Spain’s Golden Passport allows for acquiring Spanish citizenship by investment by obtaining a resident permit under the Golden Residence Permit program. This is different from the residence by investment program where individuals and their immediate family members can become residents of Spain through a temporary residence permit. Residents by investment can obtain permanent residence status in less than a month and Spanish citizenship after five years of continuous presence in Spain, subject to standard immigration regulations and conditions.
Under the citizenship by investment program, to be awarded a residency permit, you must first apply for an investor visa and make an investment in the state’s economy. The Legislation No. 14 of 2013 on Support for Entrepreneurs and their Internationalization, as well as Spanish nationality law, govern the process of getting citizenship. Business, real estate, stocks, and banking are all viable options for investment. In Spain, a residence permit is valid for one year and can be extended for another two years. After 5 years in the nation, permanent residency is given.
Residence and visas service
Orience offers expert advice and support on citizenship by investment programs for several countries, among them:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Santa Lucia
- Vanuatu
- Spain
- Greece
- Portugal
Golden passport in Greece
In the case of Greece, by investing there and acquiring a Golden Passport, you can become a Greek citizen. Unlike residency, however, you cannot apply for Greek citizenship without first residing in the country and paying taxes.
Before applying for citizenship, you must have lived in Greece for at least seven years. You must also be able to demonstrate that you have links to the nation and have a basic understanding of the Greek language and culture. To begin, you must first apply for an entrance visa at one of the Greek embassies or consulates located across the world. Then apply for a Greek Golden Visa at the Alien and Immigration Department at the Decentralized Authority in Greece. After this, make your way to Greece to complete your investment.
It is entirely up to you whether or not to seek expert legal assistance at this point. Gather the paperwork needed for a Greek Golden Visa and submit these to the Alien and Immigration Department nearest you. In most cases, you will get notification of a decision within three months, so allow time for the visa application to be processed. If the result is favorable, you must return to Greece and submit your biometric data. A Golden Visa residency permit will then be issued to you, which will be valid for five years.
Residence in Portugal
Applying for a Portuguese Golden Visa starts by traveling to Portugal to assess your possibilities and begin the investing process. If you are interested in investing in real estate, you will tour homes, meet with lawyers, and, if you wish, provide power of authority to a representative on your initial visit. You will need a Portuguese tax number and bank account before you can complete your investment. You may finally finalise your investment once you have set these up.
The investment can take months to complete, and you won’t be able to apply for the Golden Visa until you have all of the required documentation. After you’ve finished your investment, you’ll be able to apply for a Portuguese Golden Visa at the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF). Create an account on the ARI Portal (Residence Permits for Investment Activities), which is the SEF’s online site for Golden Visa applications. Schedule an appointment to submit your Golden Visa application at a local branch of the SEF after attaching electronic copies of the relevant papers.
It might take three to six months to acquire your residence permit card after you submit your application. This is originally valid for one year and can be renewed for up to five years. You can apply for Portuguese citizenship or permanent residency five years after making your investment.
Obtain the Golden Visa in Spain
You can apply for a visa at the nearest Spanish Embassy or Consulate if you have made any of the investments in Spain. You must be committed to making the investment at the time of application, but the investment does not have to be completed.
You do not need to be in Spain to apply for the golden passport, but you will need to travel there beforehand to explore your investment choices, create a bank account, and meet with attorneys. You can grant your lawyer Power of Attorney to file your Spanish Golden Visa application and secure your money once you’ve decided on an investment.
The Investor Visa in Spain provides a road to citizenship if you reside in the country for at least ten years. Although becoming a resident of Spain via investment is quite simple, you must live in Spain for at least six months of the year for 10 years in order to acquire a passport. There are also other conditions for getting Spanish citizenship, such as language proficiency and links to the nation. It is crucial to highlight that nationality can be obtained after two years of effective residency in Spain, Ibero-American nations, and former Spanish colonies.