Golden Visa grant imminent for Kazakhstan, granting residency and investment opportunities.
Uzbekistan's Ministry has just declared the launch of a five-year residency visa program, dubbed the "golden visa." This new program demands a non-refundable donation of $250,000 for the primary applicant and $150,000 per family member starting June 1, 2025 [1][3][5]. This golden visa adds to existing investment-based residency permits, such as the three-year renewable permit for a $250,000 equity investment and the ten-year permit for $3 million investments in enterprises [1][4].
This affordable, donation-based residency option—one of the most affordable direct-residency options globally—doesn't offer the same EU access, citizenship pathways, or tax incentives that European and UAE programs do [5][^general]. Unlike real estate-focused programs in Portugal and Spain, Uzbekistan's golden visa program offers faster administrative processing but fewer long-term benefits [5].
The family can qualify under simplified procedures, and the visa grants residency for five years, renewable under yet-to-be-specified conditions [5]. Unlike some countries, the program doesn't require property ownership or active business operations [5][4].
Here's how the golden visa compares to some other popular programs:
| Country | Minimum Investment | Key Features || ---------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------- || Uzbekistan | $250,000 donation | 5-year permit, no tax benefits specified [1][5]. || Portugal (Golden Visa) | €250,000–€500,000 (real estate) or €250,000–€500,000 (capital transfer) | Includes EU Schengen access, path to citizenship after 5 years. || Spain | €500,000 real estate | Renewable 2-year permit, citizenship after 10 years. || UAE (Golden Visa) | $545,000–$2.7M+ (property/business) | 10-year residency, tax-free status. || Singapore | SGD 2.5M investment fund | 5-year renewable pass, citizenship rarely granted. || US (EB-5) | $800,000 (TEA) or $1.05M non-TEA | Conditional green card, citizenship after 5 years. |
Don't get me wrong, Uzbekistan's golden visa program isn't all bad—it's simply a cheaper, more straightforward option compared to some other countries [5][^general]. But if you're eyeing EU access, citizenship pathways, or tax incentives, you might want to cast your gaze elsewhere.
Note: European/US program specifics are based on widely available information as of 2023–2024 and are not derived from the provided search results.
[^general]: General knowledge outside provided sources; exact details from search results apply only to Uzbekistan.
- I may consider applying for Uzbekistan's "golden visa" program in 2025, as it offers a five-year residency for a non-refundable donation of $250,000 for the primary applicant and $150,000 per family member.
- This golden visa program, though not offering EU access or citizenship pathways, is widely recognized as one of the most affordable direct-residency options globally.
- In contrast to some other popular golden visa programs, such as those in Portugal and Spain, Uzbekistan's program doesn't require property ownership or active business operations.
- Despite having fewer long-term benefits compared to other countries like the UAE, Singapore, or the US EB-5 visa, Uzbekistan's golden visa program presents a more affordable and straightforward option for those seeking residency.
