Citizenship & Residency by Investment
Global mobility and diversification through CBI and RBI programs in other countries. Program matching, due-diligence support, application management and post-approval services for high-net-worth families. Norway itself has no investment route.
A dynamic landscape in 2026
For high-net-worth individuals and families seeking global mobility, security and diversification, Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residency by Investment (RBI) programs are increasingly sought after. In 2026 these schemes remain dynamic: some are expanding, some are under regulatory scrutiny, some are evolving to maintain integrity and value, and some have closed, such as Malta's investor citizenship scheme and Spain's golden visa.
Below you will find what CBI and RBI programs are, key benefits, major countries offering them, requirements and timelines, recent trends, and how Nordic Relocators provides support.
Norway has no citizenship or residency by investment scheme. Norwegian citizenship normally requires residence in Norway for eight of the past eleven years (shorter for some groups), and the only business route from UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) is the self-employed permit for people who run their own sole proprietorship in Norway. The programs on this page are in other countries.
What are CBI & RBI programs?
Residency by Investment (RBI)
Allows a foreign individual to obtain legal residence (temporary or permanent) in a country by investing capital, such as real estate, government bonds or a business. Over time, many RBI holders may become eligible for permanent residence or citizenship under local rules.
Citizenship by Investment (CBI)
More ambitious: the applicant acquires citizenship and a passport directly (or after a short waiting period), usually by making a qualifying economic contribution such as a donation, real estate or business investment.
Key benefits
- Global mobility: Visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to many countries.
- Lifestyle & safety: Alternative residence or "safe haven" in politically stable jurisdictions.
- Tax planning & asset protection: Favourable tax regimes or legal structures depending on the country.
- Business & education access: Start a business, own property, send children to local schools and universities.
- Backup strategy: A second passport or residence as a fallback.
Active Citizenship by Investment Programs (2026)
Obtain a second passport through qualifying investments in government funds or real estate.
Compare leading CBI destinations, minimum investment amounts, processing timelines and Schengen access to choose the right pathway for your goals.
| Country | Programme type | Investment required | Processing time | Schengen access | Citizenship timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Citizenship (CBI) | $400,000 real estate investment | 4 to 6 months | Visa process required | Immediate |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | Citizenship (CBI) | $250,000 donation or $325,000 real estate | 4 to 6 months | Yes | Immediate |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Citizenship (CBI) | $230,000 donation or $300,000 real estate | 4 to 6 months | Yes | Immediate |
| Dominica | Citizenship (CBI) | $200,000 donation or $200,000 real estate | 4 to 6 months | Yes | Immediate |
| Grenada | Citizenship (CBI) | $235,000 donation or from $270,000 real estate | 4 to 6 months | Yes | Immediate |
| St. Lucia | Citizenship (CBI) | From $200,000 donation (minimums raised in 2024) | 4 to 6 months | Yes | Immediate |
CBI trends & data (2026)
- CBI Index 2025: Continues to rank Caribbean programs highly for transparency, due diligence and performance.
- St. Kitts & Nevis: Remains at the top of CBI rankings, credited with reforms improving security, efficiency and reputation.
- Caribbean inflows: CBI inflows in ECCU nations are estimated to be a notable portion of FDI, though concerns remain about sustainability and oversight.
- Older European programs: Malta's investor citizenship scheme was ruled contrary to EU law by the Court of Justice of the EU (Case C-181/23, 29 April 2025) and has since been discontinued.
Active Residency by Investment Programs (2026)
Gain long-term residency rights through qualifying investments, with potential pathways to citizenship.
Compare leading RBI destinations, minimum investment amounts, processing timelines and Schengen access to choose the right pathway for your goals.
| Country | Programme type | Investment required | Processing time | Schengen access | Citizenship timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Residency (RBI) | €250,000 to €500,000 investment (real estate no longer qualifies) | 6 to 12 months | Yes | Citizenship in 10 years (7 for CPLP nationals) |
| Greece | Residency (RBI) | €250,000 to €800,000 real estate | 3 to 6 months | Yes | Citizenship in 7 years |
| Italy | Residency (RBI) | €250,000 to €2M investment | 6 to 12 months | Yes | Citizenship in 10 years |
RBI trends & insights
- Tighter due diligence: Rules continue to tighten in 2026: Greece has raised its real estate thresholds, Portugal no longer accepts real estate investments and has lengthened its residence requirement for citizenship, and Spain closed its golden visa in April 2025.
- EU access: RBI programs continue to attract families seeking access to European education, healthcare and mobility.
- Minimal stay: Unlike CBI, many RBI programs require minimal physical presence, sometimes only a few days per year.
- Other jurisdictions: The UAE Golden Visa and US EB-5 also offer investor-based residence rights. Canada's Start-up Visa Program is paused and closed to new applications.
Common requirements & due diligence
Details vary by country, but most programs share:
- Minimum investment: Government fund, real estate, business or qualifying bonds.
- Source of funds proof: Fully documented origin of funds.
- Clean criminal record: Background checks are stringent.
- Biometric data & identity: Verification required.
- Residence or physical presence: Many RBI programs require a minimal annual stay.
- Tax / financial compliance: Maintain local or global tax reporting.
- Family inclusion: Spouses, children, sometimes parents.
- Additional rules: Language, health insurance, integration, business activity.
Indicative timelines
Approval depends on compliance, documentation, program integrity and due diligence, and each country sets its own processing times. No program guarantees approval.
Caribbean CBI programs
3 to 6 months
St. Kitts & Nevis (fastest)
90 to 120 days
RBI / Golden Visa programs
3 to 12 months
How Nordic Relocators assists with CBI & RBI
Support at every step, from program choice to approval and beyond.
Program matching & strategy
Analyse your goals (mobility, tax, lifestyle) and match them to a suitable CBI or RBI program.
Pre-eligibility assessment
Use our assessment tool to test eligibility before investing time or money.
Document preparation
Guide and prepare certified documents, proofs and dossiers for submission.
Investment introductions
Introductions to real estate, fund or business projects that qualify under the programs.
Application & submission
Coordinate submission through government-authorised agents where the program requires it.
Due diligence support
Prepare you for background investigations, clarify fund sources, respond to queries.
Family & dependant inclusion
Process spouse, children and possible extended-family applications.
Post-approval services
Passport issuance, residence cards, renewals, local compliance, integration.
Risk mitigation & appeals
Address rejections or delays; appeals and resubmissions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CBI and RBI?
Residency by investment (RBI) gives legal residence in a country in return for an investment such as real estate, government bonds or a business, and can later lead to permanent residence or citizenship under local rules. Citizenship by investment (CBI) gives citizenship and a passport directly, or after a short waiting period, in return for a qualifying economic contribution.
Which citizenship by investment programmes are open in 2026?
The programmes in our table are Turkey, St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia, with minimum contributions from US$ 200,000. Malta's investor citizenship scheme was ruled contrary to EU law by the Court of Justice of the EU (Case C-181/23, 29 April 2025) and has since been discontinued.
Can I still get a golden visa in Portugal or Spain?
Portugal's programme continues with investments of EUR 250,000 to EUR 500,000, but real estate no longer qualifies. Spain closed its golden visa in April 2025.
What do most programmes require?
A qualifying investment, a fully documented source of funds, a clean criminal record and identity checks with biometric data. Spouses and children can usually be included, and many RBI programmes require only a short stay each year.
Does Norway offer citizenship or residency by investment?
No. Norway has neither scheme. UDI's only business route is the self-employed permit: you must run your own sole proprietorship (enkeltpersonforetak) in Norway, take an active part in running it and expect a profit of at least NOK 341,373 a year before tax; a limited company does not qualify. In 2024 the majority of the Storting's Finance Committee recommended not adopting a proposal for a founder and investor visa programme. Norwegian citizenship normally requires residence in Norway for eight of the past eleven years (shorter for some groups), oral Norwegian at level B1 and the citizenship test (ages 18 to 67), among other conditions. Norway has allowed dual citizenship since 1 January 2020.
Plan your global mobility strategy
With multilingual support, we focus on transparency, compliance and a smoother journey, from program selection to approval and beyond.
Disclaimer: This page gives general information about citizenship and residency by investment programs in other countries. Each country sets and changes its own rules, investment amounts and processing times, and decides every application. Norway has no such scheme (status 31 October 2026). This is not legal, tax or investment advice. Nordic Relocators is not a law firm.