Residency by Investment, commonly referred to as a Green Card in the United States, Permanent Residency in Canada, Indefinite Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom, and Permanent Migration in Australia, allows individuals to obtain residency rights in another country through investment.

Under this type of visa program, investors keep their original citizenship while gaining permanent residency status in the country where they invest.

Each country sets its own criteria for qualifying investments. These may include investing in new or existing businesses, real estate, or financial instruments such as stocks, bank deposits, government bonds, or investment funds.

Most programs require the investor to spend a minimum amount of time in the host country, which can range from just a few days to several years depending on the specific regulations.

Typically, eligibility requirements related to education, age, and language proficiency are relatively flexible or minimal.

After maintaining residency for a specified period—varying by country—investors may become eligible to apply for citizenship, provided they meet all necessary conditions.

For Indian nationals, staying outside India for more than 182 days in a financial year while holding permanent residency in another country generally classifies them as Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) for tax purposes.

Additionally, under the Liberalized Remittance Scheme introduced by the Reserve Bank of India, individuals can transfer up to USD 250,000 per person per year abroad.

Residency by Investment programs are available globally, with some of the most sought-after destinations including:

• English-speaking countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland
• European countries: Portugal, Spain, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Latvia
• Middle East countries: United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman
• Asian destinations: Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand