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As more uncertainty plagues some of the western world, a ‘Plan B’ or as we call it a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th residency and/or citizenship is becoming a key part of most professional’s To-Do list for 2025. Obtaining a 2nd residency in Europe is one of the highest demand requests right now, due to the lifestyle and relaxed atmosphere compared to some other regions in the world. Tensions are high everywhere, but at least you should enjoy the atmosphere and food during this time. Obtaining an EU residency is not complicated at all – if anything it’s easier than obtaining a residency in Australia, Canada, UK or USA.
According to the World Health Organization, several EU countries rank among the top 20 globally for healthcare systems, with nations like France, Italy, and Spain consistently leading the way. These countries not only provide high-quality medical services but also boast impressive life expectancies, with the EU average being around 81 years. In comparison, the life expectancy in the USA is around 77 years. Countries like Italy and Spain have some of the highest life expectancies globally, reaching up to 83 years.
Moreover, the European Union is renowned for its robust educational system. According to the 2023 World University Rankings, over 30 EU universities feature in the top 100 globally, offering world-class education and research opportunities. Higher education in the EU is also significantly more affordable than in the USA. On average, annual tuition fees for post-secondary education in the EU range between €1,000 to €3,000, whereas in the USA, it can range from $10,000 to $35,000. This makes the EU an attractive destination for families seeking excellent educational prospects for their children, alongside the benefits of superior healthcare and longevity.
One last point to mention which you must already know is that EU residency can give anyone, no matter what country you’re from, freedom of mobility and travel amongst the 27 EU countries, which no other residency in the world can compete with. This means you can reside in one country, while easily travelling across other EU countries 90 days out of every 180 days without any additional paperwork.
We consider processing time and amount of investment as two of the most important criteria in our rankings today on the fastest and most affordable EU residency programs for 2025. Obviously, the program has to have a solid track record and provide the applicant with the right results if they meet all the eligibility criteria – considering this category as ease of application. The requirements for EU residencies, in terms of eligibility, are not much when compared to the English country programs such as Canada, USA, Australia and UK. Therefore, the processing time, cost and ease of application are our key factors in today’s comparison and rankings.
At INGWE, we have successfully helped thousands of families since 2018, from over 55 countries navigate the complex landscape of business and investment immigration. Connect with us for a personalized assessment - click here.
The Italian investor residency program allows applicants and their dependent family members to obtain a temporary residency in Italy, convertible to a permanent residency through 4 investment options. No language, work experience, or education is required for this type of initial temporary residency, which is renewable after 2 years for another 3 years.
Italy has the fastest processing time out of ANY of the EU residency programs in 2025. When you compare other programs in the EU, especially the more popular ones, you can easily expect to be under process 6 months or more. However, for the Italian residency program, it only takes a maximum of 90 days which is ranked as our fastest program.
The Italian investor residency program requires an investment of either €250,000, €500,000, or higher depending on whether you are investing in a startup venture, private or listed Italian company, or even higher amounts for government bonds or philanthropic donations – which are less popular options for applicants. The processing of the residency from beginning to end can take 90 days.
The requirements are very basic, with a medical exam and police background check, in addition to proof of funds to show that you can support yourself and your family. The main benefit of the Italian program compared to the rest of the EU residency and investment programs is that you can make the investment within 90 days of arriving in Italy and don’t need to make the investment in advance prior to arrival – which is the case for most other Golden Visa programs around the EU and the rest of the world. Check out in-depth guide for the Italian investor residency program with all key eligibility and requirements.
The Greek residency program, being one of the most popular in the world, and known as the Greece Golden Visa allows applicants and their dependent family members to obtain a temporary residency in Greece based on the purchase of real estate, which can be converted to permanent residency based on specific eligibility criteria. No language, work experience, or education is required for this type of initial temporary residency, which is also renewable. It is one of the most popular Golden Visa residency programs in the EU at the moment.
Greece offers a competitive residency program with moderate processing times and attractive investment options. The Greek residency program is popular due to its balance of investment threshold, with the opportunity to invest and own real estate, and processing efficiency, making it a preferred choice for many applicants. Many programs in EU have shut down the real estate option or are closing it down (i.e. Spain as of April 3rd, 2025 – and Portugal which closed down the real estate option in 2023). Greece remains one of the few residency programs in the EU offering a direct residency through real estate acquisition with a relatively decent timeline.
The Greek investor residency program requires an investment of €250,000 or higher, depending on the type of real estate you are purchasing. The €250,000 real estate option is only available if you are purchasing property which is being converted from industrial or commercial to residential zoning, otherwise the investment threshold would be higher to qualify for this program. The processing of the residency from beginning to end can take approximately 6 months from beginning to end.
The requirements include a medical exam, a police background check, and proof of sufficient funds to support the applicant and their family, along with the purchase of the real estate in Greece before filing the residency application. One of the main benefits of the Greek program is its relatively low investment threshold compared to other EU residency programs such as Portugal and Spain, making it accessible to a wider range of investors.
The Cypriot residency program has two options in 2025. One of the options is to invest €300,000 in any asset in Cyprus, which can include shares in a company or even real estate. Another more cost-effective option is to register a company in Cyprus, under the special regime of the BFU (Business Facilitation Unit) and issue yourself (as the applicant) a job offer to be able to apply for a work permit to come to Cyprus with your family. Both programs can lead to citizenship and can have the status renewed as long as they meet the residency requirements. The investor residency program of €300,000 would provide a 10 year residency for the applicant and their families, and the BFU company establishment of €200,000 option would give work permits valid for either 2 or 3 years eligible for renewal and convertible to citizenship if all requirements are met.
Cyprus is known for its favorable tax regime and quality of life, making it an attractive destination for investors seeking residency in the EU. The Cypriot residency program with these two options we have explained in our article give some of the most flexible options to applicants compared to other EU programs, while making it more affordable. When comparing it to some programs such as Greece, Cyprus allows non-real estate investments, and when comparing it to Spain, Portugal, Italy and other countries, it has a lower investment threshold.
The Cypriot investor residency program requires an investment of €300,000 or higher in any asset class, depending on the type of real estate, business, or financial investment made.
The alternative €200,000 option is a transfer of this share capital into your own registered BFU company in Cyprus – meaning that you do not lose this amount but it’s still in your own pocket. You don’t even need to technically spend it on anything specific. Keep in mind that you do need to run payroll for yourself through your own company, minimum salary of €2,500/month – which may be one of the few expenses to incur under this program along with a physical office lease.
The processing of the residency from beginning to end can take approximately up to 9 months due to the backlog, although the official government website states much faster processing times.
The requirements include a medical exam, a police background check, and proof of sufficient funds to support the applicant and their family, along with the investment amount. One of the main benefits of the Cypriot program is its favorable tax regime and high standard of living, making it an attractive option for investors. Another reason why it is favored by applicants is the low investment option of €200,000 into your own company, which means it’s not even considered money out of your pocket as it flows through your company which is 100% owned by yourself. The citizenship eligibility can be completed at 3 or 4 years under any of these two options, based the applicant’s language exam score and meeting the residency requirements.
The Maltese permanent residency program is one of the most popular programs in EU for sophisticated entrepreneurs, professionals and applicants seeking an English-speaking EU country. Malta is a dual language country with English being the main language of business, similar to how Singapore and Dubai operate. Malta is a full member of the EU and Schengen region. There are two residency options in Malta, one being the permanent residency program (MPRP) and the other being the tax residency program. The Malta permanent residency program is based on donation and contributions to the government of Malta in addition to the rental or purchase of a property in Malta. The advantage of this program is that you do not need to necessarily purchase real estate, but you can rent a unit in Malta for at least €14,000 a year for 5 years to maintain your permanent residency. Purchasing is still an option but not mandatory. We will cover the total cost of the Malta residency programs, both of them, below. The tax residency program is for individuals or families seeking a tax-efficient EU country to become a tax resident with a flat fee of €15,000 per year or 15%, whichever they choose for their overseas income. Interestingly enough, this program is one of the few EU programs which has no restrictions on nationalities – hence many restricted nationalities cannot apply for the MPRP but would be eligible to apply for the Malta Tax residency.
Malta offers a robust residency program with a strategic location in the Mediterranean, excellent healthcare, and a favorable tax regime. The Maltese residency program is well-regarded for its comprehensive benefits and efficient processing times. Malta has one of the lowest and flexible tax regimes in EU, is crypto-friendly, and also has a separate Malta Citizenship Investment Program which is the only EU country selling it’s passport outright – although we are not covering it in today’s article. However for today, it’s on our top list of EU residency programs because it is A) the cheapest and B) faster than other Golden Visa programs such as Portugal or Spain.
The Maltese permanent residency program requires a combination of contributions and donations to Malta and it’s governments and NGO’s. To give you an idea the total would be €137,637.50 for a single adult in addition to the rental of a property, annually at €14,000 for 5 years. For a couple the contributions and donations and admin fees would be €147,775.- in addition to the property rental. And for a family of 4, just to give you an idea the total government contributions, donations and admin fees would be €168,050.- excluding the property rental. The tax residency for Malta would cost you approx.
The benefits of both of the Malta residency programs, whether it’s the permanent residency or the tax residency, is that the applicant and their family does not need to technically reside full time in Malta – there are no residency requirements. The way the Malta government justifies this program is that the ties of the applicant and their family to the country are through the real estate rental/lease or the purchase under both programs. As long as you maintain the property, your residency status stays intact and is renewable every 5 years based on the same exact conditions, except for the tax residency program which is renewable every 1 year and requires to enter Malta to complete the process each year.
The key benefit for this program is that it’s easy and it is the ONLY EU program that offers permanent residency upfront with it’s MPRP , unlike all other countries in the EU which offer temporary residency convertible to permanent after meeting specific requirements. Check the latest government updates for the Malta Residency Program on our posted article & video here.
Remember that we’re always posting about these key details for investors and entrepreneurs for new programs and policy changes seeking residency, passports, and tax relief – and if that’s what you are interested in, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel for more deep dive videos.
Bulgari maybe a diamond in the rough amongst all the popular EU residency programs. You may not have heard of it as much, and sometimes some applicants are even surprised to know it’s a full member of the EU and Schengen region – which happened back in March of 2024. Bulgaria has two popular programs, the Bulgarian Trade Representative Office and the Investor Residency program. Both provide an opportunity for investors and their families to obtain either a temporary residency (under the TRO regime) or Permanent Residency under the investor program in Bulgaria. No language, work experience, or specific education is required for the initial temporary residency or permanent residency. The temporary residency under the TRO program can be converted to PR status if the applicant has not stayed outside the country 12 months or more consecutively – meaning you could enter Bulgaria on January 2nd , leave, and return on December 30th each year, and you would still meet the residency requirements. This minimum residency stay is not a requirement for the permanent residency program through investment. The TRO program requires an overseas business (outside EU) which has been operational for at least 2 years, with revenues and has paid it’s taxes locally in it’s own jurisdiction to appoint 1-2 Trade Reps to visit and stay in Bulgaria. No actual incorporation happens in Bulgaria for the business, or bank account opening. The reps do not need to be employees or shareholders of the company overseas, just a professional work experience profile to link their expertise to the fact that they will be visiting and staying in Bulgaria to network and do business development for the overseas business. The investor residency program on the other hand, requires an investment of €512,000 in a registered fund in Bulgaria – leading to permanent residency for 5 years (with a renewal option). Today we will cover the TRO option since it’s the most cost effective.
Bulgaria offers a strategic location in Southeastern Europe, a favorable tax regime, and a relatively low cost of living. It is the only program on our list for the entire EU region that requires ZERO investment under the TRO program – meaning you only need an eligible business overseas, and to appoint any trade rep from anywhere in the world to come and obtain their temporary residency in Bulgaria. With that temporary residency the children can study in Bulgaria, and the trade rep can open up their own personal bank account and travel freely in the EU region. The only downside for this program is that it’s slower than the other programs as everything is paper based, and we need to courier all documents to Bulgaria for translation and submission before applying to the local embassy in your current country of residence. However, as a hassle free, zero investment option it is on the top of our EU residency program list for 2025!
The Bulgarian Trade Representative Office program requires the establishment of a trade representative office in Bulgaria, with zero investment, but does require a lease of an office space and an apartment lease for the trade reps – which our office can assist with. The processing time can take 8-12 months based on the paperwork that has to go back and forth from your current country of residency. We have seen it done in 6 months, and also within 8-12 months – depending on how organized you are with your paperwork.
The requirements include a medical exam, a police background check, and proof of the overseas company being active for 2 years (operational) and filing it’s taxes. Ideally you want a business which can show close to €500,000 revenues annually to have a higher chance of approval. One of the main benefits of the Bulgarian program is its strategic location, favorable tax regime, and the relatively low cost of living, making it an appealing option for investors.
Understand the specific requirements and benefits of each residency program. Different programs like Malta, Cyprus, Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria may have varying criteria for investment, documentation, and residency duration.
Ensure all necessary paperwork, including medical exams, police background checks, and proof of business activities, is complete and well-organized for smooth processing.
Be aware of the estimated processing times for each program, which can range from 3 to 12 months. Plan accordingly to avoid any delays.
Utilize the services of residency consultants to assist with office space leases, apartment rentals, and the submission of documents. This can be particularly useful in navigating the requirements of each country.
For example, Malta offers a residency program requiring a significant investment in government bonds and real estate. Cyprus has an investment threshold for property purchase, while Italy's program often involves investments in innovative startups. Greece and Bulgaria offer relatively lower investment options, with Bulgaria even providing a zero-investment option under the Trade Representative Office program.
Stay informed about any changes in residency laws or requirements that may affect your application process. This is crucial for adapting to new regulations and ensuring timely submissions.
• Malta's residency program requires investment in government bonds and real estate, offering a stable and prosperous environment.
• Cyprus provides a fast-track residency program with an investment in property and a favorable tax regime.
• Italy's program encourages investment in innovative startups for lower investment amounts, perfect for entrepreneurial-minded applicants. As well as the higher investment in more established listed companies in Italy – but the program has the fastest residency processing time in all of the EU.
• Greece offers a golden visa program through real estate investments, combining residency with access to rich cultural heritage.
• Bulgaria stands out with its zero-investment Trade Representative Office program, though it requires an operational overseas business and a longer processing time due to paper-based applications. Despite Bulgaria's slower processing time, its zero-investment residency option is highly appealing for 2025.
• Each country offers unique benefits, making them attractive options for different types of investors and applicants.
If you are ready to put your Plan ‘B’ into action, for yourself, your family or perhaps your clients, you can reach out to us through the link under this video. Join our online live stream every Thursday at 11am EST, or 8am PST, to share your feedback, post your questions, and engage with others who are also exploring these opportunities.
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