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Transcript

5 Golden Visas Americans Can Get Without Moving · IMI Podcasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Six years ago, Americans barely existed in the investment migration market.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: Today, their cohort has quadrupled in size and outnumbered the next four nationalities combined.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: With political polarization and chaos, both domestic and foreign, reaching a fever pitch, most investment migration firms are predicting only more growth.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: In this video, we'll walk you through the five residency and citizenship programs attracting the most Americans in 2026.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: What each program costs and how long it takes.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Who knows?
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe this will be your ticket out as well.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_00: Portugal remains the number one default choice for Americans exploring European residency.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Google Trends data shows searches for Portugal Golden Visa spiked after the November 2024 election and stayed at historically elevated levels through spring 2025.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Vita Capital reported a 571% increase in American traffic since January 2025, with residents of California and Florida leading demand.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: In fact, Americans have been the top nationality for Portugal's Golden Visa since 2023, and that lead has only grown.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: But the program has changed a lot, and many Americans are now seeking alternatives.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: Portugal eliminated real estate as a qualifying investment, so the primary route to the Golden Visa is now a 500,000 euro investment in qualifying funds.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: That's$600,000 at current exchange rates.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: The physical presence requirement is minimal.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: Seven days in the first year, 14 days in each subsequent two-year period.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: So you can maintain residency without relocating.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: This is a major perk.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: After five years you become eligible for citizenship, which means a passport in the European Union and residency rights across the region.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: But Portugal is currently reviewing its naturalization law and will most likely double the waiting period from five years to ten and extend the start time to when applicants are approved, not when they apply.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: If that change passes, the timeline to citizenship extends considerably up to 13 or 14 years.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: For Americans comfortable with fund-based investing, Portugal can make sense.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_00: Roughly 62% of adults own stock portfolios compared to just 24% in Saudi Arabia and 19% in China.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: The fund route feels like familiar territory.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: Whether doubling the naturalization timeline will dampen enthusiasm remains to be seen.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: When Spain closed its golden visa by real estate investment in April 2025, Americans pivoted.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: U.S.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: search for volume for Greece's program increased by more than 15% almost immediately.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: Greece offers what Portugal no longer does: real estate as a qualifying investment, and the structure is tiered.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: The€250,000 threshold is available for commercial properties converted to residential use.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Higher thresholds apply in Athens, Thessaloniki, and popular tourist island destinations.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: Processing has accelerated considerably in 2025 after record application volumes created backlogs the previous year.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: For Americans, Greece represents an alternative European program without Portugal's processing backlogs.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: The program requires no physical presence to maintain residency because it's direct permanent residency rather than temporary residency like in Portugal, though naturalization after seven years demands Greek tax residency and demonstrable Greek language proficiency.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: If you want a European foothold, prefer real estate exposure, and desire permanent residency rather than a route to citizenship, Greece may fill the gap Spain left behind.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_00: New Zealand has emerged as an unexpected favorite among Americans seeking options outside Europe.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_00: The country's active investor plus visa attracted 491 applicants, representing nearly 3 billion New Zealand dollars in potential investment, roughly 1.7 billion US dollars since authorities revamped and relaunched the program in April 2025.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: Americans account for 40% of all applicants and more than double the next largest market.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: The April 2025 reforms placed a previous structure that required$15 million New Zealand dollars in committed funds.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_00: The new framework is considerably more accessible.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: It offers two pathways, a growth category requiring$3 million over three years, and a balance category requiring$6 million over 5 years.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_00: And comparing the European Golden Vas with New Zealand's, processing is fast.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: Immigration New Zealand has averaged 31 working days for approval in principle.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_00: The government recently announced that visa holders are now able to purchase luxury homes priced at 3 million US dollars or more.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: IMI Pro Misha Mannix Opie from New Zealand describes American applicants as multi-generational planners rather than transactional investors.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_00: She says her clients are weighing well-being, education, environment, and community alongside capital preservation.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: Does that sound accurate?
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: Sure, New Zealand is not cheap.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: But for Americans who can meet the threshold, residency on the islands offers geographic diversification, political stability, distance from it all, and a quality of life that's frankly hard to match.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: An estimated 15,000 Americans already live in Italy.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: For ultra-high net worth individuals, the country's flat tax regime could explain why.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: Newcomers can pay a fixed annual tax on all foreign income for up to 15 years.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: So no matter how much you earn outside Italy, your tax bill,€300,000 per year, remains the same.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: Italy raised this from€100,000 a few years ago and from€200,000 in December 2025, signalling its intent to compete directly with Switzerland and Monaco for the wealthiest global migrants in Europe.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: As far as residency goes, Americans can obtain what we at IMI call the La Dolce Visa, or the Italy Investor Visa, by investing€250,000 in a local innovative startup, or 500,000 euros in local company shares.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: While this is a temporary residency permit, there is no required stay to maintain it.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: But if you'd like to graduate to reap the benefits of the plentiful tax programs, get citizenship in 10 years, and of course live the La Dolce Vida, you'd have to relocate and spend a majority of your time in Italy.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_00: Not such a bad thing.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_00: Panama has long been a popular destination for Americans, especially for retirees.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: The Expat Insider Survey has named it the best country in the world for expats for two consecutive years, and International Living's 2025 Global Retirement Index put it at number one.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: Now with the Qualified Investor Visa, Panama is positioning itself as more than just a retirement haven, but also an investment destination and potentially even a citizenship play for foreigners.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_00: The Qualified Investor Visa offers immediate permanent residency through a real estate investment of$300,000.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, that's right, Panama has used the United States dollar since 1904.
• 7:37
  SPEAKER_00: You can also qualify through$500,000 in securities or a$750,000 fixed-term bank deposit in a local bank.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_00: Regardless of the investment path taken, it must be held for five years.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: Applications are typically approved within 30 days, and you can apply remotely.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_00: You don't need to visit Panama until after approval, when you provide biometric data.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: And even if you did have to visit, Panama is a short single flight away from most American metro airports.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_00: Once approved, the physical presence requirement is minimal.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: One visit to Panama every two years to maintain your status.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: After five years of permanent residency, you can apply for citizenship.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: Now, IMI Pro Mikhail Thorup recommends that despite the government's low-stay requirements, showing you have ties to Panama is wise to qualify for naturalization.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps one of Panama's greatest benefits is its favorable tax situation.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: Panama has a territorial tax system, which means only income earned inside Panama is taxed.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_00: Foreign source income is exempt.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: For Americans, remember that U.S.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: citizenship-based taxation still applies, but Panama itself won't add to your burden.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: Permanent residency, a real estate option, territorial tax system, and a clear path to citizenship, all at a lower entry point than most European programs.
• 9:02
  SPEAKER_00: Panama may not get the attention these other destinations and programs do, but does deserve serious consideration.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're an American or a Canadian who feels similarly considering your options, here's how we might frame the decision.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: Want European residency with minimal presence requirements?
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: Portugal or Greece.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: Want geographic diversification and long-term stability outside the Northern Hemisphere?
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: What about New Zealand?
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_00: Have ultra-high foreign income and want tax efficiency in a world-class destination?
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: Italy.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_00: Need an accessible, tax-friendly, familiar option in the Western Hemisphere?
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_00: Check out Panama.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, there are many more options than we covered today.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_00: You can browse programs and sort, filter and search those that fit your needs at imidaly.com.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_00: Each path involves trade-offs in cost, timeline, residency perks, and pathway to citizenship.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: The right choice depends on what you're optimizing for.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: If you found this useful, subscribe for more coverage of investment migration programs, news and opportunities.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: In the video on your screen now, you'll understand why some programs command such a high investment threshold or donation price.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_00: Why did multi citizenship cost ten times more than Van Watu's?
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: We have the answer.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_00: See you over there.