Also known as:RBIInvestor residencyResidency-by-investment
Definition
A government programme granting a residence permit — and the right to live, work, or simply travel — in exchange for a qualifying investment. Citizenship, if available, comes after a multi-year residency period.
Residency by Investment (RBI) programmes grant a long-stay residence permit on the basis of a qualifying investment. Unlike CBI, RBI does not grant a passport at the point of investment; citizenship may follow after a statutory residency period (typically 5–10 years) and only if the holder satisfies physical-presence and integration tests.
Most European "Golden Visa" programmes are RBI: Portugal, Greece, Italy, Hungary (relaunched 2024). Investment thresholds typically range from EUR 250,000 to EUR 2 million depending on the route (fund, real-estate, capital transfer, or business creation).
RBI is well-suited to applicants whose primary objective is the right to live somewhere specific or to recover the invested capital after the holding period. For applicants whose primary need is a stronger travel document, CBI is usually a better fit.
Where Residency by Investment comes up
Answer
Should I do CBI or RBI? How do I decide?
I'm torn between Caribbean CBI (faster, full passport) and an EU residency-by-investment route (longer pathway but EU access). Budget is around USD 600k. What framework do you use to decide?
