New study: the best Golden Visa programs for immigration to Europe

Spain, Montenegro, Turkey, Portugal and Greece took the top five places in a ranking of the best countries in Europe for real estate investment for residency and citizenship. Henley and Partners, in partnership with Deep Knowledge Analytics, has developed an analytical tool called the Best Investment Migration Real Estate Index to evaluate real estate investment migration programs as an effective way to obtain residency and citizenship, reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.

Spain

ranked second in the index presented by Henley and Partners. The southwestern European country is known for the opportunities it offers to international investors, offering a variety of properties from urban areas to islands.

Montenegro

has also been ranked among the top five European destinations for real estate investment. The Balkan country came third in this ranking, offering investors a choice between coastal resorts and new developments, and is also known for its popular mountain and ski areas in the north.

Turkey

ranked fourth, which scores highly for its low investment amount and accommodation requirements.

Portugal

ranked fifth, together with Thailand. This European country is also known for its real estate market.

Greece

ranked sixth and its Golden Visa Program is very popular among foreigners.

The list of countries offering excellent opportunities for international investors also included Cyprus. This island nation came eighth in the ranking, while also being known for its high scores for low investment amount.

When it comes to countries outside Europe, the Emirates of Dubai took the top spot as the best area offering rental income potential, with a lower property cost per square meter compared to most international centers.

The international residency and citizenship firm noted an overall increase in inquiries of 80 percent last year. In a related development, Dominic Volek, head of private clients at Henley and Partners, said preventive measures put in place to stop further spread of the virus, such as quarantines, entry bans, travel restrictions and remote working, have convinced investors of the benefits of alternative residency and citizenship.

"International real estate has always been a safe asset for global investors because of its long-term potential. Real estate investment-based migration programs have the added benefits of enhancing your global mobility through different passports and expanding personal access rights as a citizen or resident of additional jurisdictions, creating opportunities to live, work, study, vacation and invest in different countries for you and your family," Volek emphasized.

He emphasized that the potential benefits "over the life of the investment include asset value, rental income and global access as the ultimate protection against regional and global volatility. "

European countries such as Spain, Greece, Portugal and Bulgaria are known for their Golden Visa programs, offering excellent opportunities for foreigners. However, such programs are often criticized for engaging in illegal schemes. The European Commission has consistently called on the authorities of countries that launch such programs to cancel them as soon as possible.