Monaco

Monaco Investment Immigration Programs Overview

With a well-earned reputation as a playground for Europe’s celebrities and wealthy, and a famously friendly tax code, it’s no surprise that Monaco’s residency program is popular with investors. Investors can secure Monaco residency simply by buying a property in the tiny principality and demonstrating that they have the means to support themselves — although given Monaco’s soaring real-estate costs and high cost of living, that can still be an expensive proposition.

For investors who have the resources, Monaco’s residency program is a quick and fairly straightforward way to get a foothold in Europe, along with the right to travel to most European Union nations. Still, it’s only really suitable for people who genuinely enjoy Monaco’s unique lifestyle, since renewing the visa requires maintaining a significant physical presence in the tiny principality.

Citizenship By Investment

While Monaco’s residency program does include a pathway to citizenship, investors can expect a long and uncertain wait to find out if they’ll be able to get a Monégasque passport. Only people who’ve been resident of Monaco for 10 years are eligible to seek citizenship, and even then there are no guarantees: investors must show not only that they’ve developed legitimate ties to the principality, but also that they have made a major contribution to Monaco’s culture, economy or artistic community. That’s a determination that ultimately rests with the Prince of Monaco, and relatively few residents are ultimately awarded citizenship.

How To Apply

The application process is easy to navigate: the hardest part for many applicants is finding a suitable home, with even very wealthy investors often startled at how hard it is to find a comfortable, well-located property while staying within their budget.

Residents must also make their 500,000-euro bank deposit, evidenced through a certified letter from a Monaco bank, before applying. The Monégasque government has outsourced some of its due diligence to financial institutions, so many banks now request past tax returns and other documentation before issuing the requisite letter.

Applicants must also pass a background check and have an in-person interview with Monaco immigration authorities. The application process typically takes eight to twelve weeks, though non-EU applicants must also secure a French visa before applying for Monaco residency, potentially significantly extending the total timeline for their application.

Mobility

Unusually for a non-citizenship program, Monaco’s residency offering does confer significant mobility benefits: thanks to the principality’s free-movement agreements with France, residents are permitted to travel freely throughout the Schengen Area, as long as no individual trip lasts longer than three months.

Residents who go on to acquire Monégasque citizenship can look forward to receiving one of the world’s strongest passports: with visa-free travel to 162 countries, including the US and Canada, the Monaco passport is ranked 15th in the world.

Country

Monaco is tiny, squeezed into an area of barely three quarters of a square mile, but has built a huge reputation for itself thanks to its location on the French Riviera, its high quality of life and its extremely favorable tax code. Residents pay no income tax and no capital gains taxes, and don’t have to file tax returns, though goods and services do incur a VAT charge of around 20 percent. The principality’s relaxed approach to taxes has drawn the ire of some countries: Russia and the UK have both sought to prevent their nationals from using Monaco as a tax base. For most investors, though, Monaco promises a tax-free lifestyle in a chic location famous for yachts, fast cars, and the finer things in life.

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