Residency by Investment
Establish legal residency in a second country through qualifying investment. Your Plan B, formalised.
Residency by investment programmes allow you to obtain legal residency in a foreign country by making a qualifying investment — typically in real estate, government bonds, or a business. For African professionals, residency in a stable jurisdiction provides a Plan B for your family, access to better healthcare and education systems, and a stepping stone towards citizenship and a second passport.
Why Residency Matters
Residency is different from citizenship. It gives you the legal right to live in a country, but not necessarily the right to vote or hold a passport. However, residency is often the first step towards citizenship — many countries offer a path from residency to permanent residency to citizenship over a period of 5–10 years.
For African families, residency in a European, Caribbean, or Asian country provides immediate practical benefits: visa-free travel within the Schengen area (for European residency), access to the local healthcare and education systems, the right to open local bank accounts and conduct business, and a safe haven in the event of political or economic instability at home.
Critically, most residency programmes do not require you to actually live in the country full-time. Many have minimal physical presence requirements — as few as 7 days per year — allowing you to maintain your life and business in Africa while holding residency abroad.
Key Programmes for African Investors
Portugal Golden Visa: One of the most popular programmes globally. Investment from €500,000 in qualifying funds or €500,000 in approved activities. Minimal stay requirement of 7 days per year. Path to citizenship after 5 years. Access to the entire Schengen area. Portugal’s programme has been restructured in recent years but remains one of the most attractive options for African investors.
Greece Golden Visa: Real estate investment from €250,000 (in certain areas) to €800,000 (in prime locations like Athens). No minimum stay requirement for residency renewal. Path to citizenship after 7 years. Increasingly popular due to lower entry costs and Greece’s improving economy.
UAE Golden Visa: Investment of AED 2 million ($545,000) in property or a qualifying business. 10-year renewable residency. No path to citizenship, but provides a tax-free base, excellent infrastructure, and proximity to Africa. Particularly popular with Nigerian and East African business owners.
Mauritius: Investment of $375,000 in approved real estate. Permanent residency with minimal stay requirements. Path to citizenship after extended residency. Attractive for African investors due to proximity, cultural familiarity, and Mauritius’s network of double taxation agreements with African countries.
The Financial Planning Dimension
Residency by investment is not just an immigration decision — it is a financial planning decision. The investment you make to qualify for residency should be evaluated on its own merits as an investment, not just as a ticket to residency. A €500,000 property in Lisbon is both a residency qualification and a real estate investment that will generate rental income and (potentially) capital appreciation.
We help you evaluate residency programmes through both lenses — the immigration benefits and the investment merits. We model the total cost of each programme (investment, fees, taxes, maintenance) and compare it against the benefits (visa-free travel, tax efficiency, education access, asset protection). We also ensure that the residency investment is integrated with your broader wealth strategy — your offshore portfolio, your estate plan, and your tax position.
Our Process
01
Objectives Assessment
02
Programme Comparison
03
Application Management
04
Post-Residency Planning
Next step
Every strategy begins with a conversation. We would welcome the opportunity to understand your circumstances and show you what is possible.
Key Facts
From €500K
From €250K
From $545K
From $375K
3–12 months
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