AIP
Approval in Principle
Preliminary approval: the government has vetted the applicant and permits the investment to be made. AIP opens the next step; the passport itself is issued later.
- What it is
- Approval in principle — preliminary approval of the application after the check
- What it means
- The state has checked you and is in principle ready to grant the status
- What next
- The investment is made, then the passport or residence permit is issued
- Why it is needed
- So that you do not invest money before passing the check
- Can you prepare
- Yes: a strong file raises the chance of AIP first time
In plain words
AIP (approval in principle) is the preliminary approval of an application in a citizenship or residence by investment programme. It means that the state has carried out the due diligence check and is in principle ready to grant you the status — only the financial part remains.
Why it matters: AIP usually comes before the main investment is made. The logic is fair — first you are checked, and only once you have the “green light” do you invest the money. This reduces risk: if a refusal came after the investment, recovering the main sum would be harder. The fee for the check itself, however, is non-refundable in any case.
After AIP it remains to pay the contribution or complete the property purchase, await final approval and receive the passport or residence card. The speed and smoothness of this stage depend largely on how strong the file was: a clean and complete application gets AIP first time; a contentious one, with delays and requests.
Where AIP comes in
What matters about AIP
- Check passed
- The state is ready
- Approved in principle
- After due diligence
- Before the main investment
- Before final approval
- Not investing before the check
- Reduced risk
- The check fee is non-refundable
- Make the investment
- Final approval
- Passport or residence permit
Where AIP sits in the process
- 01Filing and documents
- 02Due diligence check
- 03AIP — pre-approval
- 04Investment and completion
- 05Passport or residence permit
What you need to know
- AIP is preliminary approval after the check
- It usually comes before the main investment is made
- It reduces risk: money is invested after the “green light”
- The fee for the check itself is non-refundable in any case
- A strong file gets AIP first time
Common mistakes
- Making the main investment before AIP
- Filing a weak file and receiving requests
- Concealing an episode — the check before AIP will find it
- Treating the check fee as refundable
- Not allowing time for the check stage
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We prepare the application so that you receive AIP first time: we close weak points, evidence the source of funds and guide you through the check. You make the main investment only after preliminary approval — when the risk is already minimal.
Frequently asked questions
01 /What does AIP mean?
Approval in principle — preliminary approval: the state has checked you and is in principle ready to grant the status. What remains is to make the investment and receive final approval.
02 /Is money paid before AIP?
Usually not: the main investment is made after pre-approval. This reduces risk — you invest the money having already passed the check.
03 /Does AIP guarantee a passport?
It is a strong signal but not an absolute guarantee: the financial part must be completed and final approval obtained. New circumstances could in theory have an effect.
04 /Will the check fee be refunded on refusal?
No, the due diligence fee is non-refundable in any case. That is why weak points are closed before filing, in order to obtain AIP.
05 /How quickly does AIP come?
It depends on the programme and the quality of the file: a clean application passes the check in weeks; a contentious one takes longer, with requests.
06 /What comes after AIP?
Paying the contribution or completing the property purchase, awaiting final approval and receiving the passport or residence card.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Pass the check before investing the money?
We will prepare a strong file and take you through due diligence and pre-approval — you will make the investment only after the “green light”.