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A Comprehensive Guide to Greece’s Golden Visa Program
Greece, with its stunning landscapes and rich history, is more than just a dream destination; it’s a gateway to new opportunities through its Golden Visa Program. Offering non-EU citizens a chance to obtain residency in one of Europe’s most enchanting locales, this program has captured the attention of investors and adventurers alike. Whether you’re seeking to broaden your horizons, secure a foothold in the EU, or enjoy the unique Mediterranean lifestyle, Greece’s Golden Visa provides a pathway to make your aspirations a reality. This comprehensive guide will navigate you through the intricacies of the program, from eligibility requirements to investment options, ensuring you can unlock the full potential of this golden opportunity. Join us as we explore how this innovative initiative can transform your life and open doors you never knew existed.
Eligibility Requirements for the Golden Visa
The first step to unlocking the opportunities offered by Greece’s Golden Visa Program is understanding the eligibility requirements. To qualify for the Golden Visa, applicants must be non-EU citizens. This program is designed specifically to attract foreign investment, so it is not available to residents of the European Union. This requirement ensures that the program serves its purpose of bringing new financial and cultural contributions to Greece.
Applicants must also be at least 18 years old to apply for the Golden Visa. This age requirement is standard for most residency and investment programs worldwide. It ensures that applicants are legally capable of making financial decisions and entering into contracts. Additionally, applicants must have a clean criminal record. This stipulation is crucial as it maintains the integrity and safety of the program. The Greek government thoroughly checks criminal records to ensure that only law-abiding individuals are granted residency.
Financial stability is another significant criterion. Applicants must be able to prove that they have the necessary funds to invest in the program. The minimum required investment is €250,000, which can be in real estate or other approved investment options. This financial requirement ensures that applicants are serious investors who can contribute positively to the Greek economy. The combination of these eligibility requirements helps to maintain a high standard for the Golden Visa Program, attracting quality applicants who can genuinely benefit from and contribute to Greece.
The Application Process for the Golden Visa
The application process for Greece’s Golden Visa is designed to be straightforward, but it requires careful attention to detail. The first step is to gather all necessary documentation. This includes a valid passport, proof of health insurance that covers you and your family in Greece, and a clean criminal record certificate. Additionally, you will need to provide proof of your investment, such as contracts or receipts that verify the minimum investment amount has been met. These documents must be translated into Greek and notarized to ensure their validity.
Once your documentation is in order, the next step is to submit your application to the Greek authorities. This can be done through the local Greek consulate in your country or directly through the Decentralized Administration offices in Greece. Along with your application, you will need to pay the applicable fees. These fees include a processing fee and often an additional amount for expedited services if you wish to speed up the process. It is essential to ensure all forms are accurately completed to avoid any delays in the application process.
After submission, the Greek authorities will review your application and may request additional information or clarification. This review process typically takes a few weeks to a few months, depending on the complexity of your application and the volume of applications being processed. Once approved, you will be issued a residency permit. This permit allows you to live in Greece and enjoy the benefits of the Golden Visa. The permit is initially valid for five years and can be renewed indefinitely as long as you maintain your investment in Greece. This straightforward yet meticulous process ensures that applicants meet all criteria and can fully benefit from the program.
Your Ultimate Guide to Portugal’s Golden Visa Investment Funds – Requirements, New Rules & Future Trends
Unlocking Opportunities: Your Ultimate Guide to Portugal’s Golden Visa Investment Funds – Requirements, New Rules & Future Trends
Portugal’s Golden Visa program has become a beacon for investors seeking a foothold in Europe. Offering a unique blend of security, lifestyle, and growth potential, this initiative invites foreign nationals to invest in the country’s vibrant economy through investment funds. As new rules and regulations emerge, navigating the complexities of this program can feel overwhelming. This ultimate guide breaks down everything you need to know about Portugal’s Golden Visa investment funds—from essential requirements to the latest updates and future trends that could shape your investment journey. Whether you’re aiming to secure residency, explore enticing real estate options, or capitalize on emerging markets, understanding these facets will help you unlock new opportunities in Portugal. Dive into this comprehensive resource and embark on your path to becoming part of one of Europe’s most welcoming nations.
Understanding Investment Funds in the Golden Visa Context
Portugal’s Golden Visa program offers foreign investors a unique opportunity to gain residency in one of Europe’s most captivating countries. Among the various investment options available, investment funds have gained significant traction. These funds provide a structured and diversified approach to investing in Portugal’s economy, allowing investors to participate in sectors such as real estate, technology, and sustainable energy. Unlike direct real estate investments, investment funds offer professional management and mitigate risks through portfolio diversification.
Investment funds in the context of the Golden Visa program are specifically designed to meet the criteria set by the Portuguese government, ensuring compliance with legal and financial regulations. These funds typically require a minimum investment amount, which has been adjusted periodically to reflect economic conditions and policy objectives. By investing in these funds, foreign nationals can secure their residency while contributing to Portugal’s economic development.
For those unfamiliar with investment funds, it’s essential to understand how they operate. Fund managers pool capital from multiple investors to create a diversified investment portfolio. This portfolio is managed with the goal of achieving the best possible returns while minimizing risks. Investors benefit from the expertise of fund managers, who make strategic decisions based on comprehensive market analysis and trends. This hands-off approach is particularly appealing to those who prefer a more passive investment strategy while still meeting the Golden Visa requirements.
How to Obtain a Second Passport Through Investment
In a world that’s increasingly interconnected, the allure of a second passport is more compelling than ever. Imagine having the freedom to travel, work, and invest in new opportunities across borders, all while enhancing your global footprint. Obtaining a second passport through investment is not just a dream for the wealthy elite; it’s becoming a viable pathway for individuals seeking to diversify their opportunities and secure their future. This article delves into the various investment avenues that can unlock such benefits, exploring the requirements, processes, and the potential returns on this unique investment. Whether you’re aiming for personal safety, tax advantages, or the desire for a more flexible lifestyle, understanding how to navigate this increasingly accessible option could be your gateway to a world of possibilities. Join us as we unlock the secrets to acquiring a second passport and embracing a brighter, more global outlook for your life and ventures.
Understanding the Concept of Citizenship by Investment
In recent years, the concept of citizenship by investment (CBI) has gained significant traction. This program allows individuals to obtain a second passport by making substantial economic contributions to the country offering the citizenship. The primary motivation behind these programs is to attract foreign direct investment, which can stimulate economic growth and development. As countries compete to attract global investors, the process and the requirements for obtaining a second passport have become more streamlined and accessible.
Citizenship by investment is not a new phenomenon; it dates back several decades. However, its popularity has surged in the 21st century, coinciding with the rise of globalization and the mobility that it entails. More and more individuals are seeking the flexibility that comes with a second passport, whether it’s for personal security, business expansion, or simply the allure of new opportunities. The programs vary significantly from one country to another, but they generally involve a combination of financial investment and residency requirements.
There are multiple pathways to achieve citizenship by investment. These typically include options like real estate investment, business development, government bonds, and donations to national development funds. Understanding these different routes is crucial for prospective applicants, as each comes with its own set of benefits and obligations. The key is to determine which option aligns best with the individual’s financial goals and personal circumstances.
United States will buy bitcoin?
United States will buy bitcoin. The United States holds approximately 200,000 bitcoins from legal cases. Meanwhile, the government is considering purchasing them.
While the strategic bitcoin reserve in the United States has yet to be established, it remains at the heart of discussions within the Trump administration. This reserve will consist of 198,012 bitcoins (worth $23.48 billion) resulting from legal cases. However, other bitcoins could be added to this reserve. As a reminder, the United States is the largest holder of bitcoins in the world, ahead of China, which has 194,000.
Additionally, there are “countless ways to accumulate bitcoins,” he said, such as buying as long as it’s “neutral” from a budget perspective. In reality, there aren’t many ways to acquire bitcoins these days. You either have to mine them or buy them.
Today, only two out of nine countries holding bitcoin are actually buying it. These are El Salvador (which recognized bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 before its bitcoin law was overturned by the IMF) and Bhutan, which hold 6,246 bitcoins and 11,286 bitcoins, respectively.
Evoking a form of game theory and domino effect, the expert bets on an explosion in the price of bitcoin in the event of a race to buy them by governments, while the supply of bitcoins in circulation is limited to 21 million units.
As a reminder, the price of Bitcoin has increased by 73% in one year, mainly driven by the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House. The American president intends to make the United States the world capital of cryptocurrencies, doing everything possible to develop the sector. On July 18, the United States enacted its first law aimed at regulating the crypto ecosystem, initially by regulating stablecoins.
Canadian passport ranked more powerful than the U.S.
Canadian passport have one of the most powerful passports in the world, ranking ahead of the United States in a global index.
U.K.-based consultancy firm Henley & Partners recently released this year’s global passport ranking. It’s based on mobility, meaning where in the world the holder of the passport can travel to without a visa. In order to rank the countries, it relies on exclusive information from travel information database, the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The top-ranking country is Singapore. That’s because its passport holders have visa-free access to the most global destinations included in the list, at 193 destinations.
Passports receive a score if no visa is required. The same score is given if the passport holder can obtain a visa on arrival (VOA), a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) when entering the destination. An ETA, for example, is needed when Canadians enter the United Kingdom for travel purposes such as tourism, family visits, business, and short-term study.
Retraite à l’étranger : les 10 meilleures villes
EXCLUSIF – Au moment du passage à la retraite, s’expatrier pour doper son pouvoir d’achat et couler des jours heureux est alléchant. Encore faut-il sélectionner le bon pays, et surtout dénicher la ville qui coche toutes les cases. Capital vous dévoile la sélection du site retraitesansfrontieres.fr.
Ça n’est pas un secret. A la retraite, votre niveau de vie décline avec vos revenus. Préserver votre pouvoir d’achat en faisant vos valises pour un nouveau pays peut donc être tentant.
Une fois votre pays d’expatriation choisi, reste donc à trouver le lieu qui vous permettra de couler des jours heureux dans le cadre dont vous rêvez. Pour ce faire, rien de tel que de tester sur place : «Je recommande de partir une semaine ou deux dans le pays sélectionné pour y faire un tour, d’en profiter pour se rendre dans la ville coup de cœur que nous suggérons et d’autres villes», conseille Paul Delahoutre. Ces coups de cœur «ne sont pas trop éloignés d’une grande ville, pour avoir accès par la route à une structure de santé satisfaisante ainsi qu’à un aéroport international pour venir voir sa famille en France», détaille l’expert. La possibilité de trouver dans ces aires urbaines des centres commerciaux tout autant que des communautés de Français expatriés plaide pour les emplacements sélectionnés par Paul Delahoutre et son réseau de correspondants retraités installés à l’étranger. «Tous ces critères permettent de faire ressortir ces villes de manière assez évidente», tranche-t-il.
Voici donc la sélection opérée par le fondateur de Retraite sans Frontières. Dix coups de cœurs, soit un choix par pays membre du top 10 des meilleurs pays où s’expatrier pour la retraite. Une liste non exhaustive, mais qui vous permettra d’y voir plus clair avant de sauter le pas.
Cascais (Portugal)
Si vous avez choisi de poser vos valises au Portugal, le leader du classement des pays où partir à la retraite, Cascais offre un cadre de vie des plus doux. Située à seulement 30 kilomètres de la capitale, Lisbonne, la cité «est à la fois un port de pêche traditionnel et une station balnéaire raffinée», apprécie Paul Delahoutre. Vous y trouverez notamment les charmes de la vieille ville, bordées de petits commerces, et de nombreuses plages accessibles à pied. «A la sortie ouest de la ville, la route se poursuit en bordure de l’océan, ménageant de beaux aperçus sur cette côte sauvage et escarpée que clôt l’impressionnant Cabo da Roca», décrit l’expert.
Portugal’s Golden Visa Emerges Strong as EU Shuts Down Malta Golden Passport
A decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to declare Malta’s ‘Golden Passport’ illegal will have no impact on Portugal’s hugely popular, but significantly different, Golden Visa.
Malta’s Citizenship-by-Investment scheme, known as the Golden Passport, allowed wealthy individuals to obtain Maltese – and, therefore, EU citizenship – in exchange for a substantial financial investment.
But the ECJ found it violated EU law by reducing the acquisition of citizenship to a mere commercial transaction, dependent on predetermined payments or investments.
It required no genuine link or ties to Malta, no requirement of residency of any length of time, and, in the words of the ECJ, represented a “commercialisation of the grant of the nationality of a member state”.
Malta’s government has already said it will comply with the judgment and review its citizenship regulations accordingly.
Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme remains completely unaffected by the ruling, with a host of more stringent requirements which legal experts say will raise no concerns with the ECJ.
Paul Stannard, chairman and founder of Portugal Pathways which assists in facilitating Golden Visa applications, and the Portugal Investment Owners Club, said: “It is good the EU is supportive of individual countries’ residency rules, but wants to close the door to citizenship schemes that have no links or connection with the country whatsoever.
“Unlike Malta’s scheme, which granted citizenship directly, Portugal’s Golden Visa requires applicants to spend time in the country each year and achieve a basic level of the Portuguese language. Citizenship is only available after five years if all criteria are met. It is completely different in terms of why the ECJ stopped the Maltese scheme.”
The end of the ‘non-dom’ tax status
The end of the “non-dom” tax status, which allowed millionaires to pay less tax, has already triggered a first wave of departures. If it continues, the exodus of the super-rich could have a significant impact on the British economy, the press warns.
The privileged tax status enjoyed by wealthy foreigners living in the United Kingdom no longer exists. Since 1799,
non-domiciled citizens were exempt from paying taxes on their income earned outside the country’s borders for fifteen years. That’s over.
The privileged tax status enjoyed by wealthy foreigners residing in the United Kingdom no longer exists. Since 1799, non-domiciled individuals were exempt from taxes on their income generated outside the country’s borders for fifteen years. That’s over.
Decided in March 2024 by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the abolition of the “non-dom” regime came into effect on April 6th. This reform was further complicated by Rachel Reeves, the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, who added a component affecting inheritance tax. Not only has the grace period for millionaires been reduced to four years, but all their assets held abroad will now be subject to inheritance tax at a rate of 40%, explains the Financial Times .
The result: “Some have already left, others are leaving,” writes Camilla Cavendish in her column. She believes that inheritance tax was the final straw. “The wealthy are used to paying taxes: in 2022-2023, the 74,000 registered non-doms paid £8.9 billion to the British tax authorities. But when it comes to a lifetime’s work and children, it becomes a personal matter.”
At the end of March, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, who had lived in the UK for thirty years, announced his departure. Billionaire Nassef Sawiris, “Egypt’s richest man,” who divided his time between Paris, New York, and London, had preceded him as soon as the reform was announced, Bloomberg reports . According to the London-based consulting firm Henley & Partners, 10,800 millionaires fled the country in 2024—twice as many as the previous year. Only China managed to exodus more last year, Fortune magazine points out . In the ranking of cities with the highest number of millionaires, London slipped from fifth to sixth place.
