CYPRUS
Cyprus, officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean located south of Turkey. Cyprus is known as the ‘Jewel of the Mediterranean’ and legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the ancient goddess of love and beauty, certainly lives up to the exacting standards of its divine patroness.
It is culturally Greek but is not part of Greece. Since 2004 the entire island and the Republic of Cyprus has been part of the European Union, although this does not quite apply to the northern portion of the island under Turkish control. The official language is Greek but English is widely spoken as the country was once a British colony.
Traditional Cypriot foods include souvlakia (grilled meat kebabs), shaftalia (grilled sausage), afella (pork marinated in coriander), fried halloumi cheese, olives, pitta bread, kolokasi (root vegetables), lamb, artichokes, chickpeas and rabbit stews (stifado)
Cyprus has a subtropical climate – Mediterranean and semi-arid with very mild winters (on the coast) and warm to hot summers. Rain occurs mainly in winter, with summer being generally dry.
Investing in Property for Permanent Residency and Citizenship
Foreigners can obtain residency and citizenship through various schemes. One for permanent residency and one for citizenship.
Permanent Residency
Permanent residency can be secured by investing in real estate. The properties must be brand new. This is the fastest and simplest investor programme and requires an amount of €300,000 to be invested which can be a maximum of two properties provided they reach the permanent residency limit and are both from the same developer.
The residency visa is takes 2 months and covers the whole family. It includes parents of both the main applicant and spouse plus dependent children up to the age of 25. It is valid for life and can be passed down to dependents and spouse. A residence permit may also be granted to children of the applicant who are over the age of 18, who are not financially dependent on the applicant, provided that a property is acquired for each child for a market value of at least EUR 300,000 (excluding VAT).
The programme offers ease of travel throughout the European Union and requires just one visit to Cyprus by all family members once every two years.
The investment can be made by a company which the main applicant and spouse are beneficial owners.
All applicants, spouses and dependents included in the application must have a clean criminal record from their country of residence.
Citizenship
Cyprus is a full member of the European Union. Citizens of Cyprus are European citizens. One of the fundamental rules of the EU is the ability for its citizens to travel, live, work or study anywhere within the European Union. Cyprus citizens and passport holders are able to live in any of the 28 countries that form the EU.
An investment of €2.0 million in real estate is required, plus a donation of €75,000 to the Governments Research and Development fund and €75,000 to the Land Development Organisation. The property, either residential or commercial, can be rented for income. Any number of properties can combine to make up the €2.0 million minimum investment. The investment can be made personally or through a company in which the applicant is a shareholder. No other European golden visa program guarantees such assured results offering an EU second passport in just two to three months.
The process for gaining they Cyprus passport will be completed within 6 months. A full refund can be offered for certain real estate investments in the unlikely case of refusal of the citizenship application.
After 5 years the investment can be reduced down to just €500,000 and this investment must be maintained in order for the investor to retain their citizenship.
The application process is fast and very straightforward with a high approval rate. It has a good family structure allowing children up to the age of 28 to qualify and all future generations. It requires basic documentation and there is no residency requirement. The citizenship investment program in Cyprus is ideal for High Net Worth Individuals seeking a fast and efficient route to a European passport.
PORTUGAL
Portugal is a southern European country on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain in Western Europe. It comprises of the continental part of Portugal on the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula with 2 island groups: the Azores (800 miles southwest of Lisbon) and Madeira (600 miles south of Lisbon).
Its location on the Atlantic Ocean has influenced many aspects of its culture: salt cod and grilled sardines are national dishes, the Algarve’s beaches are a major destination and much of the nation’s architecture dates to the 1500s–1800s, when Portugal had a powerful maritime empire.
Portugal boasts a stunning variety of landscapes, while its two major cities, Lisbon and Porto, offer a mix of alfresco restaurants, buzzing fado clubs and glittering marble churches as well as its sublime sandy beaches, lush river valleys and pretty mountain-top villages.
Portugal’s climate is mainly Mediterranean. The southern regions are dry and sunny with warm/hot summers and mild/rainy winters. Snow is possible in the mountains of the northeast. Overall, Portugal enjoys an enviable climate which explains why it’s so popular with northern Europeans looking for relief from their too often less comfortable weather.