Client story
Client Story
Where they started
A Russian couple wanted a Greek Residence Permit and emphasized one thing—obtain it quickly. Each has their own reasons (plans, timelines, business), but the request was clear: minimum time. Immediately, a barrier arose: new Golden Visa applications through Russian passports have not been accepted since 2022.
Why the standard route did not work
A second passport from a non-sanctioned country is a recognized solution. However, routes vary in speed. Citizenship by ancestry (Kyrgyzstan), which we have discussed, is legitimate and cost-effective but requires archival research and verification of grounds—this takes time. When time is critical, clients choose the fastest instrument—Vanuatu citizenship through investment: it is processed in weeks, remotely, without residency requirements.
What BRIDGES had to solve
We honestly discussed the trade-off: Vanuatu is an investment program (more expensive than the ancestry route), but it provides the speed that cannot be achieved otherwise. For a couple for whom timelines were important, this was a justified choice.
Why a standard answer would not do
After obtaining Vanuatu passports, the couple became citizens of a non-sanctioned country for Greece purposes. Next—real estate investment at required thresholds and Golden Visa application. We executed the entire process expeditiously: fast passport, then Residence Permit application. The result came within the timeframes for which the clients chose this specific route.
We urgently needed a Greek Residence Permit. But through a Russian passport—impossible, applications are not accepted. The ancestry route option was honestly longer—archival research, verifications. BRIDGES proposed the fastest path—Vanuatu passport in weeks, and immediate Golden Visa application as Vanuatu citizens. Yes, more expensive than the ancestry route, but we obtained the speed that we needed. The Residence Permit was processed in expedited timeframe.
