Browse live programmes
Residency and citizenship by investment programmes that are currently open, with the qualifying routes for each country.
Residency by investment
The RBI programmes that sit outside the Golden Visa label, high-threshold, substance-heavy, and built for permanent relocation rather than mobility.
- Active programmes
- 1
- Lowest entry point
- From S$10,000,000
- Fastest processing
- From About 12 个月
Key facts at a glance
Figures are drawn from the programme pages below and update when a programme changes.
Active programmes
1
Programmes listed on this page
Lowest entry point
From S$10,000,000
Smallest qualifying investment across the listed programmes
Fastest processing
From About 12 个月
Shortest typical timeline quoted by a listed programme
Family inclusion
1 of 1
Programmes that accept a spouse and children on one application
Countries
1
Jurisdictions covered on this page
Where RBI sits in the broader estate
Residency by Investment (RBI) is the family of permits that grant residency in return for a qualifying contribution but operate outside the popular "Golden Visa" branding. The programmes are uniformly higher threshold, longer-tenured, and demand more genuine economic substance from the holder. They are typically chosen by families committing fully to the host country (schooling, tax residency, full relocation) rather than as mobility tools.
Singapore's Global Investor Programme is the marquee RBI track in Asia, requiring S$2.5M–S$10M in committed business investment with credible substance and ongoing employment. Switzerland's lump-sum tax regime grants residency in return for an annual flat tax (typically CHF 250K+). Monaco operates a deposit-based RBI requiring CHF 500K+ on deposit with a Monégasque bank. The US EB-5 programme requires US$800K–$1.05M in a regional centre and remains the only investor route to permanent residency in North America.
Who it suits
- Families planning a genuine move, with schooling, healthcare and tax residence in the host country
- Business owners able to show economic substance, such as an operating company or local employment
- Applicants with a longer time horizon who accept higher thresholds and stricter review
- People combining residence with other planning, such as a second passport or another residence permit
How it works
Define the plan
Set out why you are moving, who is moving and how the family tax and business position will change.
Build substance
Prepare the business plan, investment, premises or banking evidence the programme expects to see.
Apply and pass review
Submit the application with full source of funds evidence and attend any interviews the authorities request.
Keep the permit in good standing
Meet the ongoing conditions on investment, presence and reporting, and renew on time.
Active RBI programmes
Filter by region or open a programme for its routes, eligibility and timeline.
Costs to plan for
Beyond the qualifying investment, budget for these cost types. Each programme page sets out the official amounts with sources.
Qualifying investment or deposit
The business investment, deposit or other capital the programme requires, often held for several years.
Government charges
Application, permit and renewal charges set by each country, per family member.
Documents and advice
Business plans, audits, translations and local advice where the programme requires them.
Living and compliance costs
Housing, schooling, insurance and annual reporting in the host country.
Risks to weigh
Every route carries trade offs. Weigh these before you commit capital.
- High thresholds and long processing tie up capital for an extended period
- Approval often depends on a discretionary review of the business plan and substance
- Moving your residence can change your tax position in more than one country
- Missing ongoing conditions can lead to the permit not being renewed
Citizen Sure on residency by investment
RBI applications are about substance, capital alone does not get a file approved at this tier. Our practice covers the substance brief (employment, premises, banking), the family relocation plan (schooling, healthcare, governance), and the post-grant compliance regime that decides whether the residence holds in year 5 and year 10. Speak to a senior advisor for a 60-minute confidential consultation.
RBI is rarely the only step. Most engaged families pair an RBI with second-tier mobility, a Caribbean CBI passport for visa-free travel during long Singapore GIP processing, a UAE Golden Visa for tax substance alongside Swiss lump-sum residency. The real planning is multi-jurisdictional structuring; the visa is the artefact.
Speak to a senior adviser
Not Sure Which Programme to Choose?
Book a one to one video consultation. We look at your goals, family and budget, then set out which programmes fit you, with the costs, timelines and next steps.
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- Led by a senior adviser
- Final price shown before you book
Consultation
Programme Review
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You review your booking and pay securely on the next step.
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.
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
How is RBI different from a Golden Visa?
RBI is the broader umbrella, Golden Visas are a sub-category of RBI, distinguished by lower thresholds, real-estate routes, and minimal physical-presence requirements. The non-Golden RBI programmes (Singapore GIP, Swiss lump-sum, Monaco, EB-5) sit at higher thresholds and demand genuine substance and relocation.
Do RBI programmes lead to citizenship?
Singapore GIP can convert to citizenship at 2 years subject to integration. Switzerland's lump-sum residency leads to settled status at 10 years and citizenship at 12. Monaco does not grant citizenship. EB-5 leads to a green card and to US citizenship at 5 years.
Are RBI programmes faster than CBI?
No. RBI is generally slower because diligence depth is greater. Singapore GIP runs 6–9 months from filing. Swiss lump-sum runs 3–6 months. Monaco runs 6 months. EB-5 currently runs 4–6 years to conditional permanent residence due to retrogression in some chargeability categories.
What substance is required?
Singapore GIP requires committed business investment and minimum staffing. Switzerland and Monaco require physical residence (180+ days per year typically). EB-5 requires the investment remain at risk in a job-creating commercial enterprise for the conditional period (2 years).
Which RBI is right for tax planning?
Switzerland for the lump-sum regime. Singapore for territoriality and incentive treatment of foreign-sourced income. Monaco for 0% personal income tax on most foreign-sourced income. EB-5 is least tax-efficient, US tax residency triggers global income reporting.
What is the difference between residency by investment and a golden visa?
The terms overlap. Golden visa usually describes residence permits linked to a set investment, while residency by investment also covers routes such as business, wealth or lump sum taxation programmes.
Does residency by investment change my tax position?
It can. Tax residence depends on where you live and the tax law of each country, not on the permit alone. Take tax advice before you move.
Explore further
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