Residency
Malta
Permanent residence in an EU member state through Malta's Permanent Residence Programme, with no physical stay requirement.
- Min. investment
- €375,000+
- Time to approval
- 6–8 months
- You receive
- Residence permit
Residency by Investment
EB-5 Investor Visa
The direct route to a US green card: an $800,000 job-creating investment with no sponsor or employer required.
Time to residency
2–5 years
Minimum investment
$800,000+
Program Overview
About the United States (EB-5) program
In brief
The United States (EB-5) program is a residency-by-investment program that grants the right to live in United States. The minimum qualifying investment is $800,000+, and approvals typically take 2–5 years. Presence requirement: Green card holders must genuinely reside in the US. Figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant.
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program grants US permanent residence to investors who place at least $800,000 into a qualifying job-creating project — no employer, sponsor, or lottery involved.
Timelines are longer than any other program we advise on, and source-of-funds documentation is the most demanding; done properly, EB-5 remains the most reliable investment route to the United States.
Presence requirement
Green card holders must genuinely reside in the US
Document validity
Conditional 2-year green card, then permanent; citizenship possible after 5 years
Dual nationality
The US permits dual citizenship if you later naturalise
How it compares
United States (EB-5) against other residency programs
Where United States (EB-5) sits among the 8 residency by investment programs we advise on. The gold marker is the peer average.
Minimum investment (lower is better)$800,000
Peer average $428kAbove the peer average
Time to approval (lower is better)2–5 years
Peer average ≈ 14 monthsAbove the peer average
Investment is compared on a USD-normalized basis; the label shows this program's own currency. Time uses the upper end of the published range. Figures are indicative.
Key Benefits
- A direct path to the US green card for the whole family
- No sponsor, employer, or education requirement
- Concurrent adjustment of status possible for applicants already in the US
- A route to US citizenship after five years of permanent residence
The Life It Unlocks
The green card, earned the direct way.
No sponsor, no lottery, no waiting on luck
EB-5 is the route where your own investment carries the application — the American future that doesn't depend on an employer or a draw.
Capital that builds something
Your investment must create American jobs — a green card with a balance sheet behind it.
The family lands together
Spouse and children under 21 receive green cards alongside yours — school, college, and career doors opening at once.
Investment Pathways
Targeted Employment Area Project
From $800,000
Investment in a qualifying project in a rural or high-unemployment Targeted Employment Area, typically via a regional center, creating at least 10 US jobs.
At-risk investment held through the conditional period
Standard Investment
From $1,050,000
Direct or regional-center investment outside a Targeted Employment Area, creating at least 10 full-time US jobs.
At-risk investment held through the conditional period
Explore your route
From (indicative)
$800,000
Capital treatment
At-risk investment held through the conditional period
Investment in a qualifying project in a rural or high-unemployment Targeted Employment Area, typically via a regional center, creating at least 10 US jobs.
Who comes with you
- Spouse of the main applicant
- Unmarried children under 21
Family additions are quoted individually — request your exact figure
Application Timeline
Your dates
Complete files are typically processed in 2–5 years.
Indicative — based on typical processing of 2–5 years for complete files. Government timelines are not guaranteed.
- 1
Months 1–3
Project selection & investment
Selection of a qualifying project, source-of-funds preparation, and capital commitment.
- 2
Years 1–2
I-526E petition
Filing and adjudication of the immigrant petition; priority processing applies to rural projects.
- 3
Following approval
Conditional green card
Two-year conditional permanent residence via consular processing or adjustment of status.
- 4
Years 3–5
Condition removal
I-829 petition evidencing job creation; conditions removed for permanent status.
Requirements
- Lawful source and path of the full investment amount, documented in detail
- Investment must create at least 10 full-time US jobs
- Investment must remain at risk through the conditional residence period
- Clean criminal record and US admissibility
Family Eligibility
- Spouse of the main applicant
- Unmarried children under 21
What to Weigh
Honest advice includes the trade-offs. Before committing to the United States (EB-5) program, consider:
- This is the longest and most document-intensive program we advise on — source-of-funds preparation can take months on its own.
- EB-5 capital must genuinely be at risk; project failure risks both capital and immigration outcome. Project diligence is everything.
- A green card makes you a US tax resident on worldwide income — pre-immigration tax planning is essential.
Does United States (EB-5) fit you?
Three questions, scored by the same engine as our Program Finder — with an honest answer, even when it isn't this program.
What are you ultimately looking for?
What investment level are you comfortable with?
How soon do you want this in hand?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the $800,000 and $1,050,000 routes?
$800,000 applies to projects in Targeted Employment Areas — rural or high-unemployment locations — which also enjoy reserved visa categories and, for rural projects, priority processing. Most investors choose TEA projects.
Can I live in the US while my petition is pending?
If you are already in the US on a valid status, concurrent filing allows you to apply for adjustment of status and receive work and travel permits while the EB-5 petition is processed.
What happens if the project fails?
If the required jobs aren't created, the immigration outcome is at risk along with the capital. This is why we treat EB-5 project selection with securities-level diligence and independent review.
Alternatives
Related Programs
Families often weigh this program against these alternatives.
Residency
Residency
Portugal
Europe's best-known golden visa: EU residency with a minimal stay requirement and a potential path to citizenship after seven to ten years of legal residence.
- Min. investment
- €500,000+
- Time to approval
- 10–14 months
- You receive
- Residence permit
Residency
Greece
One of Europe's most affordable golden visas: Greek residency through real estate, with no stay requirement to renew.
- Min. investment
- €250,000+
- Time to approval
- 3–6 months
- You receive
- Residence permit
Begin Your Journey
Request a private assessment to see whether the United States (EB-5) program is the right fit.
United States (EB-5) · 2–5 years