Wealthy South Africans looking to future-proof themselves against a volatile economy, weak currency, and a lack of global mobility are opting for a number of residency- or citizenship-by-investment programmes in Europe.<\/p>\n
Andrew Rissik, managing director of Forex and Investment Migration at Sable International, suggests three programmes that meet the needs of most South Africans looking for a second residency and\/or citizenship.<\/p>\n
What are residency- and citizenship-by-investment programmes?<\/strong><\/p>\n Residency-by-investment (RBI) and citizenship-by-investment (CBI) are terms for a number of programmes offered by governments around the world that allow someone to invest in a country\u2019s economy in exchange for temporary\/permanent residency or citizenship.<\/p>\n Whether it is residency or citizenship is dependent on the country\u2019s programme. Each country has different requirements and different investment options.<\/p>\n The benefits of the top three residency- and citizenship-by-investment choices<\/strong><\/p>\n While each programme offers unique benefits, there are some benefits that all the programmes on this list share, such as:<\/p>\n The factors that have influenced this list include:<\/p>\n The Immigrant Investor Programme – Ireland\u2019s investor visa<\/strong><\/p>\n Ireland has become an attractive destination to many multinational companies, who have chosen it as the home for their European headquarters. This is because Ireland has one of the fastest-growing economies in the European Union (EU) and maintains a high position on the list of Europe\u2019s top destinations for foreign investment.<\/p>\n Ireland has a high standard of living and ranks high in earnings, education, security and health.<\/p>\n Ireland\u2019s Immigrant Investor Programme, also known as Ireland\u2019s investor visa, is a residency-by-investment programme and not a citizenship-by-investment programme. However, this programme remains appealing for two reasons: Its low residency requirements and the business expansion opportunities.<\/p>\n Investors are granted a Stamp 4 visa (Irish permanent residency) which grants you full residency and working rights and you can start a business in Ireland too. If you are not yet ready to relocate to Ireland, you can retain this Stamp 4 visa with just one day a year spent in Ireland. Ireland\u2019s investor visa also includes dependent children up to the age of 24, provided they are financially dependent on you and in full-time education.<\/p>\n To qualify for the Immigrant Investor Programme, you can make a donation of \u20ac500,000 or make an investment starting at \u20ac1 million. Ireland\u2019s residency-by-investment can be turned into full Irish citizenship if you relocate to Ireland. The Irish passport is now the only one that offers holders the ability to live and work in both the EU and, through a common travel agreement, the UK.<\/p>\n Portugal\u2019s Golden Visa programme<\/strong><\/p>\n Portugal tops many impressive lists such as being the fourth best place to retire, fifth on UNICEF\u2019s 2019 list of family-friendly countries, and fourth on the Institute for Economics & Peace\u2019s 2021 Global PeaceIndex. This is coupled with Portugal\u2019s high standard and low cost of living, its breathtaking views of golden beaches and the beautiful mountainous landscape.<\/p>\n While Portuguese winters can be reminiscent of a Cape winter, Portugal enjoys a long, warm and beautiful summer and an overall climate similar to South Africa.<\/p>\n The Golden Visa, Portugal\u2019s residency-by-investment programme, allows holders to live and work in Portugal and travel for 90 days visa-free throughout the European Schengen Area. After holding the Golden Visa for five years, you may be eligible for Portuguese permanent residency and citizenship.<\/p>\n As a Portuguese national, you can apply for a Portuguese passport \u2013 one of the strongest passports in the world. Citizenship can be applied for in tandem with permanent residency. The Golden Visa\u2019s physical presence requirement is only 35 days over the entirety of the five years. Portugal also has a range of tax benefits.<\/p>\n Those who spend more than 183 days in Portugal can register for a Non-Habitual Residence tax programme, which makes them exempt from almost all foreign source income tax. There is also no The Golden Visa investment options start at \u20ac280,000 for a property rehabilitation project in a low-density area within Portugal.\u00a0Other investment options are available at \u20ac350,000, \u20ac400,000 and \u20ac500,000.<\/p>\n Malta\u2019s citizenship-by-investment programme \u2013 Exceptional Services by Direct Investment<\/strong><\/p>\n Malta\u2019s citizenship-by-investment programme, also known as the Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (ESDI) programme, allows applicants to apply for Maltese citizenship after 12 or 36 months of Maltese residency.<\/p>\n Malta is a beautiful island in the Mediterranean with one of the most stable economies in Europe. Malta offers dual citizenship and Maltese nationality can be passed on to future generations through descent.<\/p>\n The Maltese passport is currently ranked as the seventh strongest passport in the world and allows visa-free travel to 185 destinations.\u00a0 Malta also sits comfortably as the eighth-best place to retire.<\/p>\n Maltese residency can be processed and approved in as little as 60 days and your Maltese citizenship application will be approved in 36-40 months depending on which timeline you choose. This programme requires a large non-refundable government contribution which starts at \u20ac600,000 for the main applicant based on an application for citizenship after 36 months.<\/p>\n This is increased to \u20ac750,000 should the main applicant opt to apply for citizenship on the expedited 12-month timeline. In addition to your government contribution and residence requirement, the other ESDI requirements include:<\/p>\n\n
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