Comparison table of programs
Citizenship and residency by investment

Permanent Resident of Malta

• Permanent residence in Europe.
• Clear pathway to European citizenship – Maltese citizenship (no additional investment required).

Integration (Real Estate + Donation to Fund + Donation to Government)

• Purchase real estate with a minimum value of EUR 375,000.
• Alternatively, lease real estate with a minimum of EUR 14,000 per year.
• EUR 37,000: Contribution to the Government.
• EUR 2,000: Contribution to the community fund.

Application processing time: 1–2 months.

⭐️ Among the fastest processing times for permanent residency programs in Europe.

It is necessary to maintain the investment in order to renew the Resident Card.

✅ Not required

Four-Generation Family:

• Legal spouse
• Children: no age limit. Children over 27 must be single and financially dependent.
• Parents (of both spouses)
• Grandparents (of both spouses)

• Must meet the same security and health requirements as the main applicant.

Once.

Received formal approval from the Government.

✅ Schengen area

✅ Permanent European Residency

None

✅ Access a European-standard educational system.

✅ Access a European-standard healthcare system.

From 18 years of age and above.

✅ The program does not impose any upper age limit on applicants.

✅ No requirements.

✅ No requirements.

✅ No requirements.

✅ No requirements.

Clean security record in all countries of citizenship and any countries resided in for more than 6 months.

✅ No requirements.

Combine the following three investment components:

1. Donation to Community Funds: €2,000 to registered community funds or charitable organizations in Malta.
2. Real Estate Investment:
   • Purchase a property with a minimum value of €375,000 OR rent a property for at least €14,000 per year.
   • Maintain ownership or the lease agreement for a period of 5 years.
3. Contribution to the Government: €37,000

Parents and grandparents (if included) are required to contribute an additional €7,500 per person.

Simple proof, two layers.

Include the sources of funds used and the sources from which those funds are formed.

• Permanent Resident Permit: No renewal required.
• Resident Card: Valid for 5 years.

Conditions for Resident Card Renewal:

Proof of continued investment must be provided, such as property ownership documents or lease agreements, in accordance with the program’s regulations.

The evaluation period ranges from 10 to 15 years.

(Maintain permanent residency in Malta. Absence should not exceed 6 months)

✅ Enjoy full benefits as a citizen of Malta.

✅ European Union citizenship: Live in any of the 27 EU member countries.

✅ Visa-free travel to 185 countries worldwide (no visa or e-visa required).

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Have held Maltese permanent residency for a minimum of 6 years.
• Have not been absent from Malta for more than 6 months within those 6 years.
• Meet the proficiency requirements in English or Maltese.
• Have no criminal record in Malta or abroad.

✅ Permanent residency.

No maintenance conditions required.

✅ Allow multiple citizenships.

✅ Schengen Area

✅ European Union (EU)

✅ European Economic Area (EEA)

✅ Commonwealth

✅ United States Visa Waiver Program

Permanent Residency in the Republic of Cyprus

• Permanent residency in Europe (Golden Visa).
• Pathway to European citizenship – Cypriot citizenship (no additional investment required)

Multiple options

• Real Estate
• Fund Investment
• Equity Capital

300.000 EUR.

Application review time: Approximately 12 months.

It is necessary to maintain the investment to retain the Golden Visa.

1 day / 2 years

• Legal spouse.
• Children (including adopted) up to 25 years old, must be single and financially dependent.
• Parents (of both the spouse and the applicant).

Once.

Proceed to obtain Official Approval from the Government.

✅ Traveling to the EU only requires applying for an electronic visa or submitting your application entirely online. The processing time is just a few days.

✅ European Golden Visa

None

✅ Access the European-standard education system.

✅ Access to European-standard healthcare system

Ages 18 and above.

✅ The program does not impose an upper age limit on applicants.

✅ Not required.

Proof of Income (outside the Republic of Cyprus):

• Minimum EUR 300,000 per year.
• Additional EUR 5,000 per year for each accompanying spouse or child.
• Additional EUR 8,000 per year for each accompanying parent.

✅Not required.

✅ Not required.

Clean security record in all countries of citizenship and any country of residence exceeding 6 months.

✅ No medical examination required.

Invest a minimum of EUR 300,000 in ONE of the following categories:

• Own up to TWO new houses/apartments from a real estate development company. These properties can be used for rental purposes.
• Purchase multiple commercial properties (offices, retail stores, hotels).
• Invest equity in a company in Cyprus: the company must be actively operating and have at least 5 employees.
• Invest in Cyprus Investment Funds (Units of Cyprus Investment Funds, AIF, AIFLNP, RAIF).

Simple proof, 2 layers.

Includes the sources of funds used and the origins of those funds

✅ Permanent Residency

Conditions for Maintaining Permanent Residency:

Maintain ownership of real estate as required by the program regulations.

8 years.

✅ Enjoy full entitlements as a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus.

✅ European Citizenship Rights: Reside in any of the 27 member countries of the European Union (EU).

✅ Visa-free travel to 176 countries worldwide (no visa or e-visa required).

• The applicant has held legal residency in the Republic of Cyprus for at least 8 years.
• Has resided continuously in the Republic of Cyprus for 12 months immediately prior to the date of submitting the citizenship application.
• During the 7 years preceding the above 12-month continuous residence period, the applicant must have resided in the Republic of Cyprus for a cumulative total of at least 4 years.
• Accordingly, the minimum total residency period required to qualify for citizenship is 365 days × 5 years = 1,825 days.
• Must permanently maintain the investment made for the initial permanent residence (through real estate / capital / fund).
• Must have no criminal record in or outside the Republic of Cyprus.

The review process for citizenship applications can take 2–3 years, depending on the workload of the Immigration Department.

Permanently maintain the funds initially invested to obtain Permanent Residency (through real estate, capital, or fund investment).

✅ Permit multiple citizenships.

✅ European Union (EU)

✅ European Economic Area (EEA).

✅ Commonwealth.

Permanent residence in Canada

Start-up Visa Program

• Obtain a Work Permit to do business in Canada.
• Apply for permanent residency.
• Have a pathway to Canadian citizenship (no additional investment required).

Direct business.

No minimum investment required

Processing time for applications:

• Work permit to Canada: 12 – 24 months.
• Permanent residency: 12 – 18 months.

18-20 months.

9 months / year.

(to qualify for permanent residency)

• Legal spouse.
• Common-law partner (with evidence of continuous cohabitation for 1 year).
• Children: Under 22 years old at the time of official application acceptance.

Must pass security and health checks (same as the principal applicant).

❗️ The program allows accompanying partners (common-law partners), regardless of heterosexual or same-sex relationships. However, this is not encouraged due to the difficulty of proving the relationship in the application. The likelihood of rejection is high.

The entire process is done in Vietnam. Start doing business in Canada after obtaining a Visa.

✅ Freedom of movement between Vietnam and Canada.

✅ Complete roadmap to becoming a Canadian citizen.

✅ Yes.

✅ Enjoy the same education benefits as local residents:

• Free public schooling up to the end of high school.
• University tuition is cheaper than studying abroad.
• Education quality meets Canadian standards.

Enjoy medical benefits like a local.

Unlimited

• Business owners or senior managers for at least 2 of the last 5 years.
• High school graduate.
• Have innovative and creative business ideas with the potential to contribute to the economic development of Canada.
• Government selects applicants based on Expression of Interest (EOI) scores from highest to lowest.

Provide proof of sufficient financial resources to support yourself and your family when moving to Canada (e.g., 28,362 CAD for a family of four).

Not required

Communicative English

(equivalent to an overall IELTS General score of 5.0)

**mandatory at the time of application*

Clean security record in all countries of nationality and any country where the individual has resided for more than 6 months.

Medical examination required, health certificate issued by an authorized organization.

Must not have infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis, cancer).

Requirements:

• ❌ No minimum investment required
• Startup is accepted into an incubator
• Incubator provides a Letter of Support

Characteristics:

• Easiest path to access
• No equity loss or very minimal
• Receive mentoring, training, and networking

👉 Over 70% of current SUV applications follow this route

Multi-layer proof.

Complexity level: fairly high.

2 years.

Work Permit.

• Prove that the business is in operation.
• Create jobs for Canadian permanent residents/citizens (depending on the province).
• File taxes.

Typically, after 12–20 months (depending on the province) of running the business, if the conditions similar to those for extending the work permit are met, the investor can apply for permanent residency.

5 years.

✅ Become a Canadian citizen.

✅ Freely travel to 184 countries/territories. Includes Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, European Union countries, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

• Reside in Canada for at least 5 years and hold permanent resident status.
• Have lived in Canada for at least 3 of the 5 years preceding the application date.
• Have filed taxes in Canada for at least 3 of the 5 years preceding the application date.
• Meet the language requirement: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 5.0 or higher.
• Pass the test on rights, responsibilities, and knowledge about Canada.
• Have no criminal record inside or outside Canada.

The processing time from application submission to obtaining Canadian citizenship is approximately 1 year.

✅ Permanent citizenship.

No additional maintenance conditions required.

✅ Allows multiple citizenships.

✅ Commonwealth.

✅ Trade and Maritime Treaty with the United States (Apply for E2 Visa to the U.S.).

U.S. EB-5 Green Card

• Green Card – Permanent Residency.
• Clear pathway to U.S. citizenship (no additional investment required).

⭐️ The only official program for obtaining a U.S. Green Card directly, offering the safest and most streamlined route (no multiple steps, no detours).

This is a secure choice for your U.S. immigration plan, as well as ensuring your family’s ability to recover the invested funds.

Investment in the project:

• through the regional center;
• or direct investment.

800.000 USD.

• Conditional Green Card: Approximately 1 year for Rural projects and about 2 years for standard TEA (subject to change by the Immigration Department over time).
• Permanent Green Card: Approximately 2 years.

~5.5 years

(after filing Form I-829)

180 days/year.

to maintain permanent resident status (or to apply for a Re-entry Permit).

• Legal spouse.
• Unmarried children under 21 years old (At the time of visa issuance).
• Must meet security and health background requirements (same as the principal applicant).

The entire process is carried out in Vietnam.

Move to the United States after obtaining a green card.

✅ Freedom to live, work, study, and enter or leave the U.S.

✅ Enjoy full rights as a U.S. citizen (except the right to vote).

✅ Yes.

✅ Enjoy local education benefits:

• Free tuition at public schools until the end of high school.
• Lower university tuition fees than international students.
• U.S.-standard education quality.

✅ Enjoy medical benefits like a local resident.

From 18 years old and above.

✅ The program has no upper age limit for applicants.

✅ Not required.

✅ Not required.

✅ Not required.

✅ Not required.

Clean security record in all countries of nationality and any country where residence exceeded 6 months.

Medical examination required, health certificate issued by an authorized unit.

Must not have infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis, cancer).

Must satisfy all of the following conditions:

1/ Invest USD 800,000 in a qualifying project under the program, located in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA).

2/ Prove that the investment funds are from lawful sources.

3/ Demonstrate that the investment will create 10 full-time jobs for local workers.

Prove the origin of investment funds.

The highest level of complexity among immigration programs.

2 years.

(Conditional temporary green card)

Conditions to file a petition to remove conditions (Form I-829):

• Prove that the investment remains at risk.
• The project has created 10 jobs.
• Residency requirement (180 days/year).
• Clean criminal record.

5 years.

• Voting rights
• Become a U.S. citizen
• Freedom to travel to 185 countries/territories
• Including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, European Union countries, Canada, Japan, South Korea

• Have lived in the U.S. as a permanent resident for at least 5 years before the application date.
• The applicant may leave the U.S. for less than 6 months. If absent from the U.S. for more than 6 months, the applicant will not be eligible for naturalization and must restart the continuous residence period.
• Meet the physical presence requirement: Be physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months within the 5 years before the application date.
• Have lived for at least 3 months in the state where the applicant is filing for naturalization.
• English proficiency: Able to read, write, and speak basic English.
• Know basic information about U.S. history and government.
• Have good moral character, with no criminal record inside or outside the U.S.
• Understand and accept the principles of the U.S. Constitution.

✅ Permanent nationality.

No additional maintenance conditions required.

✅ Allows multiple citizenships.

Turkish Citizenship

• Turkish citizenship without any additional maintenance requirements.
• Apply for an E-2 Visa to the United States.

Real Estate

400.000 USD.

Application review period: 12 months.

3 years.

✅ Not required.

• Legal spouse.
• Children under 18 years old.

✅ The investment and naturalization process is carried out in Vietnam and Turkey.

⭐️ Investors are required to make two visits for fingerprint collection (first visit for opening a bank account, second visit for fingerprinting for the permanent residence card and citizenship).

✅ 110 Countries  

Including South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong…

✅ Visa approval rate for EU and Schengen countries reaches up to 96%.

✅ Become a Turkish citizen.

✅ Eligible to apply for a U.S. E-2 Visa after a minimum of three consecutive years of residency, with numerous benefits for the entire family.

✅ Option to select a new name once the naturalization application is approved, and the new passport will not display the former name. Investors can still retain their Vietnamese name, facilitating international business transactions.

Note:

Use characters from the Turkish alphabet, in Latin script.

⭐️ The fast-track citizenship program offers the lowest investment and the most accessible requirements.

✅ Yes.

✅ Enjoy the same educational benefits as local residents.

• Free tuition at public schools through the end of high school.
• Lower university tuition fees compared to international students.

✅ Enjoy healthcare benefits equivalent to local residents.

From 18 years old and above.

✅ The program does not impose an upper age limit for applicants.

✅ Not required.

✅ Not required.

✅ Not required.

✅ Not required.

✅ Investors are required to submit a Criminal Record Certificate.

✅ No medical examination required.

⭐️ The only citizenship program that does not require a medical exam.

Invest USD 400,000 in real estate, to be maintained for 3 years.

❗️Note:

1. Each real estate ownership certificate can only be used once for the purpose of Residency by Investment.
2. Repurchasing real estate is not permitted, as it may result in the applicant losing the granted citizenship.
3. Real estate for Residency by Investment must be purchased from a foreign national (e.g., from a Turkish company or individual).

✅ Not required.

⭐️ The only citizenship program that does not require proof of funds.

✅ Permanent citizenship.
No additional maintenance requirements.

✅ Allows multiple citizenships.

✅ Trade and Maritime Treaty with the United States (Apply for an E2 Visa to the U.S.).

Permanent Residence in Greece

• European permanent residency (Golden Visa).
• Pathway to European citizenship – Greek citizenship (no additional investment required).

The citizenship pathway is exclusively for truly committed investors who intend to reside in Greece long-term and learn the local language.

Real Estate

250.000 EUR.

Application review period: 6–8 months.

It is necessary to maintain property ownership to retain the Golden Visa.

✅Not required.

• Legal spouse.
• Children (including adopted children) up to 21 years old, dependent on the principal applicant.
• Parents (of both the principal applicant and the spouse) must provide proof of financial dependency on the principal applicant.

Once.

Proceed to obtain Official Approval from the Government.

✅ Schengen Area

✅ European Golden Visa.

None

✅ Enjoy the same public education benefits as local residents:

• Free tuition at public schools through the end of high school.
• University tuition fees are lower than those for international students.
• Education quality meets European standards.

✅ Enjoy healthcare benefits equivalent to local citizens.

✅ No minimum or maximum age restrictions for applicants.

✅Not required.

✅Not required.

✅Not required.

✅Not required.

✅ Simple assessment with no high requirements.

✅ Not required.

Invest in real estate with a minimum value of EUR 250,000.

Simple proof.

At the basic level, it is a legitimate source of funds.

5 years.

Still hold real estate in accordance with the program’s regulations.

Minimum 7 years.

(Reside & maintain permanent residency in Greece)

✅ Enjoy the full rights and privileges of a Greek citizen.

✅ European Citizenship Rights: The right to reside in any of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU).

✅ Visa-free Access to 185 Countries Worldwide (No Visa or E-Visa Required).

• Reside in Greece with a valid residence permit for at least 7 years.
• Have a source of income in Greece.
• Possess basic knowledge of the Greek language sufficient to pass the language examination.
• Demonstrate integration into Greek life and society by participating in daily activities, having an understanding of Greek history, and maintaining business operations in Greece, among other indicators.
• Have no criminal record in Greece or abroad.

In addition, for a child to obtain citizenship, the applicant’s child must meet the educational requirements in Greece. Specifically, it is necessary to demonstrate that the child has completed studies at a public or private school in Greece for either 9 years (including both primary and secondary education) or 6 years (secondary education) before turning 18.

✅ Permanent citizenship.

No additional maintenance conditions required.

✅ Permit multiple citizenships.

✅ Schengen Area.

✅ European Union (EU).

✅ European Economic Area (EEA).

✅ United States Visa Waiver Program (Visa Waiver Program).