Property that gives status

In which countries a property purchase gives a right to residence or citizenship, where it no longer does, and what to check before the deal.

Checked on: 4 October 2026

For Russian buyers, property abroad is today above all a way to obtain status. According to NF Group, in the first half of 2026 53% of such deals were made for a residence permit, 27% for the buyer's own use and 20% as an investment. A year earlier investment purchases accounted for 34%.

Brokers' statistics reflect their own clients and differ widely. NF Group gives the UAE half of Russians' foreign deals in the first half of 2026, Intermark Global gives it 7% and puts Europe at 47%. Intermark also reports that the number of deals fell by 23% over the year. These figures show the direction of interest, not the size of the market.

Where a purchase gives status

Country	What the purchase gives	Minimum amount	Main condition
UAE	Residence permit (Golden Visa)	AED 2,000,000	Title in the investor's name; a mortgage from approved local banks
Türkiye	Citizenship	USD 400,000	No resale for three years, payment through a Turkish bank
Cyprus	Permanent residence	EUR 300,000 excluding VAT	New residential property from a developer and income from abroad from EUR 50,000 a year
Panama	Permanent residence	USD 300,000 for new property, USD 500,000 on the secondary market	Held for five years, funds from abroad
Paraguay	Permanent residence	USD 200,000	Income-generating property

In Türkiye a purchase of lower-value property also gives a basis for status: owners are granted a renewable short-term residence permit.

Where property does not give status

Country	Position
United Kingdom	The investor visa has been closed since 17 February 2022; a property purchase gives no right to status
Hungary	The immigration authority's current list does not include a home purchase; status comes from an investment of at least EUR 250,000 in real estate fund units
Portugal	The fund route accepts only funds that are not real estate funds
Greece	Issuance of investor residence permits to Russian citizens has been suspended since 28 February 2022; the current status is checked before the deal

What the full cost includes

The price of the property is only part of the expense. Purchase taxes and fees, state fees for the status, insurance and running costs are added to it.
In some programmes the threshold is counted without tax: in Cyprus VAT is not included in the EUR 300,000.
The period for which the money is tied up: three years in Türkiye, five years in Panama. Until that period ends, the property stays in the investor's ownership.
The value for the programme and the market price may differ: Panama takes the lower of two figures - the price paid and the valuation - minus liens.

What to check before the deal

Whether the programme accepts an application from a Russian citizen on the filing date.
Whether the property is of a kind the programme counts: first sale or secondary market, completed or off-plan, an approved developer.
Which bank in the country of the deal will accept the payment and which source-of-funds documents it will ask for.
What happens to the status if the property is sold, and whether one property can be replaced by another.
Duties in Russia after the purchase: notification of the status and reporting on a foreign account, if one was opened.

We do not give investment recommendations and do not assess the returns of properties. Deals are handled by licensed lawyers and agents in the country of purchase.

Sources

This material is for reference only and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Programme terms change: verify them against the primary source before deciding.

Consultation

Need a review of your situation?

Tell us about your goal: we will find a lawful route and explain the limits.

Discuss your goal Investments