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BRIDGES · residence and permanent residence programmes

Residence, permanent residence, nomad visas, investment and more

46 programmes in our practice22 countries in the cataloguefrom 2 weeks - the shortest timeline

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We match the basis to your life rather than sell what is on the shelf

One client needs a status that does not require relocation, another a legal base for remote work, a third a permanent status for the whole family. We work with 46 programmes in 22 countries: we match the basis to your life rather than sell what is on the shelf.

  • We count presence in the country, not only the budget
  • Tax consequences are reviewed before filing
  • Our own lawyers in every jurisdiction
Video consultation

46

programmes in our practice

22

countries in the catalogue

from 2 weeks

the shortest timeline

5 bases

investment, income, remote work, business, talent

Why it matters

What a residence permit gives you

Every client has their own task. Most often the status covers several at once - and that is what determines which programme fits.

01Life in Europe

The right to live, study and receive healthcare in the country, and with Schengen status - to move freely across 29 European countries.

02Moving the family

A spouse and children are included in almost every programme, many accept parents, and Malta MPRP takes grandparents as well.

03Tax regime

Non-dom in Cyprus, a flat rate in Malta, a preferential regime in Spain, no personal income tax in the UAE.

04Remote work

Nomad visas legalise what you already do: you work online and live in Europe or Asia - with a status and without visa runs.

05A step towards citizenship

Portugal gives a passport after 10 years, Greece after 7, Hungary Guest Investor after 8. Residence is the first step.

06A place to fall back on

A status in a calm jurisdiction you can move to at any moment - without visas, permits or queues at consulates.

Smart matching

Find the residence route that fits your situation

46 programmes in 22 countries. Choose a scenario - we will show only the ones that answer it.

Catalogue5 bases

46 programmes in 22 countries

The amounts are the minimum entry threshold for one applicant, excluding government fees and professional support. The timelines run from filing a complete set to the decision.

By investment and permanent residence

Golden Visa and investor programmes: you invest in property, funds or business - the country grants a status. Cyprus and Malta grant permanent status straight away, without a ladder of temporary permits.

PortugalRoute to EU citizenshipGolden VisaPortugal
Entry
from €500,000
Timeline
6-18 months
  • Investment into funds - no property purchase required
  • Minimum presence in the country: 7 days a year
  • Route to EU citizenship after 10 years
More about the programme GreeceAffordable entry to the EUGolden VisaGreece
Entry
from €250,000
Timeline
4-6 months
  • Residence through the purchase of property
  • Schengen without visas
  • Parents of both spouses included at no extra cost
More about the programme Hungary10 years without renewalGuest InvestorHungary
Entry
from €250,000
Timeline
4-6 months
  • Investment into a real estate fund
  • Residence granted for 10 years at once
  • Funds are locked for 5 years and then returned
More about the programme ItalyApproval before the investmentInvestor VisaItaly
Entry
from €250,000
Timeline
3-4 months
  • Investment into a start-up, business, bonds or funds
  • Money is transferred only after approval
  • Schengen
More about the programme UAEThe fastest statusGolden VisaUAE
Entry
from AED 750,000
Timeline
1-2 months
  • AED 750,000 - a residence visa for 2 years
  • AED 2,000,000 - a Golden Visa for 10 years
  • No personal income tax inside the country
More about the programme TurkeyAffordable thresholdResidence through propertyTurkey
Entry
from $200,000
Timeline
2-3 months
  • Purchase of property in a growing market
  • Route to citizenship after 5 years of residence
  • Or citizenship straight away under the investment programme from $400,000
More about the programme CyprusStatus for lifePermanent residence by investmentCyprus
Entry
from €300,000
Timeline
6-9 months
  • Permanent residence for life - no renewal required
  • Through the purchase of property
  • Non-dom regime: no tax on dividends
More about the programme MaltaPermanent residence for three generationsPermanent residence · MPRPMalta
Entry
from €375,000
Timeline
4-6 months
  • Permanent residence for life for the whole family: spouse, children up to 29, parents and grandparents
  • Schengen
  • No residence requirements
More about the programme MaltaTax regimeTax residency · GRPMalta
Entry
On request
Timeline
1-2 months
  • 15% flat tax on foreign income remitted to Malta
  • Schengen
  • Residence with annual renewal
More about the programme USAGreen card for the familyEB-5 investor visaUSA
Entry
from $800,000
Timeline
18-24 months
  • Permanent status through an investment into a project on US territory
  • The investment ranges from $800,000 to $1,050,000 depending on the project zone
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the source of funds
Request the terms AndorraPage in preparationResidence by investmentAndorra
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • Residence permit through investment in Andorra
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms

For the financially independent

A status for those who live on their own income: dividends, rent, interest, a pension. No large investment is required - what is confirmed is a stable income and its source.

PortugalThe most affordable entry to the EUD7 visaPortugal
Entry
from €920/month
Timeline
3-6 months
  • The lowest income threshold in Western Europe
  • A pension, dividends or rent - any passive income qualifies
  • Schengen and a route to permanent residence
Request the terms SpainPage in preparationNon-Lucrative VisaSpain
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • Residence without the right to work, for the financially independent
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms ItalyNo investment requiredElective ResidenceItaly
Entry
from €31,000/year
Timeline
2-4 months
  • Residence for those who support themselves without working
  • Passive income from foreign sources
  • Employment is not permitted
Request the terms FranceNo investment requiredVisitor VisaFrance
Entry
from €1,800/month
Timeline
2-4 months
  • An official status for the financially independent
  • Employment is not permitted
  • No language requirements at the start
Request the terms GreeceNo property purchaseFIP residenceGreece
Entry
from €2,000/month
Timeline
2-3 months
  • Residence without buying property
  • Confirmation of income from foreign sources
  • Schengen
Request the terms AustriaPage in preparationResidence for the financially independentAustria
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • Residence permit for the financially independent in Austria
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms IrelandPage in preparationStamp 0Ireland
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • Stamp 0 permission to remain for people with independent income
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms UAEPage in preparationRetirement ResidenceUAE
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • A UAE residence visa for those who have retired from active business
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms ThailandPage in preparationRetirement VisaThailand
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • A long-term Thai visa for those who have retired from active business
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms MalaysiaPage in preparationMM2HMalaysia
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • Long-term residence under the Malaysia My Second Home programme
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms IndonesiaStatus for 10 yearsSecond Home VisaIndonesia
Entry
deposit $130,000
Timeline
2-4 weeks
  • A long-term Second Home visa valid for up to 10 years
  • The basis is a confirmed deposit in an Indonesian bank
  • No tax on foreign income where the residency conditions are met
Request the terms

Nomad visas

A status for those who work remotely for a foreign client or employer. It legalises what you already do: no visa runs, with the right to bring the family.

SpainBeckham regimeDigital Nomad VisaSpain
Entry
from €2,849/month
Timeline
2-4 months
  • One of the strongest nomad statuses in the EU
  • The Beckham regime: a reduced rate on income in the first years
  • Up to 5 years without changing status
Request the terms PortugalRoute to permanent residenceD8 visaPortugal
Entry
from €3,680/month
Timeline
2-4 months
  • An official residence permit for remote workers
  • Up to 5 years with a route to permanent residence
  • You are required to actually live in the country
Request the terms ItalyAffordable thresholdDigital Nomad VisaItaly
Entry
from €28,000/year
Timeline
3-6 months
  • An official programme for remote work
  • One of the lowest income thresholds in the EU
  • Renewal without a hard limit
Request the terms CyprusEnglish language · non-domDigital Nomad VisaCyprus
Entry
from €3,500/month
Timeline
1-2 months
  • The only EU country where English is a working language
  • Non-dom regime: no tax on dividends
  • The programme has an annual quota of places
Request the terms HungaryA simple document setWhite CardHungary
Entry
from €3,000/month
Timeline
1-2 months
  • One of the simplest document sets in the EU
  • One year with the option to renew
  • Open to citizens of Russia and Belarus
Request the terms CroatiaFamily from day oneDigital Nomad VisaCroatia
Entry
from €3,622/month
Timeline
4-8 weeks
  • Exemption from tax on foreign income is written into the law
  • Status for 18 months
  • The family is included from day one
Request the terms GreecePage in preparationDigital Nomad VisaGreece
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • A Greek visa for remote work
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms MaltaPage in preparationNomad Residence PermitMalta
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • A Maltese residence permit for remote work
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms EstoniaPage in preparationDigital Nomad VisaEstonia
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • An Estonian visa for remote work
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms RomaniaSchengen since 2025Digital nomad visaRomania
Entry
from €5,400/monththree average salaries
Timeline
renewals of 6 months
  • For up to 183 days a year the income and contributions are not taxed
  • Work only for companies outside Romania
  • Travel within Schengen 90 days out of 180
More about the programme MontenegroUp to 4 years in a rowDigital nomad stayMontenegro
Entry
foreign incomeno fixed threshold
Timeline
2 + 2 years
  • Income from a foreign employer is not taxed
  • The longest nomad term in the region
  • Spouse and children through family reunification
More about the programme UAEPage in preparationVirtual Work ResidenceUAE
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • A UAE residence visa for remote work
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms ThailandNo income requirementDTVThailand
Entry
savings from $14,500
Timeline
2-4 weeks
  • Destination Thailand Visa - a long-term status for remote work
  • The basis is confirmed savings rather than monthly income
  • Multiple entry without visa runs
Request the terms MalaysiaPage in preparationDE RantauMalaysia
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • The DE Rantau nomad pass for remote work
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms

Through business

A status for entrepreneurs and company owners: you open or move a business - the country grants residence. The corporate routes to the USA sit here as well.

HungaryA fast processSelf-employmentHungary
Entry
from €50,000
Timeline
1-2 months
  • Company registration and residence in one route
  • One of the most affordable paths to business residence in the EU
  • Budapest is a convenient base for work across Europe
Request the terms USAA passport of an E-2 country is requiredE-2 visaUSA
Entry
from $100,000
Timeline
3-6 months
  • An investor-entrepreneur visa: buying or creating an operating business
  • Citizenship of a country with an E-2 treaty is required - Grenada or Turkey, for example
  • Allows you to live in the USA and run the business
Request the terms USARoute to a green cardL-1A visaUSA
Entry
On request
Timeline
6-12 months
  • Transfer of an executive from a foreign office to a US one
  • Leads to EB-1C and permanent status
  • An operating company abroad and an office in the USA are required
Request the terms SwitzerlandPage in preparationResidence through businessSwitzerland
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • Swiss residence through running a business
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms SwitzerlandPage in preparationLump-sum taxationSwitzerland
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • Residence on the basis of lump-sum taxation
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms MontenegroPage in preparationCompany directorMontenegro
Entry
On request
Timeline
On request
  • Residence for the director of your own company
  • Requirements for the applicant, income and family are confirmed as of the date of enquiry
  • Eligibility is established after a review of the initial position
Request the terms

Some directions we handle while the programme page is still being filled - for those we confirm the terms and thresholds as of the date of enquiry. Eligibility for any programme is established after a review of the applicant’s initial position.

Did not find your basis

We will review your task and tell you what fits

Twenty minutes of conversation save months: we check the goal, presence in the country, income and family composition - and name the programmes you will realistically pass.

Video consultation

Before choosing a country

Four questions that decide everything

A status is easy to obtain and easy to lose. These four points rule out unsuitable programmes faster than comparing amounts.

Question 01Presence in the country

From seven days a year to permanent residence. This is the first thing that rules out half the programmes: a status you cannot maintain is of no use.

Question 02Tax consequences

A status does not in itself create residency - that is created by days and the centre of vital interests. But the country determines which regime is available to you at all.

Question 03The right to work

Nomad visas allow remote work for a foreign client, business routes allow your own company, investor routes usually do not allow employment.

Question 04Renewal and what comes next

What happens in a year and in five. Whether the status leads to permanent residence and citizenship, and from what point the term is counted.

Comparison

Every programme in one table

A full table of the current programmes: thresholds, timelines, presence requirements, tax regime and family composition. Your selection is kept in the address - the link can be shared.

Open the comparison table

Why us

Why clients come to BRIDGES

The programmes are the same for everyone - they are set by the state. What differs is the support.

A residence permit is chosen not by the entry amount but by how many days a year you are prepared to spend there. That is why we start with your schedule rather than with the catalogue.
Video consultation
  1. 01
    We count presence, not only the budget

    A status is easy to obtain and easy to lose. We show from the start how many days a year you will have to spend in the country and what happens at renewal.

  2. 02
    Tax is reviewed before filing

    Residence changes the whole tax picture. A tax adviser looks at your income structure before you choose a country.

  3. 03
    Our own lawyers in every jurisdiction

    We do not resell someone else’s support: our own people work in the countries, and they answer for the result.

  4. 04
    Checks before filing, not after a refusal

    The preliminary review is carried out before you pay for anything. Weak points are found in advance.

  5. 05
    Over 8,000 cases in 20 years

    We have seen almost every scenario: visa refusals, complex source of funds, separated families, disputed documents.

  6. 06
    An honest no instead of a sale

    If a programme does not suit you, we will say so at the consultation. Selling the wrong solution costs more than not selling at all.

Team

Who handles your application

Your application is handled not by a salesperson but by a permanent team: the programme lawyer, a tax adviser and a family coordinator.

Anna KovalevskayaAnna KovalevskayaHead of LegalLegal handling of the application, documents and complianceDmitry NagyDmitry NagyInternational Tax ConsultantTax consequences of the status and residencyDarya MelnikDarya MelnikSenior Investment Migration AdvisorFamily coordination and contact at every stage

Real matters

Stories of our clients

Amounts are given where the client allowed them to be disclosed. The remaining terms are under NDA.

PortugalVetted case file + claim · Biometrics within 30 daysHow a Court Claim Accelerated a Portuguese Golden Visa Case Stalled for 14 Monthsfrom €250kMore
GreeceApplication for all · Greek residence permits for all fourHow an Adoptive Child Was Included in Greece's Golden Visa on Equal Terms with Biological Childrenfrom €250kMore
Cyprusunified family package · status for all threeHow a Family Acquired Two Apartments in Larnaca—One for Personal Use and One for Rental—and Obtained Cyprus Permanent Residencefrom €300kMore

Reviews

What clients say

Real reviews from the shared register - with a photograph of the case protagonist and a link to the matter itself.

What clients say

ViktorViktorInvestor
Hungary · Residence permit

I did everything correctly: chose the fund, invested the money, and waited for my residence permit. Then it turns out the fund's certificate has an error, and because of that I might be denied. The money is invested, but the paperwork is flawed - and I'm the one who suffers!

Read the case
DanielDanielOwner of a car dealership chain
Saint Kitts and Nevis · citizenship

I compared four companies and stayed with the one that told me about the risks in my case first and about prices second. Compliance went through without a single additional request.

Read the case
FadiFadiFrom Beirut
Turkey · Residence permit

Ziraat wanted me to freeze a deposit. Nikos showed that with property the accounts could be opened without it. The accounts are open, residence granted.

Read the case
All reviews →

Materials

What you receive at the consultation

The set we hand to a client before the work begins. Choosing a country without it is a poor idea.

Main materialOverview

Every residence and permanent residence programme in one table

A consolidated review of the current programmes in 22 countries: on what basis the status is granted, how much presence is required and what happens at renewal.

Inside:

  • every current programme across five bases
  • the entry threshold and what the budget consists of
  • how many days a year you will have to spend in the country
  • whether the status leads to permanent residence and citizenship, and from what point
  • who can be included in the application and up to what age
  • what happens to the status at renewal
  • the tax consequences of the chosen basis

PDF · free · current as of August 2026

Presence requirements for each programme: from a few days across the whole term to an actual move.

The cost structure for each basis: investment, government fees, professional support and maintaining the status.

The terms for including a spouse, children and parents, and the age limits - they differ from programme to programme.

A residence status does not in itself create tax residency - that is created by days and the centre of vital interests.

The materials are for reference and do not replace legal advice. Programme terms change - we confirm what is current as of the date of enquiry.

Free

The guide “How to choose a programme”

An interactive guide to choosing: six questions that narrow 46 programmes down to two to four suitable directions.

Open the guide
  1. 01How many days a year you will have to spend in the country
  2. 02What the budget consists of and what affects the timeline
  3. 03What is checked about the applicant before filing

Choosing a country

Not sure which country fits?

Answer a few questions and we will show the suitable programmes from 37 countries with amounts and timelines. No sign-up.

What do you need?

Second citizenshipResidence permitNot sure yet

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions

Open the guide

Residence is a temporary status, usually for 1-2 years with renewal. Permanent residence is permanent and does not need renewing. As a rule permanent residence follows several years of temporary residence, but in some programmes - Cyprus, Malta MPRP - permanent status is granted straight away.

Forty-six: eleven by investment and for permanent residence, twelve for the financially independent, fourteen nomad visas, six through business and three for specialists. Pages for some of them are still being filled - for those we confirm the terms as of the date of enquiry.

It depends on the basis. Nomad visas and programmes for the financially independent require no investment - income is confirmed instead. Golden Visa: Greece from €250,000, Portugal from €500,000. The Hungarian business route is from €50,000. The UAE is from AED 750,000.

It depends on the programme. The Portuguese Golden Visa requires a minimum of 7 days a year, Greece requires no mandatory residence, nor does Malta MPRP. Nomad visas, by contrast, usually require you to live in the country. This is the first thing we calculate at the consultation.

It depends on the type. Nomad visas allow remote work for a foreign client. Business routes allow you to run your own company. A Golden Visa usually does not give the right to take employment. Visitor and Elective Residence do not allow work.

In many programmes, yes. Portugal after 10 years, Greece after 7, Hungary Guest Investor after 8. In the UAE the Golden Visa does not lead to citizenship. The term counts from the status, not from the date of the first trip.

Yes. Almost every programme includes a spouse and children, many include parents. In the Greek Golden Visa the family is included without additional investment, Croatia takes the family from day one, and Malta MPRP takes even grandparents.

Most of them, yes. What decides it is practice rather than the letter of the law alone: at the consultation we review your situation and select a route that will realistically go through.

The status alone does not make you a tax resident - that is determined by days of presence and the centre of vital interests. But the choice of country changes the whole picture, which is why a tax adviser looks at your income structure before filing.

With proper preparation refusals are rare: we carry out a preliminary review before filing. How funds are returned depends on the programme - we go through that before you pay for anything.

Amalfi

A residence permit for your schedule

Twenty minutes of conversation save months: we check the goal, presence in the country, income and family composition - and name the programmes you will realistically pass.

View the catalogue Video consultation

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

Tell us what outcome your family needs

We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.

Or message us on WhatsApp or Telegram

Anna Kovalevskaya, lead lawyer at BRIDGES GLOBAL
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer, citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice