Choosing residency or citizenship for visa-free travel
One can get a residence permit, permanent residence or citizenship by investment. All these statuses give you the right to stay in the country of second residency or citizenship for as long as you wish. In addition, they provide various travel opportunities.
Let’s see which country and status is the best for travelling the world visa-free.
How can I travel within Europe with a residence permit?
Investment program countries: Malta, Portugal, Hungary, Italy
Investment amount: €182,000+
Goals to achieve: stay in one country long-term and visit other Schengen countries without visas
A residence permit allows its holder to live in the chosen country for a stipulated time. It is usually valid for 1 to 3 years, subject to renewal.
People usually get residence permits to work, study, reunite with family members, or for other compelling reasons. However, some countries issue residence permits to investors or financially independent persons.
Permanent residence is usually granted after several years of living in the country. But it’s possible to get it by investment in Malta and Cyprus.
Permanent residence is a life-long status. However, a permanent residence card must be renewed every few years — but less often than a temporary residence permit. For example, a Malta residence permit must be renewed every year, while a permanent residence card — once in 10 years.
Travel opportunities. Suppose you get a residence permit or permanent residence in Portugal, Greece, Hungary, or Italy. Thus, you will be able to visit other Schengen countries without visas and spend up 90 days out of 180 there. Permanent residency in Malta gives the same right.
Andrew, 31 years old
IT company owner
Portugal residence permit for visiting the EU without visas
Andrew owned a company that developed mobile apps. He wanted to expand his business to Europe and open a branch in an EU country.
To visit the Schengen Area, Andrew had to get a visa. He decided to get a travel document to gain free access to the region.
The businessman chose the Portugal Golden Visa Program to achieve his goals. A residence permit allowed Andrew to register a business in Portugal, vacate in local resorts and attend European business conferences.
Relocation to the country of residence. Some countries require residents to come for a few days to maintain their residence permits or permanent residence. Others, like Austria and Switzerland, require their residents to spend at least 6 months a year on the country’s territory. We recommend such residence permits only to cosmopolitans who want to relocate.
Investors don’t have to live permanently in Portugal, Hungary, Greece, or Malta to keep their residency. Relocation to the country of residence is a right, not an obligation. Investment programs of these countries are suitable for visa-free travelling within the Schengen Area.
Terms of obtaining residency in the EU
Portugal offers a residence permit by investment of at least €250,000. The process takes at least 12 months. This status allows the holder to live in Portugal and travel across the Schengen Area without a visa. To maintain the permit, residents must spend at least 7 days per year in the country.
Greece grants a residence permit with an investment starting at €250,000. It can be obtained in at least 4 months. Holders may reside in Greece and travel visa-free within the Schengen Area. There is no requirement to live in the country.
Hungary issues residence permits by investment of €250,000 or more. The process takes at least 5 months. This status enables the holder to live in Hungary and travel visa-free across the Schengen Area. There is no obligation to spend time in Hungary to maintain the permit.
Malta provides permanent residence for a contribution of at least €182,000 if the applicant commits to renting property for 5 years. The minimum processing time is 6 months. Permanent residents may live in Malta and travel across the Schengen Area without a visa. No minimum stay in the country is required.
Cyprus permanent residence and an Andorra residence permit don’t provide the right to visit the Schengen countries without visas because these countries aren’t a part of the Schengen Area. Investors obtain residence in these countries to relocate, optimise taxes and do business.
If a resident has lived in the country of residence for several years, they can apply for citizenship. An EU passport unlocks visa-free entry to 170+ destinations worldwide.
How can I travel with second citizenship?
Countries granting citizenship to investors: Malta, Turkey, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Vanuatu
Investment amount: $130,000+
Goals to achieve: travel to the Schengen Area, the UK, the USA, and Canada without visas and get a 10-year visa to the USA
Some countries allow their citizens to have several passports. For example, dual citizenship is permitted in Portugal, Greece, Switzerland, Malta, and Cyprus.
Laws of Austria and Spain prohibit having a second citizenship. To get a passport from one of these countries, a person must renounce their first citizenship.
A few states grant citizenship by investment. It is an easier and faster path: in this case, obtaining a second passport takes between 2 months and 3 years. As a rule, investors don’t have to take language and culture exams and, in some cases, even visit the country of second citizenship.
Let’s see how one can travel with dual citizenship.
Caribbean and Vanuatu citizenship allows the holder to enter 90+ countries without visas.
Caribbean citizens can freely visit the Schengen countries. Some countries provide visa-free access to the UK and China.
Vanuatu citizens can visit Singapore, Thailand, and the Maldives without visas. The European Council cancelled the visa-waiver agreement with the country: only citizens who obtained Vanuatu passports before May 25th, 2015, could enter the Schengen Area without a visa. The decision came into force in December 2024.
The Caribbean passport allows its holder to qualify for a 10-year visitor visa to the USA, while Vanuatu citizens qualify for a 5-year visa.
Caribbean countries and Vanuatu don’t impose mandatory residence requirements on investors who want citizenship. One should visit only Antigua and Barbuda: an investor must spend at least 5 days within the first 5 years of citizenship in the country.
Amal, 60 years old
Owner of construction companies, lives in Beirut
Worldwide travel on retirement
Amal got retired and decided to spend his spare time travelling the world. He wanted to obtain second citizenship to save time on visas and bureaucracy.
We helped Amal and his wife to get Antigua and Barbuda passports. As a result, the spouses visited 13 countries within the first 6 months after obtaining second citizenship.
Maltese passport holders freely visit 186 countries, including the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and the Schengen states.
Malta grants citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment. It is a naturalisation path: an investor gets a residence permit and applies for citizenship 1 or 3 years later.
The Turkish passport provides visa-free entry to 100+ destinations, including Japan and Singapore. In addition, Turkish citizens can get a 10-year visitor visa or an E‑2 business visa to the USA.
Terms of obtaining citizenship by investment
The Caribbean citizenship by investment programs offer second passports within 6 to 8 months for a minimum contribution of $200,000. Citizenship by investment is available in the following countries:
Citizenship from any of these countries provides visa-free travel to the Schengen Area for 90 days within a 180-day period, to Singapore for 30 days, and to Hong Kong for 90 days.
Citizens of Grenada, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda benefit from visa-free access to China for 30 days.
Passports of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia allow visa-free travel to the UK.
All Caribbean citizens are eligible to apply for a 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visitor visa to the United States. Those with Grenadian citizenship may also apply for an E‑2 visa, which enables them to establish a business in the US and travel there without time restrictions.
Vanuatu offers one of the fastest paths to citizenship, requiring only 2+ months and an investment of at least $130,000. Citizens may enter Singapore, Thailand, Israel, Maldives, and Australia without a visa. They can also apply for a 5-year B‑1/B‑2 visitor visa to the USA.
Malta grants citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment. The investment threshold is €690,000. The process takes 1 to 3 years.
A Maltese passport enables visa-free travel to all EU and Schengen countries without time limits, as well as to the UK for 180 days, the USA for 90 days, Canada for 180 days, and Singapore and Hong Kong for 90 days each. Citizens may also obtain a 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visitor visa to the United States.
Turkey issues citizenship in 8 months with an investment of at least $400,000. Turkish passport holders enjoy visa-free access to more than 110 countries, including Japan and Singapore. They are eligible for a 5-year C‑2 Schengen visa, a 10-year US B‑1/B‑2 visitor visa, and a 5-year E‑2 visa for business activities in the United States.
Besides travel opportunities, citizenship programs differ in the required investment amounts, time frames and conditions for the participation of family members. These criteria are also essential to consider when choosing the best-suited travel document.
For example, Caribbean citizenship is available to the whole family, including investors’ parents and siblings. In contrast, only investors’ spouses and minor children can qualify for Turkey citizenship. If getting a second passport is time-sensitive, Vanuatu citizenship might be the best choice, as one can get it in 2+ months.
Compare residency and citizenship programs to assess all the pros and cons and select suitable options.
Material prepared by Julia Loko, Investment programs expert
Frequently asked questions
With a residence permit of a EU country you can travel freely to other EU countries
They are rather similar. A visa is a document that allows a foreigner to cross the border of a specific country or territory. It can be a non-immigrant and an immigrant. An immigrant visa is basically a residence permit that allows a foreigner to stay in the country for a long period, work or study there or perform other activities.
Citizenship is the best status for travelling as usually it allows you to enter more countries visa-free. For example, with Malta permanent residence you can visit only 27 countries of the Schengen Area without visas. At the same time, Maltese citizenship gives you an opportunity to freely visit 185 countries.
That depends on the countries of your citizenship and on the country you would like to travel to. The stronger your passports are, the fewer countries will require you to have a travel visa.
For example, if you have dual French-Italian citizenship you can travel to the USA and Australia without visas. But if you would like to travel to Bhutan with the same citizenship you would need to apply for a visa.
How to cross borders with two passports
