparency and clarity of such a program in the laws of the country.

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See What Our Clients Say – Testimonials

Thank you Edwina & Team at La Vida for all your help & support in obtaining our passports for Grenada. Now living the dream in Antigua. Challenging process but well worth the effort. Couldn’t have done it without you!

Ms Greenaway, USAJanuary 2026

La Vida team particularly Chelita and Paul were extremely helpful with great sense of responsibility, professionalism, dedication, patience and commitment to achieving our objectives in record time all through the rigorous process.

Ms Ogelle, Nigeria, January 2026

No complaints! Very communicative and helpful. Daniel was great!

Mr Singer, USA, January 2026

Extremely helpful and reassuring. We have been very pleased with both the clarity, promptness, and reassurances along the way with the process including the great intro to potential investment options and to a local law firm.

Mr T, USANovember 2025

Fantastic experience from start to finish

Ms Kennedy, USAOctober 2025

Very pleased with advice and guidance I’ve received from Edwina Keyser. She is responsive and informative. She recommended various investment fund alternatives which allowed me to make an informed choice.

Mr Chu, USAOctober 2025

On behalf of the family, I really want to appreciate Jude Clemoes who began the whole process and Lukas Harries who helped see it through to the end. We truly truly appreciate you. Our whole process had lot of curveballs but you guys were able to help sort it. We got a lot of value from La Vida for amount we paid. Thank you so much for the patience and all the efforts.

Mr A, NigeriaNovember 2024

My journey with La Vida began with Edwina, who was my very first point of contact. She warmly welcomed me and opened the door to this process, instantly making me feel at ease. From our initial conversations, Edwina demonstrated a readiness to answer all my questions, providing clarity around every detail, including the specifics of the La Vida registration for trust. Her expertise, patience, and professionalism set the tone for the supportive experience that would follow with the entire team.

R.Cean, USAOctober 2024

I talked to a few firms, but Daniel Twomey really impressed me in the initial call. I was not planning to choose La Vida until I spoke with Daniel. Chelita is fantastic – very responsive and detail-oriented – I really enjoyed working with her.

Mr YJapan / USA
October, 2024

I have nothing but high praises for everyone who assisted at La Vida. Lavanya Marya in particular was incredible from start to finish. She was professional, helpful, informative and not once did I ever feel as though any concern I brought to her attention was too small. Citizenship by Investment can be a long and sometimes complicated process but Lavanya and her team (especially Jude) made the entire experience as easy as possible and I will not hesitate to recommend their services to others. I feel very fortunate to have worked with such a wonderful group of people.

Mrs SAustralia
September, 2024

My overall experience with La Vida was very positive. Chelita was managing my case with assistance from Jude, Rebecca and Lukas. I always felt like I could reach out with any questions at any time.

Mr OSouth Africa
July, 2024

Excellent experience.

Mr FouadAlgeria
January 2024

Very Satisfactory and already recommended to my other friends.

Mr RedaUSA / Egypt
January 2024

Edwina is the most helpful kind in nature and responsible lady.

Mr LohSingapore
January 2024

Mr. Daniel Twomey did a fantastic job in guiding me to pick the country and investment scheme that fits my conditions.

Mr LeeIndonesia
December 2023

Lukas and the whole team quickly established trust. There was always good communication and our expectations were always well managed. Every email with a dumb question was answered promptly.

Mr GUSA
October 2023

Lavanya was outstanding…

Mr NelSouth Africa
November 2025

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