RESIDENCY / FAMILY / A NEW CHAPTER
Residency by Investment & Global Residence Advisory
Compare residence options around the life you want to build. STF helps you assess eligible routes, family requirements and the commitments that continue after a permit is issued.
Wider possibilities.
01 / THE OVERVIEW
Clarity from the start.
A residence programme should fit where you intend to live, what you need to do there and how much ongoing time and investment you can commit. We compare the immigration route with your family, work and financial circumstances. Residency, citizenship and tax residence are different concepts; a residence card does not automatically provide a passport or unlimited rights in other countries.
02 / YOUR OPTIONS
Explore every detail.
United Arab Emirates
Golden Residency — category-specific eligibility
The UAE Golden Residency framework includes eligible investors and other qualifying categories. A property-investor assessment should review the ownership evidence, qualifying value, financing position and the current requirements of the relevant authority.
WHO IT MAY SUIT
Individuals and families seeking a long-term UAE base through an eligible category.
WHAT TO CHECK
• Identify the correct category rather than assuming every applicant uses the property route.
• Review property or business records, personal documents and family evidence.
• Plan the medical, identification, insurance and immigration formalities that apply.
Residence duration and conditions depend on the category and issuing process. Property ownership or a business licence alone does not guarantee approval.
Portugal
ARI — qualifying non-real-estate investment routes
Portugal’s ARI framework offers qualifying investment routes subject to current rules. Applicants should assess the permitted category, the investment evidence and the practical application and renewal requirements. Residential property should not be presented as a current new ARI qualifying investment route.
WHO IT MAY SUIT
Applicants evaluating permitted investments alongside a longer-term Portugal residence plan.
WHAT TO CHECK
• Review the exact qualifying category and investment documentation.
• Consider residence, biometric appointment and renewal obligations.
• Coordinate financial, criminal-record, family and authentication documents.
A residence permit is not citizenship. Any future nationality application is separate and subject to the law and requirements in force at that time.
Latvia
Company-capital and other qualifying residence routes
Latvia provides temporary residence routes linked to specified investments, including qualifying company-capital investments. The relevant route includes conditions beyond transferring money, such as company qualification, applicable payments and continuing obligations.
WHO IT MAY SUIT
Applicants prepared to assess both the investment structure and the conditions attached to maintaining residence.
WHAT TO CHECK
• Review the company, investment category and applicable qualifying requirements.
• Check government payments, financial resources, insurance and supporting documents.
• Understand recurring registration or renewal duties and the company’s ongoing obligations.
An investment in any Latvian company is not automatically qualifying. Assess commercial risk and immigration eligibility separately.
Greece
Golden Visa — qualifying investor residence
Greece has an investor-residence framework that includes qualifying property arrangements. The applicable investment rules can differ by location and property category, so eligibility should be checked before selecting a property or paying a reservation fee.
WHO IT MAY SUIT
Applicants considering a Greek investment with a clearly assessed residence objective.
WHAT TO CHECK
• Review title, permitted use, location and eligibility of the proposed investment.
• Confirm the current threshold and special-category conditions for that exact property.
• Plan insurance, family documents, biometrics and continuing ownership obligations.
A qualifying residence permit does not automatically create a right to work in every occupation or live permanently in another European country.
Cyprus
Investor immigration permit — permanent-residence framework
Cyprus provides an investor immigration-permit route subject to investment, income and other qualifying conditions. The government’s stated minimum qualifying investment is €300,000 in an eligible category, with further requirements and potential tax or transaction costs.
WHO IT MAY SUIT
Applicants seeking to assess a Cyprus residence option through a qualifying investment and documented income position.
WHAT TO CHECK
• Review the eligible investment category, required payment evidence and source of funds.
• Assess income requirements and the full family group.
• Understand continuing conditions, presence obligations and permitted activities.
This is a residence route, not a citizenship-by-investment offer. Do not assume that a Cyprus permit provides unrestricted residence or employment elsewhere in Europe.
Spain
Digital-nomad option — not residency by investment
Spain’s investor-visa route closed to new applications from 3 April 2025. A separate digital-nomad route may be relevant for eligible international remote workers. It is included here as an alternative residence discussion, not as a property-investment programme.
WHO IT MAY SUIT
Eligible remote employees or self-employed professionals whose work arrangements meet Spain’s requirements.
WHAT TO CHECK
• Review the remote-work relationship, employer or client records and permitted activity.
• Assess income, professional qualification or experience, insurance and social-security requirements.
• Prepare the applicable personal, criminal-record and family documents.
Buying property in Spain does not recreate the closed investor route. The digital-nomad option has its own eligibility rules and is not suitable for every investor.
Route overview reviewed 28 September 2026. Spain is shown only as a non-investment alternative. Requirements, permitted activities and renewal conditions are checked for the selected route before application.
03 / PREPARE
Your starting checklist.
The exact document list is confirmed for your circumstances. This checklist helps you prepare for the first discussion.
• Passports, identity photographs and evidence of current residence.
• Family relationship records and dependency evidence where applicable.
• Police certificates, medical information and insurance required by the destination.
• Bank statements, income records and lawful-source-of-funds evidence.
• Qualifying property, investment, company or remote-work records for the selected route.
• Accommodation, tax identification or other local records where the process requires them.
• Certified translations, legalisations and appointment requirements for each applicant.
04 / HOW IT WORKS
A clear path forward.
01 / STEP
Define your plans
Discuss your destination preferences, family, work plans, budget and intended time in the country.
02 / STEP
Compare eligibility
Identify routes that match those circumstances and explain any restrictions before you select an investment.
03 / STEP
Review the commitment
Assess the required investment or income evidence, ongoing duties and separate commercial risks.
04 / STEP
Prepare and apply
Coordinate the required records, submission steps and appointments through the appropriate channel.
05 / STEP
Plan for renewal
Keep a record of permit conditions, investment retention, presence requirements and future renewal dates.
05 / PLAN AHEAD
Costs. Timing. Expectations.
Agree the scope and understand the full picture before proceeding.
• Separate the qualifying investment from government, professional, family and document-processing costs.
• Property routes may also involve taxes, registration, legal review and ongoing ownership expenses.
• Consider insurance, travel, accommodation and recurring renewal obligations.
• Appointments, due diligence and government decisions affect timing. Residence approval and any later citizenship outcome are not guaranteed.
06 / ANSWERS
Know before you begin.
What is the difference between residency and citizenship?
Residency gives permission to live in a country under specified conditions. Citizenship is a separate legal status. A residence permit may support a longer-term plan, but it does not automatically become a passport.
Can I include my family?
Eligible family members depend on the route and destination. Ages, financial dependency and relationship evidence matter, so the family group should be assessed at the beginning.
Must I live in the destination full-time?
Presence and renewal requirements differ. The right route must fit the time you can actually spend there, including any obligations that apply to each family member.
Can I work with an investor residence permit?
Permitted activities vary. Do not assume that an investment-based permit gives unrestricted employment rights. Explain whether you intend to work, manage a business, study or retire.
Does a European residence card let me move permanently anywhere in Europe?
No. Limited travel rights and a right to reside or work are different. Check the conditions of the issuing country and the rules of any other country you intend to visit or live in.
Can I buy property first and apply afterwards?
It is better to review eligibility before committing funds. The location, property type, title and transaction structure may determine whether an investment qualifies.
Do I become tax resident automatically?
Immigration status and tax residence are separate. Time spent, accommodation, business interests and local laws may affect your tax position. Obtain advice based on your actual circumstances.
07 / LET’S TALK
Discuss your residency options
Tell us about your situation and the outcome you are looking for. We will confirm the relevant scope and next steps.
Please share a brief outline here. Supporting identity or sensitive case documents can be requested through an agreed channel.
STF CONSULTANCY
Legal. Corporate. Real Estate.
General service information. Your circumstances, the agreed engagement and the relevant authority’s current requirements determine the applicable advice and process.