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General

Investment Migration

The professional field encompassing all routes by which an individual acquires citizenship or residency through an economic investment in the host country.

Also known as:Citizenship and residency by investment

Definition

The professional field encompassing all routes by which an individual acquires citizenship or residency through an economic investment in the host country.

Investment Migration is the umbrella term for the professional field — and the policy area — encompassing all routes by which an individual acquires citizenship or residency on the basis of an economic investment. It covers CBI, RBI, Golden Visa, investor visa, start-up visa, and naturalisation-by-investment programmes.

The industry is represented internationally by the Investment Migration Council (IMC), which sets ethical and competence standards. Major specialist law firms, "big four" advisory arms, and licensed agents form the supply side; high-net-worth individuals and families form the demand side.

Annual global volume in 2025 was estimated at approximately USD 25 billion in qualifying investment value, with the Caribbean 5 collectively processing 5,000–7,000 main applicants per year and the Malta MEIN processing 400–500 per year.

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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.

  • Browse live programmes

    Residency and citizenship by investment programmes that are currently open, with the qualifying routes for each country.

  • Compare programmes

    See two or more programmes side by side: investment routes, processing stages, family inclusion and residence rules.

  • Check your eligibility

    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

Where can I see this term in practice?

Follow the related programme and guide links on this page to see how the term applies to live programmes.

Who can explain how this applies to me?

An adviser can explain how the term affects your application. Book a consultation or send us a message.

What is investment migration?

Investment migration is the legal process of obtaining citizenship or residency in a foreign country through a qualifying financial contribution — such as a government fund donation, real estate purchase, or business investment. Programmes are offered by sovereign governments and are fully legal, internationally recognised, and increasingly common among UHNW and HNW individuals and families.

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.

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