From Mauritius to Singapore: Where HNWIs Are Buying Residency in 2025

Golden Visa Programs 2025: The Global Investor’s Guide to Residency and Citizenship

For high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and global executives, golden visas are more than lifestyle perks. They are strategic tools—providing mobility, access to new markets, top-tier education for families, and a Plan B in uncertain times.

From Mauritius’s affordable seaside option for $50,000 to Singapore’s billionaire pathway at $10 million, golden visas in 2025 cover a wide spectrum of investment thresholds.

Here is CEOWORLD’s guide to the most important programs for global executives and investors this year.

Affordable Entry Points

Mauritius – From $50,000

• Key Features: 10-year residence linked to property, business, or professional activity.
• Family Benefits: Covers spouse, parents, and children up to age 24.
• Appeal: Cost-effective island residency in a politically stable, low-tax environment.

Austria – From $60,000

• Key Features: Private residence for “independent means” individuals.
• Citizenship: After 10 years.
• Appeal: Central European base with Schengen access.

United Kingdom – From $63,000

• Key Features: Start-up visa with permanent residency after 3 years.
• Family Benefits: Includes spouse and dependent children.
• Appeal: Access to London’s financial hub and top-tier education.

Mid-Range Family Options

Canada – From $250,000

• Key Features: Path to citizenship in 3 years.
• Family Benefits: Includes spouse and children under 22.
• Appeal: North America’s stable economy, healthcare, and education.

Malaysia – From $220,000

• Key Features: 20-year renewable visa.
• Family Benefits: Spouse, children under 21, and parents included.
• Appeal: Long-term Asian residency with no minimum stay rule.

Switzerland – $228,000 Annual Tax

• Key Features: Residence in exchange for annual lump-sum tax.
• Appeal: Global safe haven, world-class banking, and high living standards.

UAE – From $272,000 to $544,000

• Key Features: 5- or 10-year residence via property investments.
• Family Benefits: Covers spouse and unmarried children.
• Appeal: Dubai and Abu Dhabi as global wealth and innovation hubs.

Greece – From $250,000

• Key Features: Real estate investment with Schengen visa-free access.
• Citizenship: Eligible after 7 years.
• Appeal: Affordable EU entry point with no stay requirement.

Italy – From $270,000

• Key Features: Residence linked to investment in innovative start-ups.
• Citizenship: After 10 years.
• Appeal: Lifestyle, cultural prestige, and EU market access.

Portugal – From $270,000

• Key Features: Investment in cultural or heritage projects.
• Citizenship: After 5 years.
• Appeal: Low physical presence requirement (35 days in 5 years).

Premium Options

United States – From $800,000

• Key Features: EB-5 visa with green card for spouse and children under 21.
• Citizenship: Pathway after 5 years.
• Appeal: World’s largest economy with deep capital markets.

New Zealand – From $15.5 million

• Key Features: Investor visa with path to permanent residence.
• Family Benefits: Includes spouse and children up to 24.
• Appeal: Political stability, natural environment, and secure Pacific base.

Hong Kong – From $4.3 million

• Key Features: Residence in one of Asia’s leading financial hubs.
• Appeal: Direct access to China and international finance.

Singapore – From $7.5 million

• Key Features: Permanent residence for investors in local companies.
• Appeal: Global financial hub, strategic Asia-Pacific location, and high living standards.

Executive Takeaway

Golden visas in 2025 have evolved into strategic investments. For global CEOs, CFOs, and HNWIs, they provide:

• Mobility & Market Access: Schengen, U.S., and Asia-Pacific entry points.
• Family Security: Multi-generational residency and education benefits.
• Portfolio Diversification: Real estate, government bonds, or business investments tied to residency.
• Risk Hedge: A safeguard against geopolitical instability and regulatory change.

From Mauritius’s $50,000 coastal entry point to Singapore’s $7.5 million billionaire program, the golden visa spectrum offers options for every investor profile. For executives and investors, the decision is no longer if to secure a second residency, but where and how.

Have you read?
The Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Index evaluates the performance of the 11 nations currently offering operational Citizenship By Investment (CBI) programs: St Kitts and Nevis (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia (St. Lucia), Antigua & Barbuda, Nauru, Vanuatu, Türkiye (Turkey), São Tomé and Príncipe, Jordan, and Egypt.