From Portugal's reformed Golden Visa to UAE residency schemes, investor visa programmes materially affect property markets. Here's how to factor them into your marketing.
15 March 2026
Property investment visa programmes — schemes that grant residency or citizenship rights linked to property investment — have been one of the most significant drivers of international property demand in several markets over the past decade. Understanding their current status, likely evolution and impact on specific markets is important context for developers marketing to internationally mobile buyers.
Portugal's Golden Visa programme underwent significant reform in 2023, removing residential property as an eligible investment vehicle in Lisbon, Porto and coastal regions. The impact on the market has been less severe than many predicted — with genuine lifestyle and relocation demand absorbing much of the demand previously driven by residency programme motivation — but the composition of the buyer pool has shifted materially toward end-user purchasers.
The UAE's expanded residency visa programmes — including the Golden Visa for property investments above specific thresholds and the recently expanded retirement and remote worker visa schemes — have significantly broadened the addressable buyer market for Dubai and Abu Dhabi developments. Developers who incorporate clear information about UAE residency eligibility into their marketing materials consistently generate higher enquiry volumes from international buyers who were previously unaware of these options.
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