Navigating the legal requirements of a golden visa for digital nomads
If you've ever dreamt of working from a tropical beach or city somewhere in Europe, then you're not alone. In fact, many people living on the road have at least considered moving to Europe for the benefits it offers. And one such benefit is the golden visa program: an opportunity for those who invest in real estate or start a business to obtain legal residency in certain countries. You may be wondering what exactly a golden visa is and how you can get one. The good news is that obtaining one isn't as difficult as it seems—just keep reading for everything you need to know about applying!
What is a golden visa?
A golden visa is a type of visa that allows you to live and work in a country for a certain period of time. The holder of such a visa may also be eligible for permanent residence status after five years.
Golden visas can be divided into two main categories: investor visas and residency-by-investment programs. Investor visas require applicants to make an investment in order to qualify for them, whereas residency-by-investment programs do not require an investment but instead charge high fees (typically around $200k USD) as part of their processing costs.
What are the requirements for obtaining one?
In order to obtain a golden visa, you must meet the following requirements:
You must hold a passport from one of the eligible countries (the list is expanding)
You must have no criminal record in your country or any other country where you have lived for more than six months. If there are any questions about your criminal history, it's best to hire an attorney who specializes in this type of immigration law and can provide proof that everything is clean.
Your financial situation has been reviewed by the immigration authorities and they have determined that it meets their standards for being able to support yourself while living abroad. This means showing proof of income (such as bank statements), proof that any debts are paid off or manageable enough so as not to affect your ability to move abroad and buy a home overseas (such as credit card bills), proof that all taxes have been paid on time every year since 2013 without exception (this includes social security contributions if applicable), etcetera...
How long does it take to get one?
The amount of time it takes to get a golden visa varies from country to country, and depends on how you apply.
For example, some countries require you to submit all of your documents in person at the embassy; others accept applications online or by mail.
Furthermore, some countries have more stringent requirements than others when it comes to proving your financial resources and income level--so if yours is one such country (like Spain), then you may need more time than someone else who applied for their golden visa in another jurisdiction with less stringent requirements (such as Portugal).
What happens after you have your golden visa?
Once you have your golden visa and are living in your new country of residence, there are several things to keep in mind.
First, you can live there as long as you like. This is different from many other types of visas where you must periodically renew them or risk being deported from the country. The only requirement for maintaining your golden visa status is that you remain physically present in the country at least once every six months (for example, if it takes three weeks from start to finish).
Second, once you have secured permanent residence through one of these programs and become eligible for citizenship after five years (or three years if married), then this may be an option for some digital nomads who want more stability than short-term residency permits provide but still want all the benefits offered by their current home countries without having to give up their current passports or citizenship rights along with them
The process of obtaining a golden visa may seem daunting at first, but it's not as difficult as it seems.
Golden visas are a great way to get residency in a country, but they're not the same as citizenship or permanent residency. The process is not as difficult as it seems, and it's not as expensive either!
The first step to obtaining a golden visa is finding an eligible country. Once you've done this, then you can apply for your golden visa through their respective government website or consulate office (if applicable). Next comes gathering all the required documents: passport photo/scanner; proof of funds; proof of health insurance coverage; criminal background check (if applicable); etc... Finally comes payment--but don't worry about this part too much! Most countries require minimal investment amounts ranging between $100k-$1 million USD depending upon which country you choose.*
The process of obtaining a golden visa may seem daunting at first, but it's not as difficult as it seems. You have to make sure that you have the right documentation and meet all the requirements before applying for one. However, once you do this it should take about six months for your application to be processed by authorities before receiving approval or rejection from them.
