What Are the EU Golden Visa Programs?
Golden Visa are programs that allow foreign investors to obtain residency in a country through a minimal required investment in a selected field of that nation. A Europe Golden Visa Top-Seller, Portugal grants high-net-worth-individuals residency status by the allocation of €500,000 worth of capital in selected government regulated funds. Greece, on the other hand, offers the same benefit through the purchase of real estate properties starting at €250,000, and has brought over 30 thousand applications since it started operating. Both programs also pave the way toward the powerful European citizenship.
5 Reasons Why Every UAE Expat Needs an EU Golden Visa
1. Get Your EU Citizenship through a Solid Long-Term Investment
Getting a Golden Visa in Europe is a solid strategy both in the long and the short-term. That’s because holding a residency permit for 5 years in Portugal or 7 years in Greece allows you to apply for EU Citizenship, along with your close family, and secure the 3rd most powerful passports in the world for all.
The EU Golden Visa program allows you and your family to gain citizenship, giving you the freedom to live, work, and study in any of the 29 countries in the Schengen Area without needing an additional visa—unlike in the UAE, where obtaining citizenship is significantly more challenging. The Golden Visa in Europe allows you to plan for the future and free yourself from any from worrying about how to renewing visas.
2. Short-Term Investment Profits
Just as good as investing in a solid future is to start seeing returns sooner rather than later. Both Portugal and Greece Golden Visa Programs offer short-term return for your investment, either from a business or a personal point of view.
If you decide to invest into the Portugal Golden Visa, you can expect to invest into one of the most growing economies in the world, through a vibrant visa program. As for Greece, you can also get tangible return though the €250,000 real estate Golden Visa program. With an outstanding property appreciation, Greece housing market appears as one of the best areas to invest in 2025.
3. Minimal Investment Threshold Starts at €250k
There is a growing trend of increasing prices of Golden Visa Programs in Europe. However, it is still possible to secure residency with the minimal investment of €250,000 thanks to Greece’s option of purchasing commercial properties that have been converted into residential projects. This option allows investors to purchase developments in strategic areas of Athens, with an astonishing potential for appreciation.
4. You Can Secure Stability and Mobily
Obtaining a residency permit in Portugal and Greece means that you can enter visa-free in hundreds of nations, including the 29 countries that are in the Schengen Zone, which gives you enhanced mobility. At the same time, you are also securing residency in a politically, socially and economically stable environment, which is a great strategy to protect your assets.
5. You Can Still Live in the UAE
UAE’s tax regime is pretty unbeatable, we know that. Or maybe you still have some goals you want to achieve there. That’s more than fair. The good news is that a Golden Visa in Portugal or in Greece allow you to obtain residency in Europe with no obligation to live change where you live.
Portugal Golden Visa and Greece Golden Visa: Pathways and Minimal Thresholds
Portugal’s Golden Visa has different pathways for investors seeking residency in the country:
- You can invest €500,000 in Funds;
- You may also create 10 registered jobs in the country;
- It is possible to obtain a Golden Visa by donating €500,000 in Scientific Research;
- By supporting the Arts & Culture with a minimum of €250,000 you can start your application process;
- There is also the option of investing at least €500,000 in the creation of a company 5 that will open 5 permanent job posts.
Greece’s Golden Visa has a focus on real estate, with minimal thresholds varying by region, except for the conversion pathway:
- Pro tip: Greece has a €250,000 option, in which you can purchase a commercial property converted into residential, anywhere in the country and become eligible for a Golden Visa;
- In regions with fewer than 3,100 inhabitants, you can apply for a Golden Visa by purchasing a property of at least €400,000;
- In the Attica region, the islands of Santorini and Mykonos, and in any other place with over 3,100 inhabitants, the minimum investment in a real estate property must be of €800,000.
How to Apply for A Golden Visa in Europe While Still in the UAE
Each country has their own procedures but, in general, you will need:
- A valid travel document;
- A local bank account;
- A proof that you have transferred your investment;
- A clean criminal record.
Remember that our experts here at Investment Visa can help you sort out all documentation needed and assist you throughout the whole application process with no need for you to leave the UAE.
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