Most often, citizenship of the European Union is obtained through naturalization. For this you need to obtain resident status and live in the country for several years. In some countries of the European Union there are investment programs of the type residence permits that simplify the path to citizenship. Obtaining a European passport by investment – the Malta program, the Montenegrin program and Latvian one. Learn about popular EU passports program.
Malta Citizenship by Investment
The passport of the Republic of Malta can be obtained in 12-14 months.
The minimum investment for a European passport per person is € 1,150,000, but in Malta, you cannot invest in just one thing.
How much do you need to invest to obtain a Malta passport?
- € 650,000 is given as a non-refundable donation to the state;
- € 350,000 goes to the purchase of real estate (or for a long time you rent housing, spending at least € 16,000 per year);
- € 150,000 is spent on the purchase of government bonds or shares of Maltese companies.
Both securities and real estate must be owned for at least 5 years before they can be sold. For all 5 years, you are not allowed to rent or sublet your property.
Montenegrin citizenship by investment
Obtaining Montenegrin citizenship lasts up to 7 months.
Keep in mind: this picturesque seaside country is not yet part of the European Union. However, a Montenegrin passport is no worse than a passport of Malta or Cyprus, because it allows you to travel without a visa to 117 jurisdictions, including the Schengen countries. Formally, this is not an EU passport, but a Montenegrin passport can be called European since most European countries are open to its holder.
How much do you need to invest to get a Montenegrin passport?
The number of investments required to obtain citizenship will pleasantly surprise you:
- The investor must contribute € 100,000 as a gratuitous subsidy to the state development fund;
- € 250,000 – 450,000, as the main part of the investment, is spent on the purchase of a share in a development project approved by the Government of Montenegro. The size of the attachment depends on the location of the object. Investing in the underdeveloped central regions of the country is much cheaper than in the resort area.
- An applicant for investment citizenship is charged a one-time fee starting at € 15,000 per applicant.
Latvian passport by investment
Latvia is one of the few European countries that has a whole set of lucrative factors that distinguish it from several other European countries. Since Latvia is a member of the EU and is a member of the Schengen Agreement, property owners, investors doing business in Latvia, businessmen, and their employees, as well as their family members, have the opportunity to obtain a long-term Schengen visa for up to five years. For international investors, getting a Residence by purchasing real estate is the best solution for you.
How much do you need to invest to get a Latvian passport?
You can get a residence permit in Latvia by purchasing one property with a sales value of at least 250,000 euros (or at least 80,000 euros at the cadastral value).
