Far-seeing people invest in European citizenship for different reasons. It is often for the freedom to travel the world without visas and bureaucratic hurdles. Others want to expand their business beyond existing areas of presence, optimise taxes and deal with European banks without any issues. Another common reason for applying for European residence or citizenship is to move there. In this article, we will talk about choosing the right place in Europe for relocation.
What to keep in mind when moving abroad
Apart from such advantages of European countries as tax benefits, pro-business environment and visa-free travel to many countries, there are more down-to-earth pluses that attract foreigners to Europe.
- Stability, security and comfort This includes both political and economic conditions and low crime rate in Europe.
- High healthcare standards Access to European health service and cutting-edge technologies. Certain surgeries are only done in Europe which can make a relocation a question of life and death.
- Access to high-quality education Europe is famous for its oldest universities and modern establishments that offer a world-class education and tuition.
Always remember that your choice will determine where your family will spend a big part of their lives. Therefore, start by choosing a country based on everyone’s interests and needs and then narrow it down to a certain town or city. There are many European cities that are convenient for life, business, work, education and leisure.
How to get residence card, permanent residence and citizenship in Europe fast?
The following documents give rights to live, study and work in a European country:- Residence permit
- Permanent residence
- Citizenship
Western Europe is a popular destination among foreign nationals, especially from developing countries. Therefore, governments have been tightening screws and making it harder to immigrate to Europe.
Fortunately, European authorities are not as strict with foreign investors that are people of good character. If you have lawfully earned money and are prepared to invest it in a foreign economy, you will be treated differently from regular migrants. You would normally be applying under a residence or citizenship by investment program where in return of your contribution you would be given European residence or European passport.
European residence by investment
Before we give you a list of European countries that welcome foreign investors, we will disperse a common misconception. A long-term visa or a residence permit granted to you in return for your investment allow visa-free access to all EU states and Schengen zone. However, neither a residence permit nor a golden visa give right to live in another country. The maximum number of days you can spend outside the country of your residence is 90 days in each 6 months; this is not bad, but not enough to find a job or start a business.
And now here is a list of European countries where you can get residence and benefit from all the advantages they offer to foreign investors.| European country | Benefits of residence | Minimum required investment |
| Portugal | Beneficial tax regime for new tax residents for the first 10 years Affordable real estate Visa-free travel in EU and Schengen zone | from €250,000 |
| Malta | Tax benefits Visa-free travel in EU and Schengen zone | from €330,000 |
| Latvia | One of the most affordable investment programs Low cost of living Visa-free travel in EU and Schengen zone | from €250,000 |
| Spain | Favourable business environment Renowned universities Visa-free travel in EU and Schengen zone | from €500,000 |
| Belgium | Developed economy and infrastructure Government support of business Visa-free travel in EU and Schengen zone | No minimum requirement In average €200,000 |
| Switzerland | High living standards Visa-free travel to over 155 countries | No minimum requirement |
| United Kingdom | Right to live, work or do business in the UK World-class education Recoverable investment | from £2,000,000 |
How to get a European passport quickly?
Good news is that you can get a European passport without the initial applications for a residence permit and permanent residence. This route might be very handy for those who:- Have not decided yet which country to move to.
- Want to live in different countries in Europe without immigration restrictions.
- Plan to relocate to an EU country that is not as welcoming to foreign investors as the other one.
- Turn a blind eye on your ability to speak the language.
- Grant you European passport in exchange for your contribution to a local economy.
Malta citizenship by investment
You can get a Malta passport in 1 year. Minimum amount of money that you must have available is €1,150,000 where €650,000 is a non-refundable contribution to a state fund and the remaining amount goes to buy a property in Malta and government securities.
Cyprus citizenship by investment
It will take 6 months to obtain a Cyprus passport by investing at least €2,150,000 into the country by one of the four available ways. Non-refundable amounts are €150,000 donations and €500,000 purchase of a property that will have to remain your home for life.
Plan B: Montenegro citizenship by investment
If the investment in Malta or Cyprus seems too much to you, we can offer you to invest in a small Balkan country. A Montenegrin passport gives access to 117 countries including almost all European states. Though they are not yet part of the European Union, their accession is in the pipeline for the next couple of years.
Once they join the EU, the investment amount will increase significantly. At the moment, it takes six months to become citizen of Montenegro and €350,000 including non-recoverable €100,000 donation to a public fund. The remaining money can be returned in a few years and potentially with a gain due to growing housing market.
Best European cities for life
We will finish with an overview of European cities and opportunities they offer to migrants after relocation.| City/ country | Aimed for | Main benefits |
| London/ UK | Wealthy people Talented entrepreneurs | One of the world financial hubs Excellent environment for running a business High living standards World renowned higher education |
| Brussels/ Belgium | Experienced businessmen seeking a comfortable and laid-back place to live | Political capital of the EU Comfort and security Convenient location and developed infrastructure |
| Zurich/ Switzerland | Affluent people Specialists with rare qualifications | Banking and financial centre of Europe High living standards Good ecological conditions and clean air |
| Sliema/ Malta | International entrepreneurs Students of tourism and medicine Wealthy retired people | Centre of international business All-year-round resort with mild climate European standards of living |
| Barcelona/ Spain | Entrepreneurs People looking for a comfortable place to live | Business and investment opportunities Great city with friendly people Accessible healthcare Cultural and architectural heritage |
| Riga/ Latvia | People looking for a quite and steady pace of living | Good food Low cost of living Mild climate and beautiful nature |
| Podgorica/ Montenegro | Optimists Investors in real estate | Candidate to accession to the EU Growing property market European standards Breath-taking nature |