Citizenship vs Residency by Investment 2025 | Costs, Speed & Key Benefits
Side-by-side 2025 comparison of investment thresholds, approval speed and mobility benefits. Discover the smarter path for your family.Ready to clarify your path?
Book a free 30-minute strategy call with Fast Passport Boutique today and let our advisors map the fastest, most cost-effective route to your second passport or EU residency.
When you’re thinking about investing in another country for financial gain or travel convenience, it is important to know the difference between getting a citizenship and getting a residency. While they might seem similar, they have core differences and specific requirements you need to meet for each. In this article, we’ll break down the differences between citizenship and residency to assist you in deciding which one is a better match for your needs.
Citizenship vs Residency by Investment” Snapshot (2025)
| Factor | Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) | Residency-by-Investment / Golden Visa (RBI) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical investment range | US $100 000 – €2 million (donation or real-estate/equity) (Wikipedia, | €250 000 – €2 million (real-estate, funds, bonds or deposits) |
| Processing speed | ≈ 3-12 months (Caribbean 3-6 m; Malta 12-36 m) | ≈ 2-8 months for residence card (Greece 3-4 m, Portugal 4-6 m) |
| Physical-stay requirement | None in most programs (Malta: 12 m presence) | 0–7 days / yr (Portugal 0 d, Greece 0 d, Spain 1 d) |
| Visa-free reach after approval | 140 – 190 destinations (e.g., Dominica ≈ 140; Malta ≈ 190) (Wikipedia, Wikipedia) | Schengen-wide travel immediately; full second passport in 5-10 yrs (Portugal passport 187, Greece 186) ) |
| Family coverage | Spouse + dependent children (often parents/grand-parents) | Spouse + children < 26; often parents-in-law (Greece/Portugal allow 3 generations) |
| Number of active programs (2025) | 14 core CBI programs worldwide | 30 + Golden-Visa schemes on every continent (18 in Europe alone) |
| Pathway to citizenship | Immediate on approval | 5–10 yrs of residence (Portugal 5 yrs, Greece 7, Italy 10) |
| Tax impact | None unless physically resident (Caribbean zero-tax), or attractive NHR regimes (Malta, Portugal) | Only tax-resident if > 183 days in-country; many programs offer exemptions for foreign income |
| Metric | CBI Highlight | RBI Highlight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastest approval | Antigua & Barbuda – as little as 90 days | Greece Golden Visa – 90-120 days | Speed is a key decision driver (featured snippet potential). |
| Strongest “instant” passport | Malta – visa-free 190+ countries (The Times) | — | Showcases upper ceiling for mobility. |
| Lowest entry cost 2025 | Dominica donation US $100 000 (Wikipedia) | Greece Zone C real-estate €250 000 | Clear, searchable figures satisfy “cost” intent. |
| 2025 rule changes | Portugal CBI dropped real-estate option in 2023 (now fund route only) | Greece tiered €800k/€400k/€250k zoning from Aug 2024 | Fresh updates = freshness score boost. |
What Does ‘Economic Citizenship’ Really Mean in 2025?”
Citizenship is a legal status of personhood and membership in a sovereign state. Holding a citizenship grants you rights, privileges, and protections within said country or state. Once obtained, a citizenship is a permanent status for the holder unless they decide to renounce it.
How Golden-Visa Residency Converts to an EU Passport
Residency is a permit that allows you to reside in a specific country with conditions that must be followed. It can be either temporary or permanent. While residency in a country or state does consist of rights and privileges for the holder, it does not cement the same recognition as a citizenship.
Fast Passport Boutique provides you with both Citizenship Investment Programs and Residency by Investment options. Both choices enable investors to maximize their investment opportunities, so it is crucial to understand the subtle differences between these two paths.
What Is Citizenship by Investment:
The citizenship by investment programs would allow you to get your passport immediately after approval. This program enables the holders and their families to reap the benefits of carrying a second passport without navigating through permanent residency.
Fast Passport Boutique currently offers the following citizenship by investment programs: Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Malta, St. Kitts and Nevis.
What is a Golden Visa Program:
On the other hand, Golden Visa Programs are examples of getting a residency in another country through various investment channels. If you are looking for residency through investment, your options for European countries that offer Golden Visa Programs are Latvia, Portugal, Spain and Greece.
Holding a Golden Visa will allow you to experience such benefits, like the ability to live and work full-time in another country, conduct business in the country, access social services, and, potentially, a path to get citizenship in the future.
Benefits of Golden Visa Programs:
The list below discusses the advantages of obtaining a Golden Visa, which, while not granting immediate citizenship, still offers numerous benefits and opportunities.
- Travel Access: A Golden Visa gives you the ability to travel freely throughout the European Union’s Schengen Zone, which would be extremely difficult if investors didn’t carry such a visa. These countries have strict travel requirements with short stay times, but with a golden visa, many of these constraints don’t apply. This type of travel doesn’t require any further visas, significantly reducing the worry about documents.
- Social Benefits: Investors who get a Golden Visa enjoy social benefits like access to healthcare and education, which might not have been as accessible in their home country. This is particularly valuable for investors with families, as they aim to provide a brighter future for their loved ones.
- Business Perks: The ability to work and do business in the chosen country is a crucial factor for many. Some programs even provide tax advantages to Golden Visa holders, making it easier to engage in business activities in a foreign land.
- Pathway to Citizenship: When you obtain residency through the Golden Visa program, you have the option to apply for permanent residency. If you choose to do so, you’ll be on the path to achieving full citizenship within 7-10 years.
Investors will have to meet the requirements for receiving their citizenship, from living within the said country for a certain amount of time to completing and passing language, history, and cultural tests.
Comparing Golden Visa and citizenship options helps you choose the one that suits your needs. Fast Passport Boutique has extensive experience in understanding our customer’s needs, whether they’re interested in a Golden Visa or Citizenship. We’re here to help you achieve a future where business and travel are made simple.
Last Updated on 2 June 2025
