Investment Migration Lawyers Worldwide.

The distinction lies in the immediate legal status granted. Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs, common in the Caribbean (e.g., St. Kitts) and Turkey, grant you a passport and full nationality almost immediately, often without requiring you to ever visit the country. Residency by Investment (RBI), often called a “Golden Visa” (e.g., Portugal, Greece), grants you the legal right to live in the country (residency), but not a passport. To convert an RBI into citizenship, you typically must live in the country for a set number of years (often 5–10) and pass language exams.

The timeline is heavily dependent on the specific country’s bureaucracy and the complexity of your “Source of Funds” documentation. Generally, the process takes between 3 to 12 months from the initial investment to the issuance of the visa. However, popular programs often suffer from backlogs; for instance, US EB-5 visas can take years due to annual country caps, while Caribbean CBI programs might offer “accelerated processing” options to approve files in as little as 45–60 days for an extra fee.

Yes, this is arguably the most critical role the lawyer plays. Migration authorities enforce strict Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards and will reject any application where the money’s origin is vague. A lawyer constructs a “forensic trail” of your wealth—collecting decades of bank statements, property sale deeds, or dividend resolutions—to prove legally and conclusively that the funds used for the investment were earned through legitimate means, preventing your file from being flagged as high-risk.

Absolutely, because a visa solution should not create a tax problem. A lawyer analyzes your “pre-immigration” tax exposure to determine if becoming a resident of a new country will accidentally subject your worldwide income to tax there. They compare jurisdictions to find “territorial” tax systems (where foreign income is tax-free) or “non-dom” regimes, ensuring that your move offers lifestyle benefits without decimating your wealth through double taxation.

A rejection is serious because countries share data; a denial from one EU country often leads to automatic denials from others. A lawyer can intervene if the rejection is based on a “false positive” (e.g., mistaken identity) or a minor misunderstanding by filing an administrative appeal or a “Request for Review.” However, if the rejection is due to a genuine, serious criminal record or being on a sanctions list, legal avenues are usually limited, as immigration is a sovereign privilege, not a right.

No, simply owning a house does not automatically grant immigration rights. Most countries require the investment to meet a specific minimum value threshold (e.g., €500,000) and that the property be purchased in designated “regeneration areas” or low-density regions. Furthermore, the purchase must often be cash-only (no mortgage on the qualifying amount). A lawyer ensures the property deed explicitly mentions the investment visa purpose and meets all government criteria to qualify for the application.

Some nations, such as India, China, and Singapore, strictly forbid dual citizenship. If you acquire a second passport, you may legally lose your original one immediately. A lawyer advises on structuring your status—perhaps opting for permanent residency (RBI) instead of citizenship (CBI)—to retain your original passport. Alternatively, they can guide you through the formal renunciation process if you intend to give up your previous nationality to avoid legal penalties or “limbo” status.

Yes, most programs are designed for families, but the definition of “dependent” varies legally. While spouses and minor children are almost always included, adult children (often up to age 25 or 30) and elderly parents can usually only be included if you can prove they are financially dependent on you. A lawyer gathers affidavits and financial records to prove this dependency to the immigration authorities, preventing your adult children from being split from the family application.