Investment migration, with a clear purpose

01

Start with the right outcome

Residence permission and citizenship are different legal statuses. A residence route may require renewals, continued investment or time in the country. Citizenship has its own eligibility and approval process. Neither should be assumed to provide unrestricted work, residence or travel rights in another country.

Tell us whether the priority is a family move, running a business, long-term residence or citizenship. Your nationality, current residence and any previous refusals can change which options are relevant.

02

Citizenship: the programme and the applicant both matter

Official citizenship programmes operate in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. The qualifying contribution or investment is only one part of an application: due diligence, family eligibility and government fees also matter.

Türkiye has a separate exceptional citizenship framework that includes qualifying property investment. The property conditions and required holding commitment must be checked before a purchase is treated as relevant to citizenship. A property in Istanbul is still assessed under Türkiye’s national rules.

These are programme examples, not confirmation that every application can be handled by Strand. We confirm the available service and any authorised local agent before you instruct us.

03

Residence options are not interchangeable

Different countries attach different conditions to their investment residence routes. Examples worth distinguishing include:

• Portugal: current ARI investment activities exclude direct or indirect real-estate investment.
• Malta: the permanent residence programme combines property, financial and other requirements; it does not grant citizenship.
• New Zealand: Active Investor Plus has distinct Growth and Balanced categories, with different investment periods and conditions.
• United States: E-2 is a temporary treaty-investor category. EB-5 is an immigrant-investor route with separate investment and job-creation requirements.
• Greece and the Republic of Cyprus: qualifying property or other investment must meet the particular route’s conditions; an ordinary purchase is not enough.
• Thailand Privilege: a paid long-stay membership is different from an investment residence or citizenship programme.

04

Check whether an older programme still exists

Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment Programme closed to new applications on 31 July 2024. Montenegro’s investment citizenship programme ended in 2022. Existing or pending cases need a separate assessment; a closure does not mean every previous permission has disappeared.

Malta’s former citizenship-by-investment framework was repealed. Citizenship by merit must not be sold as its replacement. Malta’s permanent residence programme is a separate subject.

We use the current official framework when discussing an enquiry. Historic price tables, processing estimates and passport-access rankings are not a basis for committing funds.

05

Plan the evidence and the full commitment

An initial budget should distinguish an investment from a non-refundable contribution and identify government, due-diligence, professional, property and renewal costs. Confirm the treatment of each family member and the point at which payments become committed.

Applications commonly require evidence of identity, family relationships, the lawful origin and transfer of funds, and relevant personal history. The required records depend on the jurisdiction. Investment suitability, tax consequences and immigration eligibility need their own professional consideration; immigration approval does not guarantee investment returns.

06

Make a useful first enquiry

Send a short outline of your nationality, current country of residence, intended destination, family members, approximate budget and preferred timeframe. Mention previous applications or refusals and any existing investment commitment.

We then confirm whether we can help, the proposed scope and fees, and which local professional or authorised agent is required. Once the next step is agreed, we explain which supporting documents are needed and how to provide them.

Common questions