What’s in Store for Golden Visas in 2025?
Golden Visa 2025: Top Trends and Where to Invest
Looking ahead to 2025, La Vida Golden Visas foresees significant shifts in global Residency and Citizenship by Investment (RCBI) programmes next year. Building on the major programme changes introduced in 2023 and 2024, our analysis reveals emerging trends and evolving opportunities that continue to attract high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) seeking enhanced global mobility, tax optimisation, and strategic investment options. This comprehensive guide outlines the key changes and most promising RCBI programmes expected to shape the market in the coming year:
Greece Golden Visa: New Price Tiers and Emerging Opportunities
Greece has implemented significant amendments to its Golden Visa programme, effective August 31, 2024. The revised legislation introduces a strategic dual-zone system, tailoring investment requirements to specific regions:
- Tier 1: €800,000 – This tier applies to real estate investments in high-demand areas, including Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and islands with populations exceeding 3,100.
- Tier 2: €400,000 – This tier covers investments in other regions of Greece, offering a more accessible entry point for investors.
Notably, the programme retains a €250,000 threshold for properties undergoing conversion from commercial to residential use or for the restoration of listed buildings. While projects qualifying for this lower investment level are currently limited, La Vida has proactively identified several promising developments. We anticipate the official launch of these projects in the coming months.
By early 2025, we project that this lower-cost investment route will become the preferred choice for Golden Visa investors. This trend mirrors the popularity of Portugal’s former reduced real estate option before its discontinuation. La Vida is strategically positioned to offer our clients early access to these emerging opportunities, potentially providing significant value in the evolving Greek Golden Visa market.
Caribbean CBI: Enduring Appeal Amidst Changes
Despite recent price adjustments and programme modifications, Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) options continue to offer compelling opportunities for global investors. While the changes have prompted some investors to take a brief pause to reassess their options and familiarise themselves with the new terms, we anticipate a resurgence in demand as we enter the new year. Countries like Grenada, St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Lucia, and Antigua continue to provide attractive benefits, with Grenada standing out for its balanced approach to investment requirements and visa-free access. As investors become more familiar with the new adjustments, the Caribbean’s blend of affordability, efficiency, and global mobility benefits is likely to maintain its appeal in the 2025 CBI market.
Turkey: An Opportune Time to Invest
Turkey is currently experiencing a period of notable investment potential. The favourable exchange rate between the Turkish Lira and the US dollar presents a compelling opportunity for investors to maximise their capital.
This economic climate makes it a strategic time to explore Turkey’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme. Turkey’s CBI programme is renowned for its efficiency, providing a streamlined pathway to citizenship. The Turkish passport offers access to 125 countries worldwide, making it an attractive option for global mobility.
Portugal: Continued Strength in Residency by Investment
Portugal’s Golden Visa programme continues to demonstrate resilience, largely due to its unique position as the only EU programme offering a pathway to citizenship with minimal residency requirements. Following a brief transition period after the programme changes introduced at the end of 2023, Portugal has maintained its appeal in 2024. Sophisticated investors are finding the new fund investment route increasingly attractive.
La Vida’s extensive portfolio of investment options has enabled us to meet the strong demand from investors worldwide. Now that the programme changes have been in effect for a full year, and potential investors have become familiar with the revised programme, we anticipate further growth in demand in 2025.
Hungary: New Real Estate programme launching in January 2025
Hungary introduced its Golden Visa programme in July 2024, though the qualifying investment funds are yet to be fully implemented. The much-anticipated Real Estate programme is scheduled to launch in January 2025, and we’ve observed a significant increase in enquiries, suggesting it will be a sought-after option for investors.
The Hungarian programme offers a distinctive 10-year residency permit, setting it apart from many other European options. Industry experts project that this programme will provide a more expedient and flexible investment route compared to its European counterparts. The combination of a long-term residency permit and the potential for a liquid real estate market is expected to make Hungary an attractive destination for global investors seeking European residency options.
UAE: Tax-Friendly Destinations for High-Net-Worth Individuals
The UAE has long been a popular destination for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) seeking tax-friendly residency options. However, demand for this type of residency has never been higher. As global tax environments continue to evolve, the UAE’s attractive tax regime is becoming increasingly appealing to those looking to minimise their tax liabilities.
With a growing number of HNWIs seeking to relocate, the UAE is well-positioned to capitalise on this trend. The estimated 9,500 millionaires projected to leave the UK in 2024 are likely to be among those considering the UAE’s residency options. While the Caribbean also offers favourable tax environments, making them attractive alternatives for citizenship by investment, the UAE’s unique combination of business-friendly policies, world-class infrastructure, and high standard of living make it an increasingly compelling choice for HNWIs.
One of the most attractive features of the UAE Golden Visa programme is its incredibly swift processing time. Applicants can potentially secure their residency in a matter of weeks, making it one of the fastest routes to residency in a prime global location.
The “Plan C” Era
We’ve observed an emerging trend among our clientele: the pursuit of a comprehensive global mobility strategy. Many of our existing clients who have previously obtained Citizenship by Investment (CBI) in Caribbean countries such as Antigua and Grenada are now pairing their new passports with what we term a “Plan C” residency.
A common combination is a Caribbean passport coupled with either a European residency or a UAE residency. This strategic approach covers all angles, truly ensuring full global access, travel flexibility, business opportunities, and tax optimisation. By diversifying their citizenship and residency portfolios, these savvy investors are creating a robust framework for global mobility and financial planning, effectively future-proofing their lifestyles and assets against geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
Emerging Opportunities: Solomon Islands Planning a CBI Programme
The Solomon Islands have been quietly developing a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme, with the government recently completing the first draft of the proposed bill. This move has sparked interest among investors and industry experts, who see the Pacific nation’s unique visa-free agreements with the UK and Schengen Zone as a major draw.
Unlike neighbouring Vanuatu, which was once a popular CBI choice, the Solomon Islands have maintained a strong visa-free travel profile, making their programme an attractive option for those seeking a Pacific-based CBI solution. While the programme’s details, including its pricing and launch timeline, remain under wraps, the Solomon Islands’ CBI initiative has the potential to shake up the industry and offer a new pathway to global citizenship.
Key Takeaways for 2025 Golden Visa Countries
- Greece: New tiered investment system, with opportunities for commercial to residential conversions at the lower rate of 250k are likely to become the most favourable option in 2025.
- Caribbean: As investors adjust to new CBI programme pricing, demand for Antigua, Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts and St Lucia are expected to remain strong in 2025.
- Turkey: Weakened Lira against the USD makes it a good time to invest for Turkish citizenship
- Portugal: The only EU Golden Visa programme which can lead to citizenship after five years with very minimal stay requirements.
- Hungary: New Real Estate programme launching in January 2025.
- UAE: Expected to gain more popularity as a tax-friendly destination for those looking to relocate or to combine with another CBI option.
If you want to secure a second residency or citizenship by investment in 2025, now is a great time to initiate your research and application before the new year rush. Book your free consultation with our experts today.
