Golden Gateways: The Evolving Landscape of Investment Migration in 2025

In the constantly changing world of international mobility, the landscape of "golden visa" schemes keeps evolving, providing high-net-worth individuals with routes to residency and citizenship through strategic investment. As of 2025, a number of nations lead the competitive landscape of investment migration:

Greece became the new leader in residence-by-investment schemes, ranking 73 out of 100 in the Global Residence Program Index. The golden visa of Greece is now €400,000, compared to prior years.

The United Arab Emirates continues to be a favorite, especially among Indian investors, providing a 10-year residency visa for a minimum investment of AED 2 million (about $545,000) in real estate or local stocks.

Portugal, a longtime favorite, has revised its program, eliminating real estate investments as an option to qualify. Investors may now achieve residency through the investment of €500,000 in eligible investment funds or scientific research initiatives.

The United States remains a draw for investors with its EB-5 program, mandating a minimum of $1.05 million (or $800,000 in targeted employment areas) to establish at least ten full-time positions.

Canada's Start-up Visa initiative provides a route to permanent residence for entrepreneurs with innovative business concepts and backing from designated organizations.

Hungary has returned to the golden visa market in 2024, providing a 10-year temporary residency permit for eligible investments.

In contrast, nations such as the UK, Spain, and New Zealand have terminated or drastically restricted their golden visa schemes, mirroring a worldwide shift towards stricter regulation in investment migration.

As the investment migration space is evolving, prospective investors have to make thoughtful decisions, balancing advantages with increasingly intricate demands and shifting international perspectives on these initiatives.

Source: Henley & Partners Global Residence Program Index 2025, February 27, 2025