“Old Europe” attracts many as a possible place of residence. The relatively high standard of living and culture, centuries-old history and high social standards - all this makes a residence permit in Europe a desirable goal for our compatriots. Especially in 2021, when even the simplest salary in Europe (judging by past years) is higher than the income of prestigious specialists in the Russian provinces.
Panorama of evening Paris
It must be said right away that it is easier to obtain a residence permit in European countries that are not members of Schengen, where Russians are treated more loyally. For example, in Bulgaria or Cyprus. Among the EU countries, Latvia should be noted.
Many people previously used this country to legally reside in the territory of other states from the European Community, opening a company on Latvian territory or purchasing real estate in this Baltic state.
When buying a home, the easiest way for Russian citizens is also to obtain a residence permit in Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Malta and Cyprus.
Of these countries, it is worth highlighting Bulgaria, as it has lower and more attractive prices. However, EU countries also differ greatly in their approach to the issue of immigration policy. Knowing some of the nuances of legislation and the peculiarities of attitudes towards migrants, you can choose the simplest option to make your dream come true.
In addition to foreigners who come to European countries to study or work, the EU receives a large number of refugees every year. Germany and the UK remain the countries hosting the most refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq in 2021, with Sweden and Belgium granting asylum to fewer people.
Beginning in 1999, the European Union began to create common parameters for immigration to the agreement countries. You can travel to any of the 28 European countries as follows:
- Student.
- Highly qualified specialist.
- An employee of a home country subsidiary in Europe.
- Seasonal worker.
- Relative of an EU citizen or permanent resident.
How many countries are there in the European Union? Schengen area and euro area
Let's decide which states are included in the Eurozone.
Firstly, these are the countries that organized this association: Luxembourg, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Secondly, these are other European states that have successively joined them: Austria, Hungary, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Malta, Denmark, Portugal, Great Britain, Sweden, Belgium, Cyprus.
The countries of the former socialist camp also appreciated the advantages of a single trade and economic space and joined the EU. Including Latvia, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Poland.
There are also islands that are not geographically located in Europe, but belong to European states such as France, Spain and Portugal.
They are not “Europe” in a geographical sense, but are attractive to investors and tourists. All these states are included in the Schengen zone, except for Great Britain, Romania, Cyprus, Croatia, Ireland and Bulgaria.
There are also states that do not belong to the EU, but are included in the Schengen area. These are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. And only 18 Eurozone countries have the same currency, the euro.
Features of naturalization in various European countries
Each country has its own peculiarities of obtaining the status of a full member of European society. In some places they are so loyal that they attract a huge number of foreigners, including Russians.
Czech Republic
What do Russians and Czechs have in common? Very similar mentality, way of life, as well as common Slavic roots of the languages. Czech is so easy that candidates have almost no problems passing the linguistic test.
The Czech Republic beckons with an easy way to obtain a passport. To do this, you need to reside continuously in the country for five years.
Study and work are excellent reasons to stay here. And since studying for foreigners in the Czech Republic is completely free, the opportunity attracts students from all over the world.
A short economic overview
Traditionally, in the Eurozone there are countries with a strong economic position, and there are so-called outsiders.
Luxembourg occupies the leading position in terms of GDP per capita, followed by the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, and Ireland. In the middle are such giants as Germany, France and Great Britain, and the list is traditionally closed by the countries of the former socialist camp - Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Bulgaria.
Recently, countries such as Cyprus, Spain and Portugal have been increasing their capabilities and showing GDP growth.
Spain GDP in US dollars
The higher the economic development of a state that is part of the European Union, the correspondingly higher the standard of living of its residents, the more attractive this state is for permanent residence, and the tougher the conditions for immigration.
What is a residence permit
Residence permit is the most often abbreviated term for the concept of “temporary residence permit.” There are special names for this document, as well as special procedures that lead to its receipt in each of the European Union countries. Anyone who wants to have such a residence permit dreams of finding a country where it is easier to do this.
Residence permit card in Italy
A residence permit can be issued both with the right to work and without obtaining such an opportunity. In countries attractive for immigration, such as Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic, which until recently occupied a leading position in the number of business immigration, it has now become very difficult to obtain a residence permit with the right to work.
What do you get with a residence permit in the European Union?
Most of our compatriots strive to live in the European Union. A residence permit from one of the EU countries is for them only the first step in achieving their goal. The next stage is obtaining a permit for permanent residence and citizenship of a European country. The authorities provide the holder of a residence permit with a number of special advantages:
q_1 Comfortable and safe life in European countries
q_3 Access to the highest level of European medicine and education
q_2 MU L TIV I SA Benefits when obtaining a multiple visa for family members of an immigrant
q_4 The right to open European bank accounts and obtain loans at low rates
q_5 The right to move freely between the countries of the European Union and the Schengen area
q_6 Organization of business in economically stable and developed countries of Europe
q_7 Opportunity for official employment in Europe
q_8 Consular protection outside the European Union
It is important to know!
Official employment in Europe, with a residence permit in the EU, guarantees the foreigner a European pension. If he retains his native citizenship, he will be able to receive two pensions: from the EU state and from his former one.
How much are you willing to invest in your dream?
There are several basic, approximately identical ways to obtain a residence permit for foreigners. They all differ in the amount of capital required to declare their desire to live in Europe.
There is an opportunity to invest in real estate. It involves the acquisition of a residence permit in the country subject to the purchase of real estate.
Until recently, Latvia was the most attractive in this matter. The amount of investment in real estate required to obtain a residence permit was about 70,000 euros in the provinces and about 140,000 euros in Riga or Jurmala.
However, due to the large number of applications from foreigners seeking to obtain a residence permit in Europe with a relatively small investment, the Latvian authorities began to fear the oppression of their culture.
On September 1, 2014, a law came into force according to which this amount is 250,000 euros, and 5% of this must be donated to state income.
Bulgaria (300,000 euros), Spain (500,000), Portugal (500,000), Cyprus (300,000) and Greece (300,000) have similar programs. In other countries, purchasing real estate is not a 100% guarantee of obtaining a residence permit.
Portugal is a good option for this type of immigration, since this country has a “Golden Visa” project - when purchasing real estate from 500,000 euros, you receive a special form of residence permit.
At the same time, there is no need to live in Portugal; the residence permit will be maintained if you come to the country for at least 7 days a year.
Rocky coast of Portugal
TOP 5 programs for obtaining a residence permit in the European Union for investment: where is it easier and cheaper?
Cyprus residence permit
Where is the easiest place to get a residence permit in Europe? In an island country with a Mediterranean climate - Cyprus. The residency investment program of this country is considered the easiest and most affordable way to obtain a residence permit in the European Union for residents of post-Soviet countries. In addition to the fact that a residence permit can be obtained in a short time and for a relatively low return on investment, Cyprus has one of the largest Russian-speaking diasporas. Also, this island country, thanks to its climate and high standard of living of the population, is ideal for families with children to move to. According to the terms of the program, in order to obtain residency in Cyprus, one of two conditions must be met:
- Purchase real estate for an amount starting from 300,000 euros.
- Open a deposit in a local bank in the amount of 30 thousand euros.
Together with the applicant, residency can be obtained by his spouse, unmarried and financially dependent children under 18 years of age or under 25 years of age (if studying at a university), parents, and grandparents. Let us note the main advantages of permanent residence in Cyprus:
- The status is issued for life (there is no need for its regular updating or extension).
- The status is issued in 3-5 months.
- After 7 years, you can apply for citizenship of the country.
- To obtain your status, one visit to the country is enough to submit biometric data.
- There are no requirements for permanent residence or visiting - it is enough to cross the border once every 2 years.
- Visa-free entry into the European Union.
- To visit Schengen countries, a visa is issued according to a simplified procedure.
Residence permit in Greece
The cheapest residence permit in Europe is Greek. The program was launched more than 7 years ago and is in high demand every year. The threshold for investing in Greek residency is the minimum among other European countries - to obtain the status, it is enough to buy real estate in the amount of 250 thousand euros. To maintain status, investments must be held for a minimum of 5 years. A residence permit in Greece allows you to obtain citizenship after 10 years (subject to obtaining permanent residence status and passing an exam on knowledge of the Greek language). The status itself is not unlimited - it must be renewed every 5 years. Along with the main applicant, a spouse, financially dependent children (unmarried) under 18 years of age and up to 23 years of age (in case of documented proof of full-time study at a university), parents, and grandparents also apply for status. Emigration to Greece under the program is attractive due to the following advantages:
- The period for obtaining status is 2-3 months.
- Only one visit to the country is required to submit biometric data.
- You don't need to know the language, culture and history of Greece.
- To avoid losing your status, you must stay in the state for one week a year.
- Visa-free visits to the countries of the Schengen zone and the EU.
- The property can be rented out or resold after 5 years without losing the residence permit.
Permanent residence in Malta
Obtaining permanent residence in Malta through the investment residency program is inferior in terms of conditions to Cyprus. Here, in order to use the program, you must meet the following conditions:
- Make a purchase of government bonds in the amount of 250,000 euros.
- Pay an administrative fee (non-refundable) in the amount of 30 thousand euros.
- Buy real estate in the amount of 270 thousand euros (cannot be resold for 5 years) or rent housing in the amount of 10 thousand euros/year.
The maturity of the bond is 5 years. It is worth noting that this investment is not only repayable, but, in addition, is profitable - about 3% per annum. At the same time as the applicant, permanent residence is granted to his spouse, financially dependent, unmarried children under 18 years of age and under 26 years of age (if studying at a university), parents and grandparents over 55 years of age. This permanent residence permit in Europe, unlike the Cyprus one, requires renewal every 5 years. The status itself is issued within 5-9 months. Advantages of Maltese residency by investment:
- Visa-free visits to countries included in the Schengen area.
- Permanent residence status is retained even if bonds or real estate are sold after 5 years.
- 12-14 months after obtaining residency, you can apply for a Maltese passport.
- There are no requirements for permanent residence in Malta.
- There are no requirements for knowledge of language, history and culture.
Portugal residence permit
Obtaining a residence permit in Portugal has several investment options to choose from:
- Purchase of real estate in the amount of 350 thousand euros, subject to reconstruction and built 30 or more years ago (from 280 thousand euros if the property is located in an area with low population density or GDP level).
- Purchase of residential or non-residential real estate in the amount of 500 thousand euros (from 400 thousand euros if the property is located in an area with low population density or GDP level).
- Investment of 1 million euros in a Portuguese company.
- Opening a business providing at least 10 jobs for the Greek population.
- Investment of 350 thousand euros in a business with the condition of creating at least 5 jobs.
Let us highlight the main advantages of the Portuguese program:
- An application for residency can include a spouse, financially dependent children under 18 years of age or under 26 years of age (full-time students of a higher educational institution), parents and grandparents over 65 years of age.
- The status is issued in 6-8 months.
- Visa-free visits to Schengen countries.
- The status gives permission to work in Portugal.
- You can obtain citizenship after 5 years.
- The first time the status must be updated a year after receipt, then the procedure must be repeated every two years.
- To maintain your status, it is enough to stay in the country for one week a year.
- Investments can be returned after 5 years.
Residence permit in Spain
The Spanish Golden Visa, like the Portuguese one, implies several options for making return investments in exchange for residency:
- Purchase of real estate from 500 thousand euros.
- Investment from 1 million euros in shares of local companies or businesses.
- Investment from 2 million euros in government bonds.
- Opening a deposit in a Spanish bank in the amount of 1 million euros.
At the moment, the most popular option is purchasing real estate (up to 70% of applications). There is also another option for obtaining a Spanish residence permit for investments - a subsidy to the National Fund in the amount of 1 million euros. Since this investment is non-repayable, this option is in the least demand. Benefits of the Spanish Investment Residency Program:
- Fast deadlines for obtaining status – 2-3 months.
- Visa-free travel to the countries of the Schengen zone.
- Possibility to include family members (spouse, financially dependent children and parents) in the application.
- The residence permit status does not prohibit working in Spain.
- To maintain your status, staying in Spain for 7 days a year is enough.
- Opportunity to obtain citizenship after 10 years (subject to permanent residence in the country after receiving permanent residence status and subject to renunciation of first citizenship).
- There are no Spanish language requirements.
EU Blue Card
The Blue Card of the European Union provides an opportunity for highly qualified specialists, citizens of countries outside the EU, to move and work in the countries of the union.
To obtain a card, you must have a higher education and a contract with a European company. Moving on an EU Blue Card is only available for full-time workers; you cannot obtain the status by planning to work as a freelancer. There are also special requirements for future salary - it must be at least one and a half times the average salary in the country.
European Union Blue Card holders are eligible to obtain a visa for their spouses and children under the Family Reunification Scheme.
The Blue Card is issued for a period of 1 to 4 years, after which it can be renewed. But a foreigner who has such a card must not change jobs in the first two years. Changing jobs in the first two years is possible only with the permission of the authorities of the country in which the person lives. If a foreigner is fired from his job, he is given three months to find a new one. Sometimes it is not possible to find a new job in such a short period of time and then the foreigner loses his status as an EU Blue Card holder.
Also, the blue card of one country can be exchanged for a card of another, for example, in the case of new employment.
Services for obtaining a residence permit in the EU
Contacting the International Business company is guaranteed and legally will make you the owner of a residence permit in any country of the European Union. After receiving advice from a personal lawyer, you will need to provide a minimum package of documents, and the rest will be done for you by experienced specialists of our company.
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We will prepare the necessary documents that comply with the current requirements of European legislation
w_2_visa VI SA
We will open a visa for you
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We will accompany you to the selected European country and help you obtain a residence permit
Use the help of migration experts from International Business to obtain a residence permit in the EU safely and on favorable terms!
Family Reunification Program
European authorities have prepared a relocation program for all family members: a citizen or permanent resident of a European Union country has the right to invite his spouse, children or elderly parents to live together.
This relocation program is often used by EU Blue Card holders who moved to Europe to earn money and now want to bring their family with them.
But this is relevant not only for families moving to Europe, but also for people who marry citizens of Schengen countries. However, the authorities of European countries approach marriages between foreigners with caution and require documents confirming their life together. And fictitious marriages are strictly punished by law: a foreigner may face deportation, an entry ban and a heavy fine.
How to get a residence permit in Europe?
A residence permit cannot simply be purchased. And it is issued only if the applicant has compelling reasons for moving. For example, a permanent job, studying at a university, opening a foreign representative office of a company, or a promising joint business project. Often, a residence permit also limits the immigrant’s occupation, except in cases where a residence permit is granted to investors.
Requirements for obtaining a European residence permit
There is an unspoken rule here: the more money a foreigner is willing to spend to obtain a visa category that gives the right to live in another country for several years, the fewer requirements the immigration service will make.
To illustrate our thesis, we will look at two British visas that allow you to live in the UK for several years.
| Requirement | Sole representative visa | Investor visa |
| Knowledge of English | Required | Not required |
| experience | Required | Not required |
| Professional qualifications | Required | Not required |
| Limitations on scope of activity | Eat | No |
| Valid term of a visa | 3 years | 3 years 4 months |
How to get a UK residence permit
The table shows that the Sole Representative of an overseas company can live in the United Kingdom for almost the same number of years as an Investor visa holder. But to obtain the last visa category, you will need to invest at least £2 million in the real sector of the English economy, while the Representative visa does not require investment, and the main costs of opening a branch are borne by the parent company-employer. Therefore, there are many advantages for the Investor: he receives a residence permit faster, to move he does not need to learn a language, have good professional skills or unique experience, and in England he will not be limited to working in a British branch as a Representative, but can do anything he wants .
Preferential conditions for obtaining a residence permit are provided to foreign investors not only on the shores of Foggy Albion. In the Republic of Malta, Latvia, Portugal, Spain and a number of other jurisdictions, there are government programs that allow wealthy citizens of non-EU countries to obtain a residence permit through investment in the economy.
Obtaining a student residence permit
European education has always been among the most prestigious. Obtaining knowledge, a European diploma, as well as a residence permit in the EU is a good prospect for further employment and obtaining permanent residence and European citizenship.
If your study abroad will last longer than 90 days, then there is a need to obtain a residence permit.
Getting a higher education at a European university and then staying in the country to work is one of the best immigration options for young people. There were times when foreigners hardly came to Europe due to lack of knowledge of the local language, but with the introduction of English programs in universities, more and more people began to apply and move to Europe as students.
The cost of education at European universities is not as high as in the USA, Canada and Australia. Depending on the university, the chosen direction and the country, you will have to pay from 1,500 euros for one year. However, these are not the only student costs in the country. To obtain and annually renew a residence permit, you will have to show a bank account with a certain amount on it (depending on the country, but roughly we can say from 6,000 euros).
The University of Vienna is the oldest university in Europe
The process of obtaining a residence permit for the purpose of studying in Europe is quite simple - just enroll in a university and receive a letter of acceptance from them.
The process is slow. In order to obtain a visa before starting your studies, documents should be submitted at least three months in advance. The fact is that in the case of obtaining a student residence permit, the documents are sent to the migration office at the place of future residence (for example, if you entered an Austrian university in Vienna, then the documents will be sent to the Vienna magistrate), so the processing time for documents depends on the time of their delivery and the workload of local employees services.
There are almost no refusals for student residence permits.
The residence permit is issued for 1 year, with the possibility of subsequent extension, subject to positive results in semester exams.
Which program for obtaining a residence permit in Europe is popular among Migronis clients and why?
In 2021 and today, the most popular residence permit program in Europe among our clients remains the “Golden Visa” of Portugal. There are 7 simple reasons for this:
- Fast processing time (from 6 months);
- 100% positive statistics on obtaining residence permits in the EU by our clients;
- There are no strict requirements for permanent residence in Portugal;
- Loyal migration legislation;
- Opportunity to obtain permanent residence and citizenship after 5 years;
- Minimal client participation in the process of obtaining a residence permit;
- Social and political security of the investor and his family.
Apply for a European residence permit for years in countries that are disloyal to migrants (Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Denmark, Czech Republic, etc.)? Or apply for a residence permit in a few months and, at the same time, receive identical rights to residence permit holders of other European countries? Also, you may be interested in the Montenegrin citizenship program. In terms of investment size, a Montenegro passport also starts from $350 thousand (for resort-type properties in the north of the country). This way you can obtain European citizenship much faster, but Montenegro’s accession to the EU is expected only by 2025. For more information on comparing a Portuguese residence permit with Montenegrin citizenship, read the material: Montenegro vs. Portugal: which program is more profitable for investors? In our practice, most investors are accustomed to comparing the conditions of programs in order to make a truly correct decision. We know at least three more reasons to pay attention to the second citizenship of an island state:
- Antigua and Barbuda passport: visa-free entry to more than 136 countries, application process (3-5 months).
- Saint Kitts and Nevis passport: visa-free entry to 132 countries, no residency requirements, application process (3-5 months). The program has been running since 1984!
- Dominica passport: visa-free entry to 91 countries, application process (3-6 months), no residence requirements, no personal interview.
