Usually our compatriots tend to naturalize in Europe or North America. Few people seek to obtain a passport from one of the countries that we consider a resort paradise and where real estate is not too expensive. Yulia Titova believes that it is pointless to apply for Turkish citizenship, for example, since property owners in Turkey are already given an extended residence permit for a period of 5 years.
Montenegro has not yet adopted a Constitution and the status of foreigners has not been determined. Russian tourists can enter the country without a visa, but after 30 days they will have to leave its borders. To live here all year round, you either need to get married, or create a company, or work under a contract. However, owning real estate in Montenegro can also serve as a basis for obtaining a residence permit.
They will accept, but not all
According to Tatiana Bulakh, an independent consultant on personal wealth management, a full member of the International Tax Planning Association (ITPA), there are three types of immigration in the world: working, for refugees and for wealthy people. Recently, immigration and naturalization by right of blood has also gained popularity – now not only Jews can leave for their historical homeland, but also, for example, Spanish children from Russia have the right to apply for Spanish citizenship, ethnic Bulgarians from Moldova for Bulgarian passports, etc
. "Immigration programs for wealthy people or qualified specialists, especially valuable for the inviting state, it can be conditionally divided into three types, – explains Tatyana Bulakh. – The first one is a residence permit with subsequent registration of citizenship. It is provided almost automatically, but you need to follow fairly strict rules prescribed in immigration law (as, for example, in the UK or Canada). The second option: there are vaguely prescribed norms, the interpretation of which depends on specific officials (as in Austria, Italy, Switzerland). And finally, the third option is the "sale" of passports, that is, economic citizenship. The purchase of real estate abroad is mainly related to immigration programs for wealthy people: the cost of purchased housing is a clear indicator for the immigration authorities, showing the actual financial situation of the applicant."
Permanent residence: how and why?
In general, the former socialist camp aspires to the EU, which means it is moving to European standards. In Montenegro, the BEST-Real Estate company assures, local legislation will be brought into line with European legislation, and sooner or later Russians will have to receive an annual multivisa without the right to work with a 180-day stay corridor. Bulgaria, which has already introduced visas for Russians, provides two visas per year with a stay corridor of 90 days each. In this country, you can also get a business visa for up to 180 days or, by opening a company and hiring Bulgarians, a residence permit for a year. To extend it, it is required to prove that the period of stay in Bulgaria during the year exceeded six months. It is assumed that if the period is shorter, then a foreigner does not need a residence permit, but a business visa is enough.
In Cyprus, property owners who have money in a bank account at the rate of 50 euros per person per day, and their family members are given a residence permit (pink slip) without the right to work, but without limitation of the period of stay on the island – this is an excellent option for pensioners and school children. To obtain a permanent residence permit, you should stay in the country for more than 250 days a year for 5 years each year – this will ensure that you receive a permanent residence permit.
Economic citizens
In the vast majority of cases, an investor working with real estate first chooses a country, and then looks for a house. The issues of the status of a foreigner are usually not paramount when buying, but then they seem more and more important. "If there is a need to obtain a residence permit, then you must first choose a country, and then real estate in it," says Tatyana Bulakh. – If you are not an oligarch and not a luminary of science, do not speak a foreign language as your native language, then exclude the rich countries of Europe, the United States, and pay attention to the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America. Many of our compatriots manage to live happily in these countries on the income from renting out a Moscow apartment. But not everyone is thriving." Having a long-term visa does not help to obtain a residence permit if a foreigner does not have solid capital or a job, but it helps to get to know the country better, start your own business, find a job, and then you can start the immigration process itself under one program or another.
Citizenship implies a number of responsibilities, such as paying taxes or serving in the army. A self–employed person will be attracted by a state with a high level of social benefits, while a wealthy person will be attracted by a country with favorable taxation. For example, many people with low incomes choose to immigrate to Canada, and when their financial situation improves, they move to the United States. For wealthy people, one of the most profitable options is economic citizenship (it is issued for a certain amount in a fairly short time), the holders of which do not pay taxes and do not serve in the army quite legally. With an economic citizen's passport, you can freely visit rich countries as a guest.
Now there is a migration of wealthy residents from those countries where our compatriots are striving, for example from France, the USA, and the UK. The sophisticated public is looking for tax havens where they can not only enjoy comfort, but also significantly reduce tax payments. At the same time, the economic citizenship of an exotic country with visa agreements with other states is acquired first, and then the renunciation of the first citizenship follows. Another option: the applicant moves to his future homeland for a probation period, receives a new passport, renounces the old one or retains both citizenship.
The homeland is chosen
Which countries are most interesting for immigration? Here is a list of recommendations from Tatiana Bulakh. For highly qualified people, these are Canada and Australia. For wealthy investors – Austria, the Bahamas, the Campione enclave in Italy, Guernsey Island, Hong Kong, Malta, Monaco, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis Islands, Switzerland, Great Britain. Italy is now also considered the tax haven of Europe. But the resort countries (Turkey, Montenegro, Bulgaria) are interested in tourists, not immigrants. In this regard, the legislation there is being tightened, it becomes more difficult to obtain visas and start your own business. In Western countries, taxes are generally higher, so people with unblemished reputations and solid capital are welcome there – new citizens accept the burden of tax expenses in exchange for a comfortable and safe life.
Many rich countries with high living standards levy high taxes on their citizens' property, including real estate, around the world. "Imagine your feelings," says Tatyana Bulakh, "when the next day after obtaining citizenship in a beautiful European country you receive a notification about the need to pay tax on ... a Moscow apartment in the amount of, for example, 40,000–50,000 euros, which even our native tax service has not yet attempted." This is probably why most Russian owners of foreign real estate are limited to ordinary visas.
And, of course, it is worth learning in advance about the various subtleties adopted in a particular country. In the UK, to obtain citizenship, you must stay a certain number of days a year in the country. If the deadline is insufficient, then the countdown begins anew. In Austria and Italy, you need to be present at the place of registration at the time of an unexpected visit by the local police – how unpredictable it really will be depends on your relationship with the police, neighbors and a lawyer. In Greece, until recently, witness statements were required that you had been in the country for a long time. Each country has its own rules.
