AFM (Greece)
The Greek tax registration number. It is required to buy property in Greece, including for the golden visa.
Document Terms
Definitions of the certificates, apostilles and supporting documents investment migration applications ask for.
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Anti-Money Laundering
The body of law, regulation, and procedure designed to prevent the proceeds of crime from being legitimised through the financial system. AML compliance is a core obligation for CBI/RBI programmes.
Apostille
A certificate that authenticates a public document for use in another country that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Application Fee
The non-refundable government processing fee paid on submission of a CBI / RBI application, separate from the qualifying investment and the due-diligence fee.
Biometrics
The capture of unique physical identifiers — fingerprints, facial images, iris scans — required by most CBI / RBI programmes during the application process.
Comprehensive Ranking System
The points system Canada uses to rank Express Entry candidates on factors such as age, education, language ability and work experience.
Dependant
A family member of a main applicant who is included in the same CBI / RBI application — typically a spouse, children below an age threshold, and qualifying parents.
Due Diligence
The investigative process — covering identity, source of funds, criminal history, and reputational risk — that every investment-migration applicant must satisfy before approval.
Emirates ID
The identity card every UAE resident must hold. Golden visa holders receive one after the medical test and biometrics.
Empadronamiento (Spain)
Registration on the municipal register (padrón) at your town hall in Spain. The certificate proves where you live and is asked for in many residence, healthcare and school procedures.
Family reunification
The process that lets eligible relatives of a resident or citizen join them in the country, either at the same time or later.
Financial Action Task Force
The intergovernmental body that sets global standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Its evaluations and "grey list" designations materially shape investment-migration compliance.
Know Your Customer
The regulatory requirement on financial institutions and licensed agents to verify the identity of clients before establishing a business relationship.
Main applicant
The person whose qualifying investment, job or eligibility the application is based on; family members apply as dependants.
NIE (Spain)
The tax and identification number Spain gives to foreigners. You need it to buy property, open a bank account, pay tax or work in Spain.
NIF (Portugal)
The Portuguese tax identification number. Investors need one before they can open a bank account or make a qualifying investment in Portugal.
Oath of Allegiance
The formal declaration of loyalty to a new country, sworn by applicants at the final stage of citizenship acquisition — including in some CBI programmes.
Police clearance certificate
An official record check confirming whether a person has a criminal record, required from applicants and adult dependants.
Politically Exposed Person
An individual entrusted with prominent public functions — or a close family member or business associate of such an individual. PEPs trigger enhanced due-diligence requirements under AML law.
Re-entry permit (Singapore)
The permit a Singapore permanent resident needs to keep their status when travelling abroad.
Source of Funds
Documentary evidence proving where the specific money used in a transaction originated. A core component of due diligence for every investment-migration application.
Stay requirement
The minimum time a permit holder or applicant must spend in a country to obtain, keep or renew a status.
TIE (Spain)
The physical residence card for non-EU nationals living in Spain for more than six months. It shows your NIE and the type of permit you hold.
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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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Plain guides to each programme: requirements, documents, due diligence and the steps from application to approval.
Frequently asked questions
How many document terms are in the glossary?
The glossary currently defines 23 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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