ARI (Portugal)
The official name of the Portugal golden visa: a residence permit granted for a qualifying investment activity.
Visa and Residence Terms
Plain English definitions of visa, residence permit and immigration status terms used in investment migration.
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Citizenship by Investment
A government programme granting full citizenship and a passport in exchange for a qualifying economic contribution — typically a non-refundable donation or an approved real-estate purchase.
Digital Nomad Visa
A visa or residence permit for remote workers who live in a country while working for employers or clients based elsewhere.
Digital nomad visa (Spain)
A Spanish visa and residence permit for non-EU nationals who work remotely for companies or clients mostly outside Spain, created by the 2022 Startups Law.
Global Investor Programme (Singapore)
Singapore’s route to permanent residence for established business owners and investors, administered by the Economic Development Board.
Golden Visa
A colloquial term for European Residency-by-Investment programmes — most notably Portugal, Greece, and Italy — granting residence in exchange for an approved investment.
Passive income visa
A residence route for people who can support themselves from regular passive income such as pensions, rental income or investment returns.
Residency by Investment
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.
Plan your next step
Compare live programmes on eligibility, timelines and family rules, check where you qualify, then read the country guides before you book a paid 60-minute consultation.
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Residency and citizenship by investment programmes that are currently open, with the qualifying routes for each country.
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See two or more programmes side by side: investment routes, processing stages, family inclusion and residence rules.
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Answer a few questions about your nationality, family and goals to see which programmes may fit.
Read the country guides
Plain guides to each programme: requirements, documents, due diligence and the steps from application to approval.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa and residence terms are in the glossary?
The glossary currently defines 8 terms in this topic. Each entry gives a short definition first, with a full article where the subject needs more detail.
Can I suggest a term?
Yes. If a term you need is missing, contact our team and an adviser will review it for the next update.
What is investment migration?
Investment migration covers programmes that grant residency or citizenship in return for a qualifying investment in a country, such as a donation, property or a fund.
What is the difference between a golden visa and citizenship by investment?
A golden visa grants residency, usually renewable, and can lead to citizenship after years of residence. Citizenship by investment grants a passport directly once the application is approved.
What does due diligence mean?
Due diligence is the background check that governments run on every applicant and adult family member before approval.
What is the difference between residency and citizenship by investment?
Residence by investment gives you the right to live in a country; citizenship by investment makes you a national with a passport and full civic rights.
Residence permits usually need renewing and may carry stay requirements, while citizenship is generally permanent. Many families combine the two to cover different needs.
What is the difference between citizenship by investment and a golden visa?
A golden visa grants residency — the right to live, work, and travel in a country — but not citizenship or a second passport. Citizenship by investment grants full citizenship, including a second passport with all associated rights. Some programmes (like Portugal's) offer a residency-first route with citizenship eligibility after 5 years of residency. The right choice depends entirely on your goals: travel access, tax benefits, speed, or long-term settlement.
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