From Greece To The UAE: 15 Countries Offering Golden Visas To Indians

For Indians looking beyond the usual overseas property search, a second home can now mean much more than a holiday address. From long-term residency in Thailand and Mauritius to investment-led routes in Europe, North America and Asia, a growing number of countries offer programmes that can give investors and their families the right to live, work or study abroad, with some also providing a route towards permanent residency or citizenship.

Golden visas have traditionally been associated with property purchases, but the landscape has become considerably broader. Depending on the destination, applicants can qualify through business investments, government bonds, managed funds, philanthropy, professional activity or even exceptional talent. The cost varies sharply too, ranging from under INR 20 lakh for some Thai residency options to investments running into hundreds of crores in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Affordable Routes Abroad

Thailand is among the more accessible options. Its Long-Term Resident Visa can be issued for five years and renewed for another five, while the Thailand Privilege Residence Programme offers memberships lasting between five and 20 years. The latter does not impose a minimum stay requirement, with the entry-level five-year tier priced at THB 650,000, or roughly INR 18.91 lakh. The Bronze tier is set to be phased out from September 30, 2026, after which the Gold tier, priced at THB 900,000 or around INR 26.19 lakh, will be the cheapest option.

Mauritius also offers several routes to residency. Investors can qualify through a minimum USD 50,000 investment in a local company, while property buyers can obtain residence by purchasing an approved residential property worth at least USD 375,000. Individuals aged 50 and above can explore a retirement permit, while professionals with qualifying employment contracts can also secure 10-year residence.

Austria's private residence programme is aimed at financially independent individuals and requires proof of sufficient funds, accommodation, health insurance and basic German-language skills. The UK takes a different approach through its Innovator Founder Visa, which is designed for entrepreneurs with an innovative, viable and scalable business idea. Successful applicants can potentially qualify for permanent residence after three years.

Investment Meets Residency

For those with larger budgets, several countries combine residency with investment opportunities. Malaysia's My Second Home programme offers a 20-year residence visa, renewable for another 20 years. Applicants must demonstrate offshore income of at least RM 40,000 per month and, following approval, place RM 1 million, or about INR 2.33 crore, in a Malaysian fixed deposit.

Switzerland's residence route does not require a mandatory investment but comes with a substantial annual tax commitment, determined by the canton. The UAE, meanwhile, offers one of the most flexible programmes, with 5- and 10-year Golden Visas available to qualifying investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, students and other categories. Real estate investors generally need property worth at least AED 2 million, approximately INR 5 crore.

Greece remains an attractive European option, offering residency without a minimum stay requirement and visa-free travel across the Schengen Area. Investment thresholds start at EUR 250,000, or around INR 2.8 crore, for certain property conversions and restoration projects, while qualifying properties in several popular locations require EUR 800,000, or approximately INR 8.8 crore.

Italy and Portugal provide further European alternatives. Italy's Investor Visa requires investments ranging from EUR 250,000 in an innovative start-up to EUR 2 million in government bonds. Portugal's Golden Residence Permit has shifted away from property investment, with eligible applicants able to invest in funds, research, cultural projects or businesses.

High-Value Global Access

At the upper end of the spectrum, the US EB-5 programme offers investors a route to a Green Card by investing USD 800,000, or about INR 7.65 crore, in a qualifying targeted employment area, provided the investment creates or preserves at least 10 full-time jobs.

New Zealand's Active Investor Plus programme requires at least NZD 5 million, around INR 28.01 crore, in its Growth category, while its Balanced category requires NZD 10 million, or approximately INR 56.02 crore. Canada has a start-up route, although its Start-up Visa Programme is currently paused, while Quebec's investor programme involves a significantly larger financial commitment.

Hong Kong's New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme requires a minimum investment of HKD 30 million, or about INR 286.91 crore. Singapore is even more exclusive: its Global Investor Programme starts at SGD 10 million, approximately INR 74.10 crore, for investment in a Singapore-based business, with substantially higher thresholds for fund investment or establishing a family office.

For Indian applicants, the choice ultimately depends on more than the headline investment figure. Residency requirements, taxation, family eligibility, physical-stay rules and the possibility of eventually securing permanent residency or citizenship can make one programme considerably more suitable than another. As these schemes evolve, professional immigration and tax advice remains essential before committing significant capital.

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