Does France have a ‘golden visa’ scheme for gaining nationality?

Several European Union countries operate so-called ‘golden visa’ schemes that enable people to obtain the right to live in the country and potentially nationality if they invest there, despite growing calls for them to end.

France does not have its own golden visa programme. 

However, it is affected by the rules of other countries that do offer this because the visas (as do other long-stay visas and residency permits)  grant the right to travel within the EU Schengen Area - of which France is part - without another visa or travel permission.

They do not, however, grant any right to move to live and work in other Schengen area countries apart from the one that issued the visa.

Golden visas grant anyone eligible who can invest over a certain amount of money (usually into property) the right to live, and sometimes work, in the country in which they have invested. 

This means that non-EU or EEA citizens can apply for a golden visa and then use it to travel within the EU Schengen Area.

This is a significant benefit for those from countries without a visa waiver (such as India or Russia), who otherwise must apply for short-stay visas even to visit the area. In the case of 'visa waiver' nationalities, such as Britons and Americans, it will in future exempt them from having to go through the European Entry/Exit System which will log non-EU visitors' trips in and out of the area.

Having said this, foreign non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals living in the EU on long-stay visas are meant to respect a rule of not spending more than 90 days per 180-day period in the rest of the Schengen area  - though this is not necessarily checked, due to the lack of internal Schengen borders between most countries.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a golden visa, you must:

• Have a clean criminal record (e.g. no criminal convictions)

• Not be an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen

• Invest the required amount in the country (usually property but also an investment fund, charity, company set-up, or other eligible method).

European rules

Each country offering a golden visa has different rules on how long people need to stay in the country per year in order to qualify for it, as well as whether the visa will eventually open the path to citizenship, and the tax implications for visa holders.

This Golden Visa specialist website (not part of or associated with Connexion France) includes information on:

• The exact threshold required to invest 

• The different amounts needed for different investment options

• The investment options available (e.g. companies, property, venture capital, charity)

• The minimum residence requirements per year

• The tax implications for holders

• The average wait times per application

• The future residence and citizenship rules conferred by the Golden Visa.

Countries with golden visas

EU countries that still operate a golden visa programme are:

• Greece

• Malta

• Spain (although there are moves to end it here)

• Portugal

• Italy

Golden visas at a glance: Investment threshold, and rights