Visa, permanent residency or citizenship?
These three words are often used as if they mean the same thing. They do not, and the difference matters when you are investing hundreds of thousands of euros.
A visa
Permission to visit a country for a set purpose and a limited time. Every trip needs a new application, and approval is never guaranteed.
European Permanent Residency
A permanent right to live in a European Union country, for you and your family. It does not expire and you do not have to relocate. You keep your own passport.
Citizenship
Full membership of the country, including its passport and the right to live and work anywhere in the EU. In many countries, permanent residency is the first step towards it.
Komlive focuses on European Permanent Residency because it gives families real security in Europe today, quickly and predictably, while keeping the door to citizenship open.
How property unlocks permanent residency
Some EU countries grant permanent residency to non-EU nationals who make a qualifying investment in their real estate. The property must meet set rules. In our current destination, for example, it must be newly built, bought directly from the developer and worth at least €300,000 before VAT.
The investment is only half of the test. You also need to show a secured income from abroad, a clean criminal record and health insurance. When every criterion is met, the Fast Track grants permanent residency in about four to six months.
Where the money goes
- The property. Most of your investment, held as an asset in your name.
- VAT. Charged on new property, on top of the price.
- Stamp duty and legal fees. Smaller costs that protect your purchase.
- Application costs. Government fees and health insurance for each family member.
Use the investment planner to estimate your total.
Five questions to ask any advisor
- Will you confirm my eligibility before I pay anything? A good advisor reviews your file first.
- Who checks the title? The answer should be an independent lawyer, not the developer's.
- Where does my money go? Payments should go directly to the developer, through the banking system, with receipts.
- What are all the costs? Ask for VAT, duties, fees and annual costs in writing.
- What happens after approval? Keeping permanent residency has conditions. You should be reminded of them.
Six mistakes to avoid
- Buying a resale property for the Fast Track. It must be new and bought from the developer.
- Forgetting VAT. The minimum is €300,000 before VAT, so budget for the tax on top.
- Counting local income. The income you show must come from abroad.
- Letting documents expire. Passports need at least a year of validity, and certificates can go out of date while you wait.
- Missing the two-year visit. One visit every two years keeps your permit valid. Put it in your calendar.
- Choosing on price alone. Your property is also an investment. Location and developer matter as much as the price.
Glossary
- Fast Track
- The quicker route to permanent residency, with fixed criteria and a decision in about four to six months.
- Normal process
- A slower, discretionary route that accepts property of any value, decided case by case.
- Dependant
- A spouse or child included in your application. Each adds €5,000 to the income you must show.
- Income from abroad
- Money earned outside the destination country, such as salary, dividends, pensions or rent.
- Apostille
- An official stamp that certifies a document for use in another country.
- Title deed
- The official record showing that you own the property.