The Golden Visa or Residence by investment (RBI) schemes offer a permanent residency against investment in property, government securities or businesses. RBI schemes offer a path to future citizenship usually after five years depending on the country. Portugal, Greece, Malta and Latvia are the most popular european RBI schemes. Most schemes do not require investors to live or move permanently in the country.

Several terms co-exist to describe RBI schemes, they are commonly known as Investor visa, Immigrant investor program (IIP), Investor residence, Residence by investment and Golden visa. Real estate investment is the most popular choice for many..

United States EB-5, Canada, Europe are very popular among rich and wealthy from Asia, Africa and Middle East. Chinese are the most consumers of the RBI market with over 90% of the share.

RBI schemes were designed to attract foreign capital in real estate market, by providing the right of residence and later citizenship in return.

History of Immigrant Investor Schemes

• 1990 – United States
• 1986 – Canada
• 1994 – United Kingdom
• 2009 – Bulgaria
• 2010 – Latvia
• 2012 – Portugal
• 2013 – Netherlands, Hungary
• 2014 – Spain, Malta, Greece
• 2017 – Italy

RBI/Golden visa market is currently valued at $10 billion and expected to growing at a pace of  20% annually.  The property markets in Spain, Portugal, Greece have recovered from the slump five years ago and prices are increasing at a steady rate.